Feb. 4, 2010

By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER

Like every other member of his occupational fraternity, Rice football coach David Bailiff spent time on Wednesday reveling in his recruiting haul, one that totaled 16 prospects from various locales across Texas.

But the celebration didn't cease with analysis on the potential of San Antonio MacArthur product Gabe Baker, a hard-hitting safety representing the same high school that produced Bailiff and Owls cornerbacks coach Jason Washington. Bailiff used National Signing Day as a backdrop to announce four staff additions that should infuse his program with two traits it sorely lacked last season - vim and vigor.

Rarely can a coach compile a lauded recruiting class and reinforce his staff simultaneously. That Bailiff did both on the heels of a discouraging 2-10 season qualifies as a minor miracle, and explained his enthusiasm.

"We're really excited about our additions and that we'll get back to our fun-and-gun ways," Bailiff said. "As I told David (Beaty, the Owls' recently-appointed offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach), my expectations are that I want my right arm to get tired from signaling for one (point after touchdowns), and by the fourth quarter I want to have to use my left arm. He told me that he can achieve those expectations, so it's exciting to have those guys on this staff."

By title and reputation, Beaty, the Owls' receivers coach for two seasons before serving in the same capacity at Kansas from 2008-09, is the most critical addition. But in run game coordinator/tight ends coach/offensive tackles coach John Reagan, Bailiff hired an assistant versed in coaching at like-minded institutions (Penn) and the service academies (Army and Air Force), one familiar with Beaty (Reagan worked on staff at Kansas for five seasons), and anxious to work at Rice.

"It has created energy in this program that we really needed," Bailiff said of the staff additions.

Bailiff might one day say the same of the Class of 2010. It is hardly shocking that Bailiff unearthed several gems from his previous recruiting class, for he hit the trail last offseason following the Owls' most successful campaign in a half-century. The promise of playing for a winning program made the challenge of luring potential stars Charles Ross, Phillip Gaines and Alex Lowry far less taxing, but with the Owls having stumbled to a 10-loss season in 2009, Bailiff found it necessary to go that extra mile in delivering his personal touch to Rice recruits.

It didn't hinder matters that Bailiff had established a prior relationship with several key recruits. While the Owls struggled on the field, Bailiff stood on a foundation he previously built with commitments. Frequent correspondence with recruits and their families helped ally concerns.

"Twelve of these young men either came to Junior Day or camp," Bailiff said. "We had a relationship with them that started early. It was one where they realized how young we were last season, our upside youth that was coming through the program, and they could use vision and see that we're building a great football program.

"It was one where we continued to write letters and recruit them hard. They hung with us through the hard times, and that means they're going to be with us through the good times."

Those good times could come sooner than expected thanks to the yeoman work of those assistants who remained on staff. That group, depleted by the departures of Ed Zaunbrecher and Darin Eliot, assumed additional responsibilities until Bailiff reconfigured his staff to his exact specifications. Their ability to maintain their pace on the recruiting trail enabled Bailiff to proudly announce the 16 recruits set to join the program this summer, several of whom could contribute this fall.

The personnel and staff additions should make an immediate impact. The Owls are at a deficit at linebacker, so the door is ajar for Cameron Nwosu and James Radcliffe to earn spots in the rotation. The new coaches, all of whom will work on the offensive side of the ball, will inherit a collection of players teeming with untapped potential. From the depth at quarterback to the versatility of the tailbacks to the skill of the tight ends and the experience on the line, the offense presents a collection of weapons ripe for proper utilization. If the recruits were motivated by the chance to participate early, the new coaches were attracted by the opportunity to develop the talent at their disposal.

The sense of gloom that accompanied the Owls as they trudged out of Robertson Stadium following their embarrassing season-ending loss to Houston served as a stark contrast to what was an overwhelming tone of optimism projected by Bailiff Wednesday. Bailiff has plenty of work remaining to elevate his program to a level of consistent success, but for one afternoon he earned the right to laud the leaps he took toward that goal, a new dawn that came after the darkest night of his Rice tenure.

"Do we have some obstacles? Absolutely," Bailiff said. "Is that going to prevent us from achieving our mission? Absolutely not. We can do it."