Assistant Athletics Director Sports Information Assistant Sports

Media R

relations for baseball, soccer, women¹s basketball, and volleyball teams. A native of Ohio, Jameson launched his sports career as media relations assistant at Rice, where he was responsible for baseball and volleyball teams. He also served as Chuck Pool graduate assistant at Indiana State, where he garnered national publicity for ISU’s nationally Assistant Athletics Director ranked track and field teams. A 1989 graduate from Indiana with a B.A. degree in telecommunications, Jameson Sports Information aided IU’s media relations department in its publicity efforts for the Hoosiers’ nationally ranked men’s basketball, football, and men’s soccer teams. At Rice University, he is in his first year as resident associate for Hanszen College.

A veteran of nearly 20 years on the Houston sports scene, Chuck Pool is in his third year at the head of the Owls’ publicity efforts. He assumed his duties on August 23, 2006. Pool is the third SID in the school’s history, following Bill Whitmore and Bill Cousins and Ron Mears oversees all Owls athletic communications and publicity efforts while serving as the primary contact for football. Assistant Sports Information Director Pool, 50, joined the Owls after spending the previous four years running his own public relations company, Laysan Communications, which specialized in sports-related public and media relations. His primary clients included the Rotary Lombardi Award, which honors the top lineman in college football, and the Roger Clemens Award, which is presented to the top pitcher in college baseball. Laysan also provided media services to the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and USA Football. Ron Mears is in his first year as a member of the Rice University sports information He first came to Houston in the fall of 1985 when he joined the Houston Astros as the office. Among his responsibilities are publicizing the men’s basketball and golf programs. assistant director of public relations. He remained with the Astros through the spring of 1992 Mears brings a wealth of media relations experience to Rice including the previous when he was selected to create the media relations department of the expansion Florida three-plus years as director of athletic media relations at Texas State University. During his Marlins. He returned to the Astros in 1998 before entering private business in 1999. final football season, Mears coordinated publicity for both a Walter Camp First-Team All- Pool is a 1980 graduate of the University of Nebraska where he played freshman foot- America selection as well as the university’s first National Football Foundation Draddy Award ball (1977). He joined the Huskers’ sports information staff after graduation and was part of Finalist. the publicity efforts that garnered a Heisman Trophy, three Outland and two Rotary Lomardi In 2005, he led the publicity efforts for Texas State’s Southland Conference football Award winners and 10 consensus All-America selections in football. He also headed up championship team as the team advanced to the NCAA I-AA national semifinals. publicity efforts for the Huskers’ gymnastics and swimming programs and served as media Prior to joining the Texas State staff, Mears was the primary contact for men’s basket- coordinator for three NCAA men’s gymnastics and one NCAA women’s swimming and diving ball at the University of Memphis. He also served as the director of sports information for 10 championship. In 1984, he was selected to join the media staff for the Olympic Games in Los years at Nicholls State. Angeles. While at Memphis, Mears was the publicist for the 2002 National Invitation Tournament Pool and his wife Laura reside in Pearland. They have four children, Kevin (19, a Rice champions. In addition to working with the U of M’s basketball program, he also assisted with freshman at Hanszen College on the football team), Cameron (16), Kelli (14) and Courtney media relations for the Tiger football program as well as other assigned responsibilities. (11). During his tenure, the Memphis basketball media guide was annually ranked among the top 15 in Division I basketball according to publication contests conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The publication grew from 182 pages prior to Mears’ arrival to 242 pages his final year. Jay Jameson A 1986 graduate of Oklahoma State University, Mears was named Nicholls State’s SID in 1988 and received additional responsibilities as the Assistant Director of University Assistant Sports Information Director Relations in 1991. While at Nicholls State, Mears was involved with the Louisiana Sports Writers Associa- tion, coordinating the LSWA’s basketball player of the week program for five years as well as various LSWA all-Louisiana teams. He served a two-year term as the LSWA’s treasurer. He has served on the media relations staff of NCAA basketball regionals each of the past three years, working both the NCAA Houston Regional and the NCAA Final Four in 2008. Now in his sixth year with the Rice athletic department, Jay Jameson returns to the Mears is married to the former Ann Treviño, a Rice graduate from Sid Richardson sports information staff after spending 2008, as the director of operations for Rice’s men’s College. The couple have a son, Cooper McCrae, born in July. basketball team. With over 20 years of NCAA Division-I experience, Jameson had previously served as the primary media relations contact for the Owls’ men’s basketball team. Currently, he serves as the primary contact for volleyball, women’s basketball and track and field. Jameson previously worked for four years as assistant media relations director at Indiana University, where he served as the department¹s publications coordinator. Several of his publications have earned regional and national CoSIDA accolades. He has twice received “Best in the Nation” honors along with recognition for “Third-Best in the Nation” for the commemorative 100-year anniversary basketball program that he designed for Indiana University. Jameson’s skills are not limited to graphic design. He handled media relations duties for Indiana’s 1999 NCAA men¹s soccer championship team as well served as media coordinator for the 1999 NCAA Cross Country Championship, hosted by Indiana. Shaina Rasmussen Sam Shainsky Prior to working at Indiana, he was an assistant media relations director at the Student SID Student SID University of Evansville. While working for the Aces, he was in charge of publicity and media

2009 RICE OWLS BASEBALL 91 R Media

Covering the Rice Owls

The 2009 edition of the Rice Giving advance notice to the ath- Owls Baseball media guide was letic news bureau of attending at produced to assist in coverage for a practice session is helpful and the team. Additional information, appreciated. including weekly news releases, photographs and video clips, is Rice On the Internet available on request. Information on Rice baseball and all 16 intercollegiate Owl sports During the Week can be obtained through the Inter- Rice Athletic News Bureau net. To view updated Rice rosters, The Rice sports information office schedules/results, fast facts, biog- is located in room 1204 of Tudor raphies, pictures and much more, Fieldhouse (next to the elevator). type in the following URL address: The mailing address is PO Box http://www.RiceOwls.com 1892, MS 548, Houston, TX 77251- 1892. The telephone number is 713- The Reckling Park Press Box 348-4034. The press box at Reckling Park has a limited number of seats for work- Interviews With Wayne Graham ing media. Admission is by creden- Rice head coach Wayne Graham is tial only. very accessible to the media and will answer telephone calls at the Credentials earliest opportunity. The best time All requests for working credentials to reach coach Graham is 9:30- at Reckling Park should be made 11:30 am, weekdays. Please call his to John Sullivan a few days in ad- office directly at (713) 348-8864 for vance of the game to be covered, interview appointments. preferably in writing (e-mail or fac- simile, or U.S. mail). All requests Player Interviews should come from sports editors All interviews must be arranged at or directors and will be carefully least one day in advance through screened to ensure good working the athletic news bureau. Players’ conditions. Spouses, dates, mi- home/cell phone numbers will not nors and non-workers will not be be released. No interviews will permitted in the press areas. No be allowed before a game. The credentials will be mailed. Photo media will not be allowed in the credentials will be granted on the Rice locker room, weight room or same priority schedule as general training room areas. media credentials.

Postgame Interviews Parking The Rice athletic news bureau will Due to recent campus construc- assist those writers and broad- tion, there is no designated media casters wishing to interview Owls parking at Reckling Park. All park- players and coaches following the ing for Rice home games is in the game. Following a short cooling- main Rice Stadium parking lots. off period, requested Rice players Please see the map on page 94. and coaches will be available in the Owls’ dugout area. Rice play- Tickets ers and coaches are not available Call the Rice athletic ticket office for interviews between games of at 713-348-4068 to order game tick- doubleheaders. ets. Most major credit cards are accepted for advance orders. Attending Practice The media is welcome at Rice The 2009 Media Guide The 2009 Rice baseball media guide is published by the Rice University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Chris Del practice sessions. All Rice head Conte, director. The guide was written and edited by the Athletic News Bureau: Chuck Pool (director), John Sullivan (base- coaches have the option to close ball SID), Jay Jameson and Ron Mears. Additional editorial assistance by Matt Dunaway, Shaina Rasmussen (Lovett Col- a practice at their discretion. lege) and Sam Shainsky (Lovett College). Special thanks to George Webb III (Rice ‘89). All Rice brochure cover de- signs: Jay Jameson. Photographers: E.M. Apostolakis, Bill Baptist, Tommy Lavergne, Jeff Shaw, Aaron Sprecher, Anthony Vasser, Brian Westerholt and the SID staff (past and present). Copies of the guide are available to the public for $10 and may be obtained from the Athletic Business Office; Rice University PO Box 1892, MS 548, Houston, TX 77251-1892.

92 2009 RICE OWLS BASEBALL Media R

News Services Television Media AP-Houston, 16945 Northchase Drive, Suite 2110, KHOU-TV (CBS Affiliate/Channel 11) khou.com Houston, TX 77060 PO Box 11, Houston, TX 77001 (281) 872-8900; Fax: (281) 872-9988 (713) 521-4375; Fax: (713) 520-7763 Giff Nielsen - Sports Director; Matt Musil, Butch AP-Texas, 4851 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75244 Alsandor (972) 991-2100; Fax: (972) 991-7207 Jamie Aron - Southwest Regional Sports Editor KPRC-TV (NBC Affiliate/Channel 2) click2houston.com PO Box 2222, Houston, TX 77001 Rice Baseball’s Radio Home Print Media (713) 778-4986; Fax: (713) 771-4930 For the 20th consecutive year, Rice Houston Chronicle chron.com Randy McIlvoy - Sports Director; Winston Dutchin, fans will be able to tune in to KTRU 801 Texas, Houston, TX 77002 Keith Norton (91.7 FM) to hear most of the Owls’ reg- (713) 220-7891; Fax: (713) 220-7866 ular-season games and all postseason KRIV-TV (FOX Affiliate/Channel 26) myfoxhouston.com M.K Bower, Rice Beat Writer; Michael Murphy, UH beat games. Every game is available on the writer; Steve Campbell, Richard Justice & Jerome Solo- PO Box 22810, Houston, TX 77027 (713) 479-2841; Fax: (713) 626-9872 worldwide web at www.RiceOwls.com mon - Columnists; David Barron - Assistant Sports Editor/ and www.KTRU.org. Features; Dale Robertson - Features Mark Berman - Sports Director; Keith Caulkins The Rice Owls Sports Network is a West U Examiner examinernews.com KTRK-TV (ABC Affiliate/Channel 13) abc13.com production of Rice Sports Properties, a 2444 Times Blvd., Suite 200, Houston, TX 77005 P.O. Box 13, Houston, TX 77001 division of IMG. The executive produc- (713) 520-1226; Fax: (713) 520-1193 (713) 663-4572; Fax: (713) 663-4591 er of the Rice Owls Sports Network is Mike Tenney - Sports Editor Bob Allen - Sports Director; Tim Melton, Bob Slovak Russ Dean. The 2009 KTRU games are as follows: KHCW-TV (CW Affiliate/Channel 39) khcw.trib.com The Thresher ricethresher.org Feb. 21 at Cal Poly 3 pm Rice University, 6100 Main, MS 526, Houston, TX 77005 7700 Westpark, Houston, TX 77063 Feb. 27 UCLA 7 pm (713) 348-4801; (713) 348-5238 (713) 435-2833; Fax: (713) 787-0528 Mar. 3 at Sam Houston State 6:30 pm Lily Chun & Dylan Farmer - Editors-in-Chief; Jorge Vargas - Sports Director; Ray Fischer Mar. 12 San Diego 6:30 pm Mar. 17 Texas 6:30 pm Casey Michel - Sports Editor KNWS-TV (Independent/Channel 51) knws51.com Mar. 18 at Houston 6:30 pm 8440 Westpark, Houston, TX 77063 Mar. 20 at Southern Miss (C-USA) 6:30 pm Mar. 21 at Southern Miss (C-USA) 3 pm Sports/News Radio (713) 974-5151; Fax: (713) 974-5188 KFNC-FM (ESPN 97.5 The Ticker) 975theticket.com Apr. 3 Tulane (C-USA) 6:30 pm Apr. 10 at East Carolina (C-USA) 6 pm (Rice Football & Men’s Basketball Flagship Station) KTBU-TV (Indendent/Channel 55) thetube.com Apr. 18 Marshall (C-USA) 2 pm 9801 Westheimer, Suite 700, Houston, TX 77042 7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 201, Houston, TX 77063 Apr. 19 Marshall (C-USA) Noon (713) 266-1000; Studio: (713) 780-3776; Fax: (713) 954-2344 (713) 864-1999; Fax: (713) 864-0528 Apr. 21 at Texas 6 pm Carl Dukes, Calvin Murphy - On Air Hosts; Dave Tepper - Apr. 29 A&M-Corpus Christi 6:30 pm Program Director FSN Houston foxsports.com/regional/southwest May 1 at Houston (C-USA) 6:30 pm May 2 at Houston (C-USA) 6:30 pm 3200 SW Freeway, Suite 3300, Houston, TX 77027 KILT-AM (Sports Radio 610) sportsradio610.com May 3 at Houston (C-USA) 1 pm (713) 840-6013; Fax: (713) 552-0022 May 5 Texas State 6:30 pm 24 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1900, Houston, TX 77046 Jeff Hallas - Executive Producer; Bart Ennis, Patty May 8 UCF (C-USA) 6:30 pm (713) 881-5100; Studio: (713) 572-4610; Fax: (713) 881-5199 Smith May 9 UCF (C-USA) 2 pm Marc Vandermeer, Andre Ware, Adam Claton, Rich Lord, May 10 UCF (C-USA) 1 pm Matt Jackson, Adam Wexler, Danny Vera, Dave Harbison May 12 Louisiana-Lafayette 6:30 pm - On Air Hosts; Rob Costa, Robert Henslee, Danny Vera - Baseball Publications May 14 at UAB (C-USA) 7 pm Reporters Baseball America May 15 at UAB (C-USA) 7 pm PO Box 2089, Durham, N.C. 27702 May 16 at UAB (C-USA) 1 pm May 20-24 at C-USA Championship TBA KBME-AM (790 The Sports Animal) 790kbme.com (800) 334-8671; FAX (919) 682-2880 Aaron Fitt, John Manuell May 29-31 NCAA Regionals TBA 2000 West Loop South, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77027 June 5-7 NCAA Super Regionals TBA (713) 212-8000; Studio: (713) 212-5790 Fax: (713) 212-8957 June 13-22 at College World Series TBA Brad Davies, Craig Roberts, Ted Deluca, John Lopez, Collegiate Baseball Charlie Pallilo - On Air Hosts; David Dahlati - Reporter PO Box 50566, Tucson, Ariz. 85703 (520) 623-4530; FAX (520) 624-5501 KCOH-AM (Radio 1430) kcohradio.com Lou Pavlovich, Jr. 5011 Almeda, Houston, TX 77004 (713) 522-1001; Fax: (713) 521-0769 USA Today/Sports Weekly Ralph Cooper - Sports Director 1000 Wilson Blvd., 21st Floor, Arlington, Va. 22229-0020 FAX (703) 558-4678 or 558-4677 In addition to the radio and Internet broad- casts, Owl baseball fans are able to watch KGOW-AM (1560 The Game) 1560thegame.com Andy Gardiner 5353 West Alabama, Suite 415, Houston, TX 77056 the team on their computer via streaming (713) 479-5300; Fax: (713) 521-0769 video on the Internet. All Rice games from John Granato, Lance Zierlein, Richard Justice, Sean Reckling Park will be available on a sub- Pendergast, John Harris - On Air Hosts scription basis on OwlVision at www.Ric- eOwls.com. For more information, contact the Rice athletic marketing office at 713- 349-6917.

2009 RICE OWLS BASEBALL 93 R Time Out at Rice University

To Rice From The Airports... From George Bush/Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH): Exit the airport to U.S. 59 South. Travel past downtown Houston to the Shepherd/Greenbriar exit. Turn left/south on Greenbriar (one-way street) to University Blvd. Turn left/east on University to entrance eight (Stockton Street).

From Houston Hobby Airport (HOU): Turn right from the airport onto Airport Blvd. Travel north on IH-45. Exit on U.S. 59 South. Exit Shepherd/Greenbriar. Turn left/south on Greenbriar (one-way street) to University Blvd. Turn left/ east on University to entrance eight (Stockton Street).

For more information about IAH and HOU, including ter- minal maps, airport accomodations, flight information and car rentals, please visit...

http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/

Area Hotels Area Restaurants Hampton Inn-Houston Galleria Chick-Fil-A 4500 Post Oak Parkway 3101 W. Holcombe (713) 871-8911 713-660-8200

Holiday Inn-Reliant Park Jason’s Deli 8111 Kirby Drive 2530 University (713) 790-1900 713-522-2660

Marriott-Medical Center Jersey Mike’s Subs 6580 Fannin 5819 Kirby Dr. (713) 796-0080 713-523-3151

Residence Inn Medical Center Princes Hamburgers 7710 South Main Street 3899 Southwest Freeway (713) 660-7993 713-626-9950

Courtyard by Marriott Two Rows 2929 Westpark Drive 2400 University (2nd Level) Tudor (713) 661-5669 713-529-2739 Rice Stadium Fieldhouse (Football) Residence Inn West U 2939 Westpark Drive (713) 661-4660

Event Parking

Reckling Park (Baseball) The primary campus borders are Main Street, University Blvd., Soccer & Track Rice Blvd. and Greenbriar Stadium

University Blvd. Main Street

94 2009 RICE OWLS BASEBALL NCAA Compliance R

Rice University strives to assure all staff members and Once an individual is identified as such a representative, HOWEVER . . . its athletes abide by all aspects of NCAA regulations. the person retains that identity indefinitely. DO feel free to attend high school and community All Rice University boosters and fans are also expected college athletic events for your enjoyment, but not to to follow such guidelines, as any misconduct on their Extra Benefit: An extra benefit is any special scout or videotape for an institution’s coaching staff. part could lead to Rice being put on NCAA probation arrangement by an institutional employee or an While at such an event you cannot have any contact and sanctions against one or more of the university’s athletics representative to provide a prospect or a with prospects or their relatives. Should you find intercollegiate sports teams. The following is a brief student-athlete (or the prospect or student-athlete’s yourself seated next to parents of a prospect, DO NOT example of some NCAA terms and guidelines that we relatives or friends) with a benefit not expressly initiate conversation with the relatives. If conversation hope you will find beneficial. Also, if you ever have any authorized by NCAA legislation. is initiated with you, respond in a civil manner but DO questions concerning NCAA rules, remember to ask The following are examples of extra benefits: NOT discuss anything regarding a member institution’s before you act. Feel free to call the Rice University · Giving cash or loans in any amount. athletic program. Direct their questions to the coaching compliance office at (713) 348-6919 or email Michael · Signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency staff or Athletic Compliance Office. Dean at [email protected]. to arrange a loan. DO continue ESTABLISHED family relationships with · Employing relatives or friends of a student-athlete. friends and neighbors. You are permitted to engage in NCAA DEFINITIONS · Giving gifts of any kind (e.g., birthday, Christmas, your normal activities with prospects and their parents Prospective Student-Athlete: A prospective student- Valentine’s Day) or free services (e.g., clothing, who are family and/or friends as long as they are not athlete (“prospect”) is defined as an individual who airline tickets, laundry, car repair, haircuts, meals in made for recruiting purposes and are not prompted by has begun classes for the ninth (9th) grade. However, restaurants). a member institutions coaching staff. Again, you simply it is possible for a student who is still in a lower grade · Providing special discounts for goods or services. are not permitted to attempt to recruit the prospect or to be considered as a prospect, if he/she receives a · Providing use of an automobile. discuss the athletics program. benefit from the institution that is not permitted per · Providing a meal other than in your home on special DO feel free to attend a public event (e.g., a high school NCAA regulations. infrequent occasions awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects attend. (e.g., Thanksgiving, birthday). NO attempt should be made to contact or recruit the Student-Athlete: A student-athlete is a student · Providing use of your summer home to go water prospect at the event. who is enrolled at a four-year institution and whose skiing, hunting, etc. DO send the coaching staffs any newspaper clippings enrollment was solicited by a member of the athletics · Providing transportation for any purpose. or other information about prospects which you think staff or other representative of athletics interests · Providing rent free or reduced rent housing. would be of interest. Your assistance in this way is with a view toward the student’s participation in the · Providing a benefit connected with on or off campus very helpful. The coaching staff will then make the intercollegiate athletics program. housing (e.g., television set, stereo equipment). contact with the prospect. DO provide employment · Providing tickets to an athletic, institutional or opportunities for currently enrolled student-athletes Contact: A contact is any face-to-face encounter community event. as appropriate. between a prospect, or the prospect’s parent or legal · Providing a guarantee of a bond. guardian, and an institutional staff member or athletics · Providing promise of financial aid for postgraduate NCAA EMPLOYMENT POLICIES representative during which any dialogue occurs. education. Prior to employment during the academic year, a · Promising employment after college graduation. student-athlete and his/her employer are required Recruiting: Recruiting is any solicitation (by phone, to register the job with the compliance office and mail, or inperson) of a prospect or a prospect’s family NCAA RECRUITING POLICIES FOR records of the earnings are to be kept on file in the member, or legal guardian. Only those institutional ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES Athletic Department. coaches who have passed the NCAA Recruiting Test DO NOT become directly or indirectly involved in are permitted to recruit for the institution. arranging for a prospect, or the prospect’s relatives or The following rules are applicable to any type of friends, to receive money or financial aid of any kind. student-athlete employment, whether during the Representatives of Athletics Interests: An individual, DO NOT provide any “extra benefits” to or for a academic year or summer: independent agency, corporate entity, or any prospect, or the prospect’s relatives or friends, · The rate of pay must be the normal rate for the organization who is known (or who should have without first checking with that institution’s Athletic duties performed. been known), by a member institution’s executive or Compliance Office. · The hours paid must be the hours worked. athletics administration to: DO NOT write to, telephone, or contact in person a · Payment in advance of hours worked is not (a) Have participated in or to be a member of an prospect or the prospect’s family (on or off campus). permitted. agency or organization promoting the institution’s If a coach is accompanied by a prospect on campus, · Transportation to work may be provided only if intercollegiate athletics program; in the community or at the airport, do not approach the transportation is available to other non-athlete (b) Have made financial contributions to the athletics coach and prospect. If a prospect approaches you off employees in similar positions. department or to an athletics booster organization of campus regarding an institution’s athletic program, that institution; explain that NCAA rules do not permit you to discuss (c) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the the program. Suggest that the prospect contact the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment institution’s athletics department for information. of prospects; DO NOT entertain high school, prep school, or two- (d) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing year college coaches at any location. benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; DO NOT contact the prospect’s coach, principal, or (e) Have been involved otherwise in promoting the or counselor for evaluating the prospect. You are institution’s athletics program. not permitted to videotape games or pick up films or transcripts from the prospect’s educational institution.

2009 RICE OWLS BASEBALL 95 R In Memory

In Memory: Dr. Jim Castañeda

Dr. James Castañeda, who served Rice University for 46 years as an educator, coach and administrator, passed away on November 2, 2008. In addition to serving as the University’s NCAA faculty representative for 33 years and the head golf coach for 15 years, he was also the assistant varsity baseball coach from 1962 to 1983. Dr. Castañeda, was the Owls’ head freshman baseball coach from 1962-67.

As a Rice baseball coach he helped develop the skills of the Owls’ first player ever to be selected in the first round of the Major League draft (Ronald Henson). He was a standout college player in his own right at Drew University, and was named to that school’s athletics hall of fame. Dr. Castañeda remains in the thoughts of the Rice baseball program, the Athletics Department and the University.

96 2009 RICE OWLS BASEBALL