Stomach virus, injuries exacting heavy toll on football team

David Bailiff greeted everyone with a fist bump Monday.

The Rice football coach was taking no chances. Not after many of his players were stricken with a stomach virus in the days leading up to Saturday’s 61-16 loss at Louisiana Tech.

By Bailiff ’s count, 32 Rice players as well as 10 coaches and staff members, came down with the virus, including Bailiff.

The final player to become ill was cornerback V.J. Banks, just before kickoff.

“He was throwing up over the bench, so he’s been the last reported case,” Bailiff said. “I don’t know what kind of virus

it was, but I’m glad that’s behind us.”

Injuries have also taken a toll on the 1-7 Owls, who Saturday host the 1-7 Florida Atlantic Owls at 2:30 p.m. at Rice Stadium.

Rice has 24 injured players, with 14 out for the season. Ten players are being evaluated week to week, including center Trey Martin, who has been out a month with a foot sprain.

Right guard Isaiah Edwards, a 6-8, 360-pound redshirt freshman who had six pancake blocks against Louisiana Tech, will not play Saturday because of an injury.

After loss, Owls playing for pride

Saturday’s loss officially knocked Rice from bowl consideration.

With four games remaining, the Owls cannot meet the six-win standard.

“At the beginning of the season we had certain goals,” junior defensive end Brian Womac said. “Win a conference championship, go to a bowl game, a few other sub goals. Even though those goals aren’t intact, it doesn’t affect where I’m at personally. It’s about playing as well as you can.”

Added running back Austin Walter: “You can’t control viruses and people getting injured. The coaches tell us (to) do your assignment, and then focus on executing it to the best of our ability.

“That’s what we need to focus on for these next four games. And that can lead us into the spring, into the fall, and into next year.”

Walter, a sophomore, was a capable replacement for Samuel Stewart, who left Saturday’s game with an injury. Walter rushed for a seasonhigh 74 yards, caught a 22-yard pass on a wheel route, and added 84 yards in kick returns.

“Austin has gotten to where he’s an every-down back,” Bailiff said.

Backup QBs may see minutes

Senior Tyler Stehling has made all eight starts at quarterback for the Owls.

However, in the fourth quarter at Louisiana Tech, third-teamer Jackson Tyner, a 6-5, 230-pound redshirt freshman, made his Rice debut, marching the Owls 88 yards to their final touchdown.

Another redshirt freshman, J.T. Granato, is Stehling’s backup. Granato had wisdom teeth removed and did not make the trip to Ruston, La.

“As the season goes on, we’ll play J.T. and (Tyner) a little more,” coach David Bailiff said.

Against Louisiana Tech, Tyner was 4-of-5 passing for 54 yards and ran three times for 14 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run.

“When we put Jackson in, he hadn’t really gotten a lot of reps, but he played well,” Bailiff said. “I was very pleased with what he did retain. He gets really very limited reps at practice. So we were pleased at how fast the ball came out of his hand.”