Owls to field
a patchwork
offense

Injuries have forced Rice to juggle
its offensive line and start its
third-string running back

HOUSTON » Rice will host Hawaii tomorrow in the Western Athletic Conference football opener for both schools with a juggled offensive line and a third-string running back starting, Owls coach Ken Hatfield said after yesterday's practice.

Because of injuries to center Ross Humbel and left guard Micah Meador, senior backup Cobey-Joe Cswaykus will play center, and Greg Wilson, normally the starting right tackle, moves to left guard. Sophomore Rolf Krueger slides in at right tackle.

"We think they're all first-team players," Hatfield said. "Greg is a guy who's played every position on the line. So when we have a chance to move someone, Greg has been able to do it easier than anyone and adjust to it better."

At left halfback, Thomas Lott, the leading returning rusher from last year, is out with a hip injury and Quinton Smith also won't play due to an elbow injury, Hatfield said. Sophomore Marcus Rucker will start.

On the positive side for Rice, wide receiver Marcus Battle practiced and will probably play after missing the season-opening victory over Houston on Sept. 5, the coach said.

"Battle looked good. He worked out for the first time in two and a half weeks," Hatfield said. "He's got 48 hours to rest on it. We'll see."

Rice beat Houston 10-7 as the Owls generated 191 yards in total offense.

Poumele re-hurts leg: The Warriors arrived yesterday morning and practiced last night at a high school facility near the team hotel.

Hawaii looked crisp on both sides of the ball. But starting slotback Se'e Poumele pulled up lame midway through practice, favoring the right leg in which he hurt a nerve in the Sept. 4 season opener.

"He twinged his nerve," coach June Jones said. "He wanted to go back in at the end, but I told him to rest it because we have another day. I think he'll play, unless he gets up in the morning and it's so bad he just can't do it."

Gerald Welch will replace Poumele if he can't play, Jones said.

Not spying: Duane Akina, the Texas defensive coordinator and father of UH backup quarterback Kainoa Akina, will take in the game tomorrow.

Rice plays Texas next week, and the Longhorns have a bye this week.

"It would not upset me in the least if he's in the stands. You don't get a chance to see your son play much," Hatfield said. "I knew that situation may happen."

Hatfield laughed when it was suggested he might not be as accommodating for Texas defensive ends coach Dick Tomey.

"Dick can't come down and say he's doing color for Hawaii like he was doing before," Hatfield said of the former UH head coach.

They're watching: Scouts from five NFL teams attended the Warriors' practice last night.

Defensive tackles Lui Fuga and Matt Faga, quarterback Tim Chang, cornerback Abraham Elimimian, offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa and slotback Chad Owens are among the seniors they're keeping tabs on. At this point, none are expected to be picked on the first day of the NFL Draft.

(Former) Quarterback Club: Linebacker Adam Herrin is one of around 10 regular contributors on either side of the ball for Rice who are converted quarterbacks.

He also played free safety at tiny Celina High School, where he had 60 classmates and fewer than 45 football teammates. He led Celina to three consecutive 2A Texas state championships.

"We have a lot of kids like that, who we envision playing another position. That's why it takes a couple of years for some of them," Hatfield said. "We get a kid, redshirt him, play him a year as a freshman. Then hopefully after he's played that position two years, hopefully he's good enough to help us for the next three. That's really our plan."

Herrin, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior, came up big in Rice's win over Houston, sharing the team lead with defensive end John Syptak with nine tackles.

"The main thing is he studied film all summer. This year we had all the cut-ups from last year of what (Houston had) done. He was one who religiously studied the cut-ups. He studied tendencies and was big with his leadership," Hatfield said.

Starting defensive backs Raymorris Barnes, Chad Price and Terry Holley are also former QBs.

"It's a big advantage for our defense. All these former quarterbacks are leaders, and they all lend different insights," Herrin said. "We all think like quarterbacks. Who's going to know better than someone who was in their shoes?"

Herrin did not start but was in on about 30 plays when Hawaii beat Rice 48-21 last year.

"The big thing is stopping their running game," Herrin said. "They were successful running against us, and that opens things up against any defense."

Short yardage: Backup kicker Nolan Miranda made the trip, but starter Justin Ayat's groin injury appears to be a thing of the past, and Ayat was accurate on several field goals and strong on kickoffs last night. ... Families of six Rice players were forced to temporarily evacuate their homes in Alabama and Mississippi because of Hurricane Ivan, Hatfield said. None of the homes suffered structural damage, he said.