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January 19, 2007 > Opinion > Rice on track, despite Graham departure

Rice on track, despite Graham departure

By The Rice Thresher Editorial Staff | Thresher Editorial Staff

First and foremost, we want to thank the Athletic Department for not entering a bidding war with Tulsa University over Head Football Coach Todd Graham, who recently left Rice for a reported $1.1 million per year. (See story, Page 1). This year’s football team brought hope and enthusiasm to Rice fans, not to mention a winning record, improved interaction with the Rice community, a battalion of War Owls and a bowl game. And we are grateful for Graham’s contribution to these assets. But the achievements are Rice’s as much as Graham’s, and matching Tulsa’s significant raise to save Graham’s spot at Rice would have belittled the contributions of the rest of the coaching staff, players and fans.

As the Athletic Department finalizes its second search for a new head coach in as many years, it is tempting to doubt the university’s ability to hold down a good coach. So we remind fans that Graham’s hasty departure is unusual and should not be seen as reflective of our football program’s potential: It was a personal career decision. We were looking for a young, mobile and enthusiastic coach, and we got one. While we would prefer to have a coach stay at least long enough to see his first recruits graduate, we never expected nor wanted a coach who would take root as a stagnant, decades-long institution. We wanted to see our team turn around its record, and it did. We wanted to see students come to games, and we did. And, with a little faith and a few more thunder sticks, we will continue to see such improvements next season.

And, we cannot wait to meet and beat Graham on our home turf next season.

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