Deep snapper Ryan Pontbriand was
a surprise fifth round pick
|
Pontbriand, Green
both get NFL call
X
By Jason Gershman
Rice Thresher Staff
X
HOUSTON (May 19) -- For the first time in recent history, two members of the Rice
football team were selected in the same year in the NFL Draft, which took place on April
26th and 27th.
 Senior deep snapper Ryan Pontbriand, who graduated May 10 with a bachelor of
science degree in mechanical engineering, was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the
fifth round of the draft as the 142nd pick overall. Pontbriand was the only long snapper
specialist selected in the draft.
Later on draft weekend, senior defensive end Brandon Green, Rice’s all-time sack
leader, was taken in the sixth round, with the 176th pick overall, by the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
Story....
Dax Mitchell's Spring Practice Weblog...
Owl 'player-coach' Jeff Vanover
looks on as redshirts mix it up
|
Time to take the reins
Vanover ready
to QB defense
HOUSTON (April 18) -- With the blind- side Rice coaches received upon
the early departure of several veteran defensive players, they’ll be looking, this
fall, to a certain Rice senior linebacker for experience, judgment and coolness under fire
that now looks to be worth its weight in gold.
The Owl defenders will be a little greener around the gills than expected, but
the play calling and ball-hawking of Jeff Vanover figures to be a linch-pin for the Rice
defensive unit, no matter who else lines up on either side of the ball, friend or foe.
Story...
Mike Falco one of several new skill
position players showing promise this spring
|
Owls close
out spring
with a bang
-- or two
HOUSTON (April 10) – The Rice Owls closed out their series of
spring drills Thursday at the Rice practice field with a controlled scrimmage capped by a three- on- three free-for-all that featured more than the
typical helping of head- knocking.
Most of the day was taken up by a game-condition scrimmage that employed a full
panoply of officials, first down markers, and game-simulating substitution patterns.
The veteran Rice offensive unit left no doubt, going into the summer doldrums,
that it possesses the upper hand over the less - experienced defensive team
Story....
 Defense is emphasis
as 24 come on boardS
x
HOUSTON (Feb. 5) – Rice head coach Ken Hatfield said that today’s signing
day activities left him and his staff with the kind of feeling that a tax man gets on
April 16, or a teacher on the last day of school. But to gathered scribes, the wily Rice
mentor perhaps looked a bit more like a little tyke peering into his yule stocking on
Christmas morning.
Story.... Coach Hatfield's comments on each '03 Rice recruit...x
|
Next game: 