David Baiiff spent some time in ESPN"s DIRECT TV Mobile Studio on Wendesday, for interviews with both the Longhorn Network and ESPN U in advance of Saturday's season opening game at Texas.
Rice Public Affairs Video Producer Brandon Martin was on hand to document the second annual Rice International Students Football Clinic last Friday night at Rice Stadium.
Rice junior tight end Luke Willson is heading into the 2011 football season as a preseason All C-USA selection, but next May he will turn his thoughts to a possible career in professional baseball after signing a free agent contract on Sunday with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Willson, who was a member of the Canadian Junior National Baseball Team where he was a teammate of current Jays rookie Bret Lawrie prior to reporting to Rice in Fall of 2008, will report to Toronto's minor league complex in May after he completes classes. He will be with the Blue Jays minor league system until he returns to Houston later in the summer to begin preparations for his senior season with the Owls.
"I am excited for Luke because I know how much he loves baseball," Rice head coach David Bailiff said. "All he has done since he arrived on campus is exceed our expectations, so we're confident he'll come back from his time in baseball ready for his senior year of football. We always tell the parent of every player we recruit that we will make decisions based on what is best for their son. This is a great opportunity for Luke and we want to see him do his best."
Willson was signed by the Jays on the basis of an impressive showing at a batting practice session at Toronto's Rogers Center in May. As a third-year college athlete, Willson was eligible for the June MLB Amateur Draft and the Jays were interested in the hometown product even if he had concentrated on football for the past three years.
"When the Jays first called, I talked to my Dad about and we decided we could not pass up the offer. So when I came home in May after classes were through, we went to my old high school and hit in the cage," Willson said. "At first it was a little ugly, but once we started to hit on the field, it felt better and better. I didn't hit any balls out, and that concerned me. But my Dad told me that was because we were using old beat up baseballs and not to worry about it too much."
Willson's tryout would be on the home field of the Blue Jays, a field that Willson had played on once before during his summer baseball days. On this day, he stepped to the plate in front of a small gathering of Blue Jays personnel and his father.
"I was pretty nervous and the BP pitcher asked me if I wanted to bunt a couple first, I guess to get the nerves out of my system," Willson recalled. "But those had to be the most pathetic attempts at bunting ever seen in a major league park. My Dad was laughing about it and said I looked like I missed them by two feet. I had not bunted at all in my BP work before the tryout. "
Any nerves that might have remained were eased on his second full swing, when he made solid contact and drove a ball over the wall in dead center.
"That got me pretty excited." Willson said. "In the end, I had a real good day. I hit one into the second deck down the right field line. They asked me if I was ready to sign if they drafted me, but I said I wasn't sure about it. Since I didn't get drafted, I was a free agent who was eligible to sign with anyone after the draft and they started talking to me about a two-sport arrangement that would allow me to finish my career at Rice and still have the chance to play baseball. The Jays were very understanding about my wanting to finish things here and Coach Bailiff was great as well."
Willson had worked with the Rice baseball team in the winter of 2009 but the rigors of school and off-season football workouts designed to add weight caused him to abandon that pursuit.
"I don't want to try and make excuses, but I had come in late after playing for the Canadian Junior Team that summer, so my football weight work was already behind," Willson recalled. "I was about 220 when I redshirted and knew I had to get bigger. But a 6 am weight workout was not a great lead in to an afternoon of trying to make the baseball team. All those other guys had been focusing on baseball all fall and winter, and there was too much of a gap to try and make up."
Rice tight end Luke Willson once delayed his arrival at Rice to play for the Canadian Junior National Team in the World Junior Baseball Championships and he also particpated in drills with the Rice baseball team during part of his freshman year. While he turned his focus to football and enters the 2011 season on the Mackey Award Watch List as one of the nation's top tight ends, his rooting interest in the AL East race has not dimmed. If you seen him on campus, or in some our photo galleries when moving in new freshmen, it's not a shock who he has picked to win it all....
When Rice soccer practice officially begins on August 3 junior goalkeeper Gaby Garton will miss the first 10 days of the Owls' training camp, but she will still have a chance to get some key (if not elite) preparation time under her belt.
During Rice soccer's two-a-day practices Garton will be busy in South America on a two-week training assignment with the women's national soccer team of Argentina (where her mother was born and raised). It's a one-of-a-kind experience while playing the most popular sport in the world, a fact that hit home for Garton while watching international games on television last few weeks.
"I'm really thankful for this opportunity." Garton said. "It's really been a blessing to be able to play with some of the best in the world and see what women's soccer is like in a completely different culture. I'm still kind of taking it all in. Watching the Women's World Cup this summer has really inspired me to work even harder to take advantage of this awesome opportunity I've been given.
"The opportunity came about via a series of connections and emails that began at Rice. Last spring Owl head coach Nicky Adams had signed a California recruit with dual U.S.-Argentinean citizenship, 2011 freshman Gabriela Iribarne, who had already trained with that country's 20-and-under national team. Iribarne helped get the Rice soccer coaching staff in touch with the Argentina's governing body for the sport (called fútbol) and paved the way to get Garton a national team try-out.
"So as soon as (Rice's) Spring semester ended I flew down to Buenos Aires for a two-week tryout," Garton explained. "It went well. The (Argentinean) coach (Carlos Borello) told me that he wanted me to come down and train again in August. I'll now be training with the team for two weeks, and from what I've heard from the other girls on the team, they might be playing some friendlies (matches) against neighboring countries while I'm there."
Two weeks in August would certainly cut into the Owls' precious training time, a fact not lost on coach Adams. After two senior goalkeepers graduated last season, Rice will essentially be debuting a new goalkeeper(s) this fall so there was something to be said for being with the Owls every step of the way this preseason. However, with the uniqueness of the circumstances and an eye on the big picture regarding the long-term benefit to the soccer program, coach Adams didn't so much as blink about giving Garton an excused absence.
"This is an amazing opportunity that Gaby has in front of her," coach Adams said, "but it's more than that. It's an honor. She will be training alongside the best players from a country that is incredibly passionate about the game of soccer. The sophistication, competitiveness, commitment and discipline that she must have to fulfill a country's expectations is high. These international players understand what it takes and what they have to do to remain at the top of their game.
"As soon as you put on your national team jersey it changes you," Adams added. "Once you are a part of a national team you see from all players the discipline and commitment it takes to be the best. With that vision, Gaby will not only bring that attitude and desire back to the goalkeepers here, but to our entire team. She will learn a lot and that will only help Rice Soccer, now and in the future."
Garton, a native of Sarasota, Fla., originally enrolled at the University of South Florida but transferred to Rice prior to the 2010 season. When she was on her first South American trip for the try out she was able to get some international fútbol experience first-hand. The transition to the international game had a similar challenge of suddenly blending in to a different culture.
With a mom from Argentina and plenty of college and high school Spanish classes, the language barrier wasn't the challenge. The junior from Will Rice College encountered an unexpected hurdle to overcome. The new hurdle was that in soccer the goalkeeper has to direct the defenders around the most critical area of the field - the goal. Its keeper has to be a field general and perhaps the best communicator on the team. The goalkeeper has to be, you guessed it... gabby.
"I'm more-or-less fluent in Spanish and even more fluent after being in Argentina for a week or so," Garton said. "The girls would tease me a little about my accent, but I was fine communicating off the field. On the field, getting myself to think and direct in Spanish was a little tricky. I had never `played soccer in Spanish,' but after the first couple practices I was much more comfortable. The speed of play is very quick and the girls are extremely comfortable with the ball at their feet since most of them grew up playing fútbol with their brothers and friends."
Garton obviously enjoyed her previous trip and South American experience enough to go back, yet she said there are still some distinct cultural differences that make her happy to call the U.S., and now Rice, home. One example is many of the other national team members lived far-outside Buenos Aires and would make a commute-in each day, some up to three hours each way.
"I definitely learned a lot about soccer while I was there, but more than anything I learned how blessed women's soccer players are here in the States. It's really opened my eyes to what we at Rice and at other universities around the country have - the opportunity to go to a great educational institution and play the game we love. I think remembering this will help me keep focused and driven this fall with the Owls."
The Rice soccer team opens the 2011 season with a home exhibition game against crosstown foe Houston Baptist University on August 12 at 7 pm.
During Rice soccer's two-a-day practices Garton will be busy in South America on a two-week training assignment with the women's national soccer team of Argentina (where her mother was born and raised). It's a one-of-a-kind experience while playing the most popular sport in the world, a fact that hit home for Garton while watching international games on television last few weeks.
"I'm really thankful for this opportunity." Garton said. "It's really been a blessing to be able to play with some of the best in the world and see what women's soccer is like in a completely different culture. I'm still kind of taking it all in. Watching the Women's World Cup this summer has really inspired me to work even harder to take advantage of this awesome opportunity I've been given.
"The opportunity came about via a series of connections and emails that began at Rice. Last spring Owl head coach Nicky Adams had signed a California recruit with dual U.S.-Argentinean citizenship, 2011 freshman Gabriela Iribarne, who had already trained with that country's 20-and-under national team. Iribarne helped get the Rice soccer coaching staff in touch with the Argentina's governing body for the sport (called fútbol) and paved the way to get Garton a national team try-out.
"So as soon as (Rice's) Spring semester ended I flew down to Buenos Aires for a two-week tryout," Garton explained. "It went well. The (Argentinean) coach (Carlos Borello) told me that he wanted me to come down and train again in August. I'll now be training with the team for two weeks, and from what I've heard from the other girls on the team, they might be playing some friendlies (matches) against neighboring countries while I'm there."
Two weeks in August would certainly cut into the Owls' precious training time, a fact not lost on coach Adams. After two senior goalkeepers graduated last season, Rice will essentially be debuting a new goalkeeper(s) this fall so there was something to be said for being with the Owls every step of the way this preseason. However, with the uniqueness of the circumstances and an eye on the big picture regarding the long-term benefit to the soccer program, coach Adams didn't so much as blink about giving Garton an excused absence.
"This is an amazing opportunity that Gaby has in front of her," coach Adams said, "but it's more than that. It's an honor. She will be training alongside the best players from a country that is incredibly passionate about the game of soccer. The sophistication, competitiveness, commitment and discipline that she must have to fulfill a country's expectations is high. These international players understand what it takes and what they have to do to remain at the top of their game.
"As soon as you put on your national team jersey it changes you," Adams added. "Once you are a part of a national team you see from all players the discipline and commitment it takes to be the best. With that vision, Gaby will not only bring that attitude and desire back to the goalkeepers here, but to our entire team. She will learn a lot and that will only help Rice Soccer, now and in the future."
Garton, a native of Sarasota, Fla., originally enrolled at the University of South Florida but transferred to Rice prior to the 2010 season. When she was on her first South American trip for the try out she was able to get some international fútbol experience first-hand. The transition to the international game had a similar challenge of suddenly blending in to a different culture.
With a mom from Argentina and plenty of college and high school Spanish classes, the language barrier wasn't the challenge. The junior from Will Rice College encountered an unexpected hurdle to overcome. The new hurdle was that in soccer the goalkeeper has to direct the defenders around the most critical area of the field - the goal. Its keeper has to be a field general and perhaps the best communicator on the team. The goalkeeper has to be, you guessed it... gabby.
"I'm more-or-less fluent in Spanish and even more fluent after being in Argentina for a week or so," Garton said. "The girls would tease me a little about my accent, but I was fine communicating off the field. On the field, getting myself to think and direct in Spanish was a little tricky. I had never `played soccer in Spanish,' but after the first couple practices I was much more comfortable. The speed of play is very quick and the girls are extremely comfortable with the ball at their feet since most of them grew up playing fútbol with their brothers and friends."
Garton obviously enjoyed her previous trip and South American experience enough to go back, yet she said there are still some distinct cultural differences that make her happy to call the U.S., and now Rice, home. One example is many of the other national team members lived far-outside Buenos Aires and would make a commute-in each day, some up to three hours each way.
"I definitely learned a lot about soccer while I was there, but more than anything I learned how blessed women's soccer players are here in the States. It's really opened my eyes to what we at Rice and at other universities around the country have - the opportunity to go to a great educational institution and play the game we love. I think remembering this will help me keep focused and driven this fall with the Owls."
The Rice soccer team opens the 2011 season with a home exhibition game against crosstown foe Houston Baptist University on August 12 at 7 pm.
Rice University has called Westwood Golf Club its home course since the 2006-07 season. The Owls practice there just about every day during the academic year and play host each February to the Rice Intercollegiate at the course located minutes from campus in Southwest Houston.
Since 2004, Westwood Golf Club's member services including player locker room, dining room and pro shop have been based out of what is basically a multi-wide trailer.
Now the membership is about to move into a new 13,000-square foot home that will not only add to their experience but will also benefit the Rice golf program.
"It is an exciting time for us," said Gene Potter, Director of Golf at Westwood. "It is kind of the final piece. The course is a great golf course but this was the missing part."
While there are still little things left to do in the new facility before it opens in the next couple weeks, Potter said the members now see what they will have in the near future.
"We have been kidding about how we have more finger prints and nose prints on the windows than you can image," Potter said. "The reaction when everyone walks in has been unreal. Now that our members have seen it, they are all grins and that is exciting on our end. It looks like it has been done right."
The new clubhouse features not only a main dining room but a separate private dining area and board room along with locker rooms, a pro shop, offices and kitchen. In the process of building the new facility, the driving range was reworked and a new, 10,000-square foot putting green is being added.
The new clubhouse and its amenities can do nothing but also aid in recruiting for the Rice golf program. Potter said he could not imagine current head coach Justin Emil or former coach Drew Scott bringing recruits to the course and seeing the trailer which served as a clubhouse.
"Thank goodness we have a great golf course," Potter said. "And obviously, Rice deals with a different athlete than many schools do. The true student-athlete attends Rice and to be the honest, that has made it more fun on our end. The kids are just unbelievable. They are just fantastic."
Each February the Rice Intercollegiate is played over three days at Westwood.
The club's membership takes part in a college-am tournament on Sunday before teams competing play 54 holes over the next two days.
In the past, player dining and awards' presentations were held in a tent adjacent to the driving range. Potter said he now expects all of the events surrounding the tournament to be moved inside and out of the weather.
"You know, they play a lot of golf on that Monday," he said. "They barely stop after the first round. At the end of the day, I think it will be nice for them to sit in chairs that are not hard plastic and get out of the wind for a change."
Emil, who begins his first season as the Owls' coach, echoed Potter's excitement with the opening of the new facility.
"We are thrilled for the members and staff of Westwood Country Club," he said. "The new clubhouse adds to the phenomenal facilities that they already have and will enhance our ability to host the Rice Intercollegiate in February."
For images of the new facility, click on the link below.
One year ago, Chase Clement ended a one-year hiatus from football for a second chance at professional football by signing with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL. The Locos had won the inaugural UFL title in 2009 and returned veteran quarterback Tim Rattay, who had led them to the title. Late in the 2010 season, Rattay suffered a season-ending injury and Clement stepped in, eventually leading the Locos to a repeat UFL title.
On Monday, Clement and Rattay will both be on the practice field as the Locos open their third training camp. The difference is that Clement is the acknowledged starter, while Rattay has retired and will coach Las Vegas' receivers. The R Blog checked in with Chase for an update prior to the start of camp:
First off, is true what they say about the desert, that "it's a dry heat"? As someone who battled through grueling workouts in Houston's July heat and humidity for several years, how have you adapted to the desert?
Movement within the pocket. When I get pressure, learning how to slide inside that three foot circle and keeping my eyes downfield versus scrambling too early.
The Locos open their 2011 season on August 20 at Sacramento.
Former Owl All-America Trevor Cobb will officially unveil his Helping Hands Charity with a fund-raising event in the R Room at Rice Stadium on Saturday, July 23 from 7-10 p.m.
Cobb was the 1991 Doak Walker Award winner and a two-time, All-America running back for the Owls. He is Rice's career rushing leader with 4,948 yards as well as holding the top three season rushing totals in school history, topped by a 1,692 yard effort in his Walker Award season.
Helping Hands is an effort spearheaded by Cobb to assist special needs children in the Houston area through a number of initiatives, including a mentorship program with young athletes. The evening will feature door prizes and other special giveaways, a silent auction as well as entertainment by ShaiShanell & DiDi Chavis.
Tables for the event are priced at $240 and $180, with individual tickets priced at $30 in advance and $40 the night of the event. Advance tickets as well as additional information about sponsorships for the event are available online.
For more information about Trevor Cobb's Helping Hands, please visit his website TrevorCobb.org
Golfers on the PGA Tour put in countless hours working on their games, let alone preparing for one of the four major events held each year. Former Rice University letterman Brad Lardon (Lovett College, '88) is one of a handful of players who will not have that luxury ahead of the final major of the year, the PGA Championship.
Lardon qualified to play in the 93rd PGA Championship set for Aug. 8-14 at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga., by finishing in a fifth-place tie at the PGA Professional Championship. The nation's best golf club professionals and teachers who are members of the Professional Golfers Association of America comprised the tournament field and the 20 low scorers at the championship advance to the PGA Championship.
For the coming weeks, Lardon will work around his "day job" as Director of Golf at Miramont Country Club in Bryan to get ready for what will be his second PGA Championship and the fourth major tournament of his career.
"I will not have the time to prepare like a tour player," he said. "I try to remind myself of my years post-Rice when I trained unbelievably hard all day, every day for 12 years and hope that it kicks back in."
Lardon played six years on the PGA Tour and also has five years of experience on the Nationwide Tour.
He will get in some competitive rounds this week, playing in the 41st Chesapeake Energy Texas State Open in Tyler and hopes to make a preview trip over to Atlanta to get in a couple rounds prior to the championship in an effort to get an idea about the course. But he will also have to work around his daily schedule teaching and running the golf operation at Miramont to get some time in on the range and course to practice the appropriate shots required to play well in the tournament.
"I am pretty fortunate to have a single owner here at Miramont," Lardon said. "Mr. (Donald A.) Adam, who is the founder and owner, has been very supportive of me when I have had an opportunity to do something like this. Some guys don't have that opportunity and not every facility works the way this one does. I have great support from my ownership at Miramont and that makes a world of difference."
Lardon will also benefit from previously playing in three majors. He made the cut at the 2002 U.S. Open played at Bethpage State Park (Farmingdale, N.Y.). He also played in the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills (Southampton, N.Y.) and missed the cut by one stroke at his first PGA Championship played in 2007 at Southern Hills (Tulsa, Okla.).
"I have played enough of them (majors) there are no surprises for me when I get there," he said. "I know exactly what the process is going to be and who is going to be there. There is not a star-struck thing any more.
"I know the difficulty at which they set the course up," he added. "Each course is different, but generally I know what to expect before I get there. Experience is a big thing."
Qualifying for a Championship
Lardon last qualified for the PGA Championship in the same fashion he did this year, by having one of the low scores at the PGA Professionals National Championship. He tied for 16th at the 2007 event and has qualified for the national championship each of his five years of eligibility.
He qualified for the 2011 national championship by winning the Southern Texas PGA Professional Championship, one of 41 sectional championships conducted by the PGA.
At last month's national championship, he carded a four-round score of 278 (-7).
"I hit the ball pretty well all four days but the last two days my putter came along and allowed me to create some offense," Lardon said. "Mentally, I was really good during the event, staying in the moment."
Lardon began the national championship with an even par round before going three-under the second day during a bogey-free 18 holes. He finished the tournament with 12 birdies over the last 36 holes. He got off to a fast start for his third round and was 3-under par at the turn en route to a 68. He began the final round in ninth place and despite challenging weather conditions, shot a one-under par 70 to move up four spots and land a Top 5 finish.
"I played nice and solid," he said. "When you are a working guy, you really never know what you are going to get. I never get to prepare like I did when I played on the tour so I was very pleased with the results."
More Reason to Celebrate
In addition to qualifying for the PGA Championship, the fifth-place finish at the PGA Professionals National Championship moved Lardon a step closer to making the United States' PGA Cup team.
Much like the Ryder Cup, a biennial golf competition between professional players from the United States and Europe, the PGA Cup brings together PGA club professionals from the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland in much the same match-play format.
Right now, Lardon ranks ninth on the PGA's two-year points list which determines the United States' 10-member team. If he makes the cut at the PGA Championship, he would automatically qualify for the PGA Cup. He has such a substantial lead over the club professionals behind him in the standings, two players would have to perform extremely well at the PGA Championship to drop Lardon out of the Top 10.
"For me that is bigger than the PGA itself having never represented the country in anything like that before," Lardon said. "That would be awesome if I can maintain my position on the team."
The 25th PGA Cup Match will be played Sept. 16-18 at CordeValle Resort in San Martin, Calif.
Rick Greenspan, David Bailiff and several other members of the Rice Athletic Department staff will hit the road next week to visit Owl fans in San Antonio, Dallas and Austin.
The Caravan will conclude with a final gathering in Houston at St. Arnold's Brewery on Tuesday, August 2, three days before the Owls report for the start of Fall Camp.
Here is the list of events that are open to the public, including deadlines for you to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you as we get everyone ready for the 100th season of Rice Football.
2011 Rice Coaches' Caravan Events
Monday, July, 18 - San Antonio
Coaches' Caravan the home of David Darr' (81) 6:00 pm
RSVP or contact Rice Athletics at 713-348-6957 by Friday, July 15. Although there is no cost to attend this event, an RSVP is requested. Attire is beach or golf casual.
Special thanks to David Darr '81 and Lamont Jefferson '81 for co-hosting this event.
Wednesday, July 20 - Dallas
EL FENIX, Private upstairs patio deck, 6:30 pm
1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202
RSVP or contact Rice Athletics at 713-348-6957 by Tuesday, July 19. The cost to attend is $10 and includes tasty beverages and hors d'oeuvres. Attire is business casual.
Thursday, July 21 - Austin
Scholz Garten, private outdoor patio, 6:30 pm
1607 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
RSVP or contact Rice Athletics at 713-348-6957 by Wednesday, July 20. The cost to attend is $10 and includes tasty beverages and hors d'oeuvres. Attire is summer casual.
Tuesday, August 2 - Houston
Saint Arnold Brewing Company 6-8:30 p.m.
2000 Lyons Avenue, Houston 77020
RSVP or contact Rice Athletics at 713-348-6957 by Monday, August 1. The cost to attend is $10 and includes tasty beverages and hors d'oeuvres. Attire is summer casual.
