Rice University Athletics
Football: Practice Report #35
11/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
"That's what this whole week is about," head coach Ken Hatfield said after Tuesday's workout in Rice Stadium. "This was the last full-pads practice for all the seniors, and it may have been the last time they practice with full gear on. (Wednesday), we'll practice in shells and Thursday just in shorts and helmets, so each day is the one last time to do everything, and you want each last time to be good."
Of that group of 11, only nine will see action in the game. Defensive end Jarrett Erwin and safety LonDee Smith saw their seasons end early with injuries.
Among the others, though, there will be a legacy of experience and leadership. Offensive tackle Rod Beavan will be starting his 47th game, a school record, and safety Travis Ortega will be starting his 41st straight game, the most by an Owl defender in at least 15 years.
The group has won 20 games during their four-year careers, topped by a 7-4 mark as freshmen in 1997.
"Players don't think about the end of their college careers until that last week," added Hatfield. "But it's a fact of life. I think that's why we played so well in the SMU game (a 43-14 Rice win), their last home game, and everybody else played well for them."
Rice (3-7, 2-5 WAC) will be trying to break a seven-game road losing streak at Reno, while the Wolf Pack (1-9, 0-6) enters its final home game with a seven-game losing streak. Kickoff is at 2:05 pm (CST) at Mackay Stadium.
