.png&type=webp)
Rice University Athletics
Monday Press Conference Transcript
8/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2007
Head Coach David Bailiff
Opening Remarks
"It seems like I was here just the other day being announced as the head coach. It has gone by fast, but I'll tell you it's been absolutely remarkable just to attribute to the young men we have at Rice. Seven months ago they were nervous, I was nervous. Standing here today we are a football team. We've really grown together. We've established a relationship based on trust, and it's one that is going to continue to grow stronger every time we work together.
We've had a tremendous camp. I think we've got a great attitude. Exiting camp there is a lot of chemistry in this football team, there is a lot of accountability on this football team, and most importantly there is a lot of trust. That's what made it just an absolute ball to be the head football coach at Rice.
Nicholls, I've played them as a player, I've played them as a coach. I know Jay Thomas does an absolute great job there. We were in the Southland Conference together. Two years ago we shared the conference title with Nicholls. They're a team that you know is going to play for all four quarters. They've been very solid running that option, and defending that option is just so different. About a week ago at camp we had to stop what we were doing defensively and get ready for defending that option because it is unique. They've got nine starters back on offense. Their quarterback did a great job last year, so he's a seasoned veteran. They've got 6'6" receivers, they've got a big offensive line. Defensively, they're going to blitz you and blitz you and blitz you, and they'll have fun doing it. They're solid on special teams. It's a game that we're going to have to show up to. You can't take 1-AA opponents for granted. We've learned that when I was a coach at 1-AA, we've learned that when I was coaching at TCU. You better prepare for Nicholls the same way you prepare for Houston, the same way you prepare for Tulsa. They're going to give us their best shot when they get off of that bus. Once again, though, I think we'll be ready and I think it will be a great football game."
On facing the option
"One of the things that we like to do defensively is just putting our ears back and blitzing them and running a high pressure defense. When you face an option team, you have to make sure that your dive, quarterback, and pitch sound every snap, so it really balances you up. It also is one that puts a lot of pressure on the free safety and safety when they throw the play action pass; they're going to try to throw it over our heads seven times in this game. It takes great discipline. Those young men have to read their keys every snap. If you take a play off, they're going to put seven on the board. It's one where every snap defensively we've got to watch what they're doing and read our keys. It takes a disciplined football team to beat the option, and I think we can do that."
On the team developing an identit
"Well it's something that I think we've been working on since the day I got here. You look at the type of young men here and you look at President Kennedy's speech in 1962 in this stadium where he said, "Why do we choose to go to the moon? Why does Rice play Texas? Because it's hard." That's the kind of guys that we've got here. They came to Rice accepting this challenge academically, they came to Rice accepting this challenge athletically, and even though I am the third, I think we can trust each other and I think there is tremendous loyalty from this coaching staff to them and from them to us.
Linebacker Brian Raines
"Football season is starting again for the Rice Owls. Everybody is excited around here and ready to go."
On going into the season opener
"Everybody is really excited about what's going on. We've been working all summer, all spring. We were coming into the summer working hard and being with the strength coaches. So everyone is ready to see what we can do. A lot of guys' strength numbers went up from last year. Those numbers look great. Everybody feels great coming out of camp. This week we'll really get after it and fine tune some things to make sure we're ready to go."
On the 4-2-5
"Four down linemen gives some more chances for the linebackers to run. We actually only have two linebackers now so it gives us a more of a chance to run freely and make more plays."
On Nicholls State
"We've been watching a lot of film on them. We've been going through practice working on them, and, of course, two years ago we were an option team so a lot of the guys who are still here have some experience playing against the option. We feel pretty confident with it."
On bringing down the points per game
"For us to get the points down from last year it means everyone is going to have to stay healthy this year. We can't really lose too many players to injuries and stuff. Everyone is going to have to stay healthy. We have to play together as a unit and execute the defense that is called."
Quarterback Chase Clement
"We're extremely excited about getting the season started. We've been nursing a lot of injuries coming off of last season. We've spent a good amount of time in the off season getting a lot bigger, getting a lot stronger. After the long summer we've had of working out we're ready to get going. Hopefully we'll start this week off right and get a win under our belt."
On the off-season
"We've improved dramatically. That's going to happen during fall camp when you get here and start learning these new systems and throughout the weeks you just continue to grow. We're in a good position right now."
On setting the tone for the season
"Of course you want to start extremely strong. We want to come out and get fired up and ready to go. We want to make as many plays as we possibly can. That's pretty much the only way to do it."
On looking past Nicholls State
"Well you can't. You really don't want to do that. We want to make sure we're staying focused on Nicholls State. Something that Coach Bailiff has tried to tell us a lot is that they are a 1-AA team but it's our first game and they're going to come out ready to go. They're going to come out fired up, and we have to make sure we don't overlook them. We're playing 12 one week seasons, and we've got to make sure we're focused on this one."
On heading into the season under Coach Bailiff
"It definitely is tough being the third head coach in three years, but it's a lot of fun. Coach Bailiff knows how to make it fun, that's the biggest difference. We work hard still and do all the things we need to become a great team, but we have a lot of fun doing it."
Wide Receiver Jarett Dillard
"We have a big swagger about us because two-a-days are over. Playing football, you realize that two-a-days are a season of their own. Those three weeks are over with and we're excited about school starting and we're excited about the season starting. Everyone is getting ready to just play football now."
On his approach to Nicholls State
"I've seen that they have very good safeties and very good cornerbacks. From what I have studied they are a very good, good football team. We cannot underestimate them. That's one thing from football 101, in life 101, don't underestimate anybody. We're just going to take this game one day at a time, one practice at a time."
On setting the tone for the season
"From last year it took us a while to pick everything up, but this year we want to start first week. September 1st, let's show everybody what the Owls can do. That's what we've been working for."
On receiving extra attentio
"I love it. It signifies that I'm getting the job done. The target is on my back. I love challenges, and I think Chase and Raines love the challenge as well. It's good to just have those obstacles in your way so you can prove to yourself and prove to others what you can do.
