ESPN College Football

HOUSTON -- Rice coach Ken Hatfield is apparently staying put, saying Tuesday he was looking ahead to next season's opener after a local television report said he was resigning.

"I think we're set to have a good football team. I feel good about the youth," Hatfield said at a news conference. "We'll see where we go from here."

Hatfield, who has coached Rice since 1994, bristled at questions about his future, saying the Owls were a few plays away from being much better than 1-10.

"How many games have come down to one play making a difference one way or the other?" Hatfield snapped at a reporter. "Have you ever researched that? You ought to do that."

The Owls' record was the team's worst during Hatfield's tenure and Rice's worst mark since they went 0-11 under Jerry Berndt in 1988.

Hatfield, roster in hand, said more than 90 percent of Rice's players were coming back and vowed the Owls would be better next season. He also said he planned to retain his entire staff.

"I don't anticipate any changes," he said.

Athletics director Bobby May did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday.

Hatfield blamed many struggles on the schedule; the Owls opened with No. 11 UCLA and No. 2 Texas and didn't play a home game until Oct. 15. They lost their first eight games.

"It was hard gaining a lot of confidence for our younger players," he said. "But I think, as time went on, we got better."

Rice lost 14 straight games between 2004-05, ending what had been the nation's longest I-A losing streak with a 42-34 win over Tulane on Nov. 12.

Attendance at 70,000-seat Rice Stadium dwindled to embarrassing levels this year. Rice averaged 10,072 fans at its five home games, which is an all-time low in 56 seasons, and the home finale against Central Florida on Nov. 19 drew only 8,267.

Hatfield said he wasn't concerned about the low turnouts, promising the fans would return once the Owls started winning again.

"I'm in good spirits," Hatfield said. "I'm not worried about anything."

Hatfield is 55-78-1 in 12 seasons at Rice, but the Owls have had only one winning season since going 7-4 in 1997. They went 8-4 in 2001.

Hatfield previously coached at Air Force, Arkansas and Clemson. He is the fifth winningest active coach in Division I-A, with 168 career victories.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press