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Rice University Athletics
Football: Practice Report #22
9/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
That's why there has been so much concern during the Owls' preparations this week on punt returns and punt coverage. Michigan and Tulsa have stung the Owls with a long punt returns the past two weeks, and Rice gave up field position with a fumble on a return against the Hurricane.
"Teams that don't play the special teams good pay the price," said Hatfield. "We paid it last week with the touchdown, Texas paid it with a blocked punt. Those things turn the game around, and we have to do a better job."
Hatfield felt better about the area following Wednesday's workout on the grass fields. "I thought our kicking game particularly was a lot better today," he said. "Travis Hale was kicking it well, and Brandon Skeen and Derek Crabtree did well. I was much, much more pleased with that than in the last few days."
Rice (1-2) plays its final non-conference game of the year Saturday, taking on 16th-ranked Oklahoma in Norman (11:30 am CDT).
