Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Sports

Noble: Players see they're as good as top opponents

Rice rivalry brings out the best in both teams

Coaches' Corner

Sam Khan Jr.

The Cougar baseball team has kicked off its season by participating in the Minute Maid Park College Classic, as well as the opener of the Silver Glove Series between UH and Rice. The Daily Cougar took some time to sit and chat with head coach Rayner Noble about the Cougars' start, the Silver Glove Series and baseball's steroid controversy.

Sam Khan: One of the trademarks of your teams, year in and year out, is that you guys play a tough schedule. This year you've started with Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Rice. Talk about your philosophy as to why you play that type of schedule every year.

Rayner Noble: Well I've always thought that if you're going to find out whether or not you're good enough to be with the top teams in the country, that you might as well play them. We're in a good area here with the many quality ball clubs around so it makes it easier to schedule them.

SK: Even though the team has started 1-3, the games have been competitive -- you beat a quality Texas A&M team and showed some resiliency Tuesday coming back after being down a few runs against Rice. What type of tone does that set for the rest of the season?

RN: I think our players are starting to understand that they are as good as the teams we've played. We can't say we're better than them -- we're not. Once we start doing the little things a lot better, maybe we can claim that. I think with what we have, we're doing very well right now.

SK: Tuesday was the opener of the Silver Glove Series. What does that series mean to the UH-Rice rivalry, and do you think it helps make your team better, seeing how each of you reach the postseason on a consistent basis?

RN: I think we've had one of the most solid rivalries in the country, at least in baseball. Ever since we've played them since I've been here dating back to Southwest Conference play in 1995, it has been hot and heavy. From seeing (Tuesday's) game, I can see that nothing's changed. I think it starts when you're a little kid -- when you have a friend that you're close with, you naturally compete with each other. I think the competition brings out the best in everybody. Whenever we play Rice, it is fierce competition.

SK: With 18 wins this season, you will become the coach with the most career wins in UH history. What does that mean to you?

RN: I think that people, especially myself, need to stand back and look more toward the players that have rolled through this baseball program. My job is to recruit the best ballplayers I can find, and let them do what they do best and that's play the game. We've been very fortunate to have some really great ballplayers here in the last 10 years. There's not much credit that I can take aside from being able to get out of bed and come to work. Great ballplayers make us all better coaches.

SK: The hottest topic in baseball circles right now is the debut of former Major Leaguer Jose Canseco's book in which he alleges several successful ballplayers took steroids. What do you think of the allegations, and how long do you think this has been a problem?

RN: I think that anytime you involve as much money as professional athletes are paid, you're going to see people take shortcuts - that's just human nature. It's a sad thing to see, but it's out there, it's live and it's in play -- I really believe that. I'm totally against it. I'm a traditionalist -- I believe that God gave you a body and you don't put stuff like that in it. To put other stuff in there to enhance your performance -- I'm totally against it. I think it's been a problem since the early-to-mid 1980s. That's when it started to show its ugly head.
 
 
 

Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu