Great Article On Playing Freshmen

[UNTLifer]

Young players endure growing pains

By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER

Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Rice coach David Bailiff was cognizant that, given the limited number of days he had to actually recruit prospects following his Jan. 19 hiring, the process of rounding out the Owls' 2007 class would extend beyond February and deep into the summer months.

And while Bailiff recognizes the impact recruiting has on building a program, he could not have foreseen how vital a role this freshman class would play during his first season. Fifteen freshmen have participated for Rice (1-7, 1-3 Conference USA), including five who committed during the 19 days that passed between Bailiff's hiring and signing day.

Much-needed saviors

Some have lamented the Owls' injury-induced reliance on their freshmen; Bailiff shudders to think what would have transpired had he not convinced them to sign.

"I don't know, in all honesty, what we would have done without them," Bailiff said.

With the post-signing-day additions of punter Clay Joseph and lineman Scott Mitchell, Bailiff doubled the dozen players who committed to the previous regime yet signed with Rice following the departure of former coach Todd Graham to Tulsa. Of those 24 freshmen, only 10 have preserved their redshirts.

Some knew in advance they would earn playing time. Some were tossed feet-first into the fire, a transition that proved shocking.

"When I first got to practice that first day, I was scared," Mitchell said. "I looked around at all these big dudes — we had defensive ends running 4.6, 4.7 40s (40-yard dashes). Back home (in Ontario, Canada), we might get lucky to have a receiver who runs that fast.

"I was scared and nervous when I came out. When I first started playing, my technique was awful. My coach (Blake Miller) tried to help me out, but he was getting frustrated."

Mitchell earned his first start last weekend at Marshall, but his journey from Canadian import to burgeoning left tackle included a hurried adjustment to American-style football and an introduction to serious weightlifting, trials with his passport (which remain ongoing), and frequent trips to international student services. And like any other freshman, Mitchell encountered bouts with homesickness eased by calls to his parents.

The transition for safety Randy Kitchens wasn't as dramatic, but it was equally abrupt.

After four games, Kitchens was engrossed in his redshirt season, handling a position switch (Kitchens played quarterback at Waco Robinson High) and familiarizing himself with the John L. Cox Fitness Center. But injuries forced Bailiff to pull Kitchens' redshirt prior to the Owls' C-USA opener at Southern Miss, and after getting his feet wet on special teams, Kitchens earned reps in the secondary against Houston.

"The mindset was definitely different," Kitchens said. "As a redshirt, I'm just thinking about getting stronger in the weight room and slowly figuring out the defense. That first game when I got out there, those college guys are a lot bigger than high school guys.

"Southern Miss was a lot faster than I expected it to be, but I felt the UH game I settled down and figured out the speed a lot better, and I'm slowly progressing every game."

The veterans have helped the freshmen adjust. Defensive end Cheta Ozougwu, a frequent visitor during spring drills, expected to play a reserve role this season. When Dietrich Davis was lost prior to the Southern Miss game, Ozougwu moved into the starting lineup, and last weekend, he and classmate Scott Solomon played 72 snaps against Marshall.

Learning from your elders

As was to be expected, Ozougwu has encountered struggles, but he heeds the words of senior tackles George Chukwu and Jonathan Cary and follows the example set by junior linebacker Brian

Raines, knowing that someday these experiences will pay dividends.

"Messing up in games and missing my assignments every now and then, you tend to look down at yourself and feel like you're messing up for your team," Ozougwu said. "(Raines) went through

the same thing we're going through right now. And after each practice, he tells me to keep practicing hard. Having that reassurance really helps me."

mk.bower@chron.com

Edited November 1, 2007 by UNTLifer