Graham Leaves Rice, Back to Tulsa

[TexasTerror]

Unbelievable! In a way, as a Rice fan, second only to SHSU, I feel betrayed. We were all on the Graham bandwagon. What he did at Rice was things that many others were afraid to do and down the road may still be scared to go about doing. Major Applewhite is apparently the early favorite for head coach if Graham leaves, though it seems to be a done deal for the coach that just signed an extension two days ago!

Graham to be next TU coach
By Eric Bailey
1/11/2007 8:54:00 PM


Todd Graham will be named the next football coach at the University of Tulsa, multiple sources told the Tulsa World on Thursday night.

Graham, 42, returns to Tulsa after spending one season as the head coach at the University of Rice. He was the Golden Hurricane's defensive coordinator from 2003-05.

Mike Case, perhaps the top benefactor to TU athletics, was excited about Graham's appointment.

"He was a great guy when he was here and an important part of the program," Case said on Thursday night. "We're excited to have him back. Other than (tight end) Garrett Mills, we probably missed him more than anyone."

TU athletic director Bubba Cunningham was unavailable for comment.

Graham will inherit a program from his former boss Steve Kragthorpe, who left for the University of Louisville this week.

Graham turned around a Rice program that only had one win the previous year, and guided the Owls to a 7-6 record and the school's first bowl appearance in 45 years.

Graham's hiring allows for continuity within the program because he coached the team as recently as a year ago.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/BreakingNewsStory.asp?ID=070111_Br_tuwebber

[blackfordpu]

If he signed a contract, how did he do this?

Will Applewhite get the HC job?

[BigApp]

Major Applewhite? What, isn't he like 28 or something?

[TexasTerror]

Will Applewhite get the HC job?

Applewhite has the energy to keep this ship moving forward. It'd be a risk, but it would really be a chance for Applewhite to do his thing...

Rice fans are also talking about Larry Coker among others...

[3rd Coast Tiger]

Wow! Just when the Owl faithfuls had something to be proud of in their football program. : smh :

[NoCoDanny]

I'm impressed with the program Tulsa has built the last couple years. I don't know how they did it but anytime I watch them they impress me.

[TexasTerror]

MK Bower is saying, "In addition, an NCAA official confirmed that Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite will be named quarterbacks coach at Alabama under new coach Nick Saban."

Really not sure what will happen at Rice now. They need to get a proven winner and someone with the energy to really continue on what Graham has done with the program...

[TexasTerror]

Applewhite is off to Alabama...knew he was going to leave, but it'd been great if he stuck it out to run Rice...

Youngest coordinator Applewhite joins Saban
Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Former Texas quarterback and Rice assistant Major Applewhite is the latest addition to new head coach Nick Saban's staff at Alabama.

Saban announced Saturday that Applewhite, former offensive coordinator at Rice, has joined his staff, but his duties have not yet been determined.

Applewhite, a Baton Rouge, La., native, joins the Crimson Tide staff after spending the 2006 season as the youngest coordinator in Division I football.

Applewhite, 28, crafted a spread attack that scored the most points (350) and gained the third-most yards (4,486) in Rice's history.

Applewhite was the quarterbacks coach at Syracuse in 2005.

In 2003-04, he was a graduate assistant on the offensive staff at Texas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2730332

[ngineer]

Graham should be ashamed and embarrassed. What a classless person.

[TexasTerror]

Graham should be ashamed and embarrassed. What a classless person.

That is what we've learned...

Former Rice QB and current radio team member Chad Richardson, who was coached by Graham in HS has apologized to the Rice fans and the institution for allowing himself to encourage Graham to come to Rice and get all the fans on the bandwagon...

[ngineer]

Between the Graham fiasco and Alabama spending like a drunken sailor for Saban speaks volumes of how our system of 'higher education' is out of control. What does our system tell our young people that standing by one's word, honor and integrity means absolutely nothing. Alabama will pay Saban 3-4 times what they pay the president of the University. There are no more standards for our values--either monetarily or ethically.:nonono2:

[EKU05]

MK Bower is saying, "In addition, an NCAA official confirmed that Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite will be named quarterbacks coach at Alabama under new coach Nick Saban."

Really not sure what will happen at Rice now. They need to get a proven winner and someone with the energy to really continue on what Graham has done with the program...

Louisville QB coach Jeff Brohm turned down the coordinator job at Alabama to stay on with Louisville as assistant head coach in charge of the passing game (and still working with the QBs whether it's his little brother or Hunter Cantwell).

I wonder if Applewhite was the back-up plan there.

[TexasTerror]

Word from the Houston Chronicle is that "Rice retained three assistants from the Graham regime: David Beaty (receivers), Todd Dilbeck (offensive line), and Michael Smith (running backs). They will hand-deliver letters from Del Conte to those 19 commitments over the next two days, informing the prospects that their scholarship pledges remain valid."

As it relates to candidates for the coaching job, "As for the ongoing search, Rice officials received more than 200 recommendations, and that list was whittled to 50. According to NCAA officials, Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, and former Rice defensive coordinator Paul Randolph are considered serious candidates. Randolph met with search committee members Sunday.

According to an NCAA official, former Denver Broncos defensive line coach Andre Patterson was contacted by Rice officials. Patterson was fired by the Broncos last week."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/4470587.html

[TexasTerror]

I'm falling asleep with this one...unfortunately, these are the same people who almost got rid of Rice athletics or at the very least, attempted to get them down to Div III athletics...

Graham flop shows D-1 fails for Rice

To the editor:

As Houston Chronicle writer John Lopez put it, “In one year’s time, despite seven wins and a bowl bid, Graham did more damage than good.” He fired most of the staff, who had served Rice for many years, he “sucked fans of some $5 million worth of financial commitments for stadium and facility upgrades” and made a mockery of “Rice values.” In the end, he left, as he no doubt always planned to, for the money.

I have been at Rice for over 35 years and sadly watched one farce succeed another in Rice’s history in “big-time college athletics.” Always promises, always broken, then more promises.

Rice now faces a major decision, one that will greatly affect its future — especially now, as we stand at the beginning of the largest fund drive in the school’s history. Will we continue to throw good money after bad, continue to sacrifice our dedication to academic excellence, to a vain pursuit of “bowl bids?” Will we continue to spend ever-increasing amounts of money on trying to buy winning teams — money that is urgently needed to maintain our position as a leader in education and research? Will the trustees honor their solemn commitment to decrease, not increase, the athletic deficit, or will they dishonor themselves by “forgetting” about it? Will we, as a community, have the guts to face the reality of a money-ridden Division I, decide what Rice is here for and put football and money sports as a whole in their proper place as a subordinate, ancillary activity?

Do we want more Grahams? If not, now is the time to make a long-delayed decision. The university does not, and never did, belong in a corrupt and anti-academic NCAA Division I.

I call on the president, board, students and faculty of Rice to stand up for its true values now.

Martin J. Wiener

Chair, Department of History

http://the.ricethresher.org/opinion/2007/01/19/letters_to_the_editor

[bandl]

I didn't know that there were actually any Rice fans out there...:o

[ngineer]

Rice would be a great addition to the Patriot League!!!:thumbsup: :D