OwlSportsWatch.com - Rice Football 2009

October 26, 2009

David Mooney
OwlSportsWatch.com Publisher

Eight times already this season Rice Head Football Coach David Bailiff has stood in front of a podium after a game and fallen on the sword for a loss at the hands of an opponent.

No one could have imagined the season he and his team have struggled through in 2009.

Ask the coaches, and they'll tell you they aren't doing anything different in 2009 than they did last year in 2008 when the team won 10 games.

So what could be at the root of the Owls' struggles this season? The answer is not simple, nor is there a single cause to this season's regrettable turnaround of fortunes.

Of course, several opinions have been offered up as to the cause or causes of the slide. We'll submit our own explanation. We think there's a Perfect Storm scenario in motion here, similar to the movie based on a crew of Atlantic fishermen that perished in the middle of a series of 3 catastrophic storm systems. The movie was based on true events; so is our analysis.

Storm 1 - Chemistry

In terms of chemistry, the 2009 Football Team is experiencing almost the same growing pains as a first year program. The nucleus of the team, particularly its leadership, either graduated or left to start professional careers after 2008. Subsequently, the returning senior group of 2009 is a relatively small one. This has created a situation where the majority of the team is made up of underclassmen - unquestionably both youthfully error prone and inexperienced by nature.

Add to this 4 new coaches, and you have a group that hasn't known each other long.

More still, there are players on this team recruited by 3 different coaching staffs.

We think this team simply hasn't been able to gel yet.

Storm 2 - Youth

Nobody wants to hear this one but it's a glaring and obvious fact on this team. We have 26 freshmen or sophomores in the two-deep line up.

Freshmen make mistakes. They miss assignments, the get confused when they see new wrinkles from the other team. Freshmen haven't been battle tested. Take nothing away from talent, but not many teams win with a majority of underclassmen starting.

There's just no substitute for experience.

Storm 3 - Injuries

Injuries are a part of football. But unlike last year when the Owls remained relatively healthy all year, injuries have stricken the Owls hard.

15 Owls have missed injury time this year, 4 key starters missed the UCF game - Andrew Sendejo, Jake Hicks, Terrance Garmon, and kick returner Shane Turner.

And because the Owls are a young team, most of the depth is provided by freshmen. Injuries exacerbate an already difficult situation.

Thusly injuries are making a young team even more inexperienced.

Dealing with any single challenge that these 3 obstacles puts forth is difficult enough - but combine the 3; and you've got a "Perfect Storm".

Clear Skies Coming...

Unlike the real life story that cost 7 fishermen their lives in the Atlantic, the Owls will survive this season. And after surviving this "storm" of a season the youthfulness of this team will be replaced by the hardening process that this losing season is undoubtedly administering.

Joining next year's war-tested returnees will be one of the Owls most talented recruiting classes ever. Combined with the added experience of current starters, these young players will provide strategic talent rather than that of the necessary kind. There's a big difference in playing a freshman because his talent as forced him up the depth chart, as opposed to playing a freshman because he's all you have left on the depth chart.

Speaking of recruiting, the Owls have already assembled a small but elite group of recruits for the 2010 Class. Over half (6 of the 10) class is rated 3 stars by Rivals. Several of the 10 have the ability to start as freshmen and will no doubt get a chance to contribute early. The Owls have secured pledges from players that could impact current 2009 problem areas including 2 Linebackers and exceptional Offensive skill position players Andy Erickson and Jeremy Eddington.

And certainly not the least of mentionables for 2010, nary a day goes by when transfers Justin Allen, Taylor Cook, and Sam McGuffie aren't mentioned as impact players for 2010. In fact, all 3 could be starting next year.

All signs point to the 2010 team being deeper, more experienced, and more talented.

So though the storm is certainly raging right now, we believe clear skies will shine on Owl Football again soon.

We've really only got one choice Rice fans -batten the hatches, put on your slicker, and let's ride out the storm Owls!

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