Rice went to its first bowl game in 45 years last season.

Then the coach who got them there left for another job after just one year in Houston.

The Owls want to land in another bowl game this season.

Now the Owls will try to build on the unlikely success of 2006 and forget about Todd Graham, now at Tulsa, with new coach David Bailiff.

Bailiff made the jump to Rice from Division I-AA Texas State, where he spent the past three seasons. The 49-year-old is excited and has a lofty goal for his new team.

"You come here and you embrace Rice," he said. "You don't try to change it. We want to build a top 25 program. There is no doubt that we can do it right here."

And he's thankful for what Graham did in his short stint by leading the Owls to a 7-6 record and a berth in the New Orleans Bowl.

"He sparked a renewed interest in the program, and he created the momentum that we need to build on for this season," Bailiff said.

Bailiff is fortunate to have the top weapon from last year's team that won its final six regular season games back in Jarrett Dillard, a second-team All-America receiver and Biletnikoff Award finalist.

Dillard, the Conference USA preseason offensive player of the year, emerged from obscurity last season by catching 91 passes for 1,247 yards and 21 touchdowns, all school records. He has caught a touchdown pass in 15 straight games, just three shy of the NCAA record of 18 by former Pittsburgh standout Larry Fitzgerald.

"The streak is great," Dillard said. "Who wouldn't want to break an NCAA record? However, the only statistic that matters is how many wins and losses you have."

No that he's no longer a secret, Dillard expects to be more heavily covered this season, which could help his fellow receivers.

"I see our offense producing and other receivers getting a chance to get involved," he said. "I might be covered more this season. That allows Joel Armstrong and Tommy Henderson to make plays. I expect ... two players on me. If defenses decide to do that, the good thing is that we have four other receivers with great hands that can make plays."

He also has Chase Clement, who returns after throwing for 1,707 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Injuries limited Clement to eight starts in 2006.

"I don't know if he's going to be able to do what he did last year," Clement said of Dillard. "I'm sure he's going to get double covered a little bit more. But I definitely know that in the fourth quarter when we need a big play, we'll be looking for him."

Armstrong, who filled in at quarterback last season while Clement was injured, will be a full-time receiver this season. He completed 145 passes for 948 yards and eight touchdowns and had 24 catches for 265 yards and two more scores last season. He also had 135 yards and a touchdown rushing.

"I'm a team player so I didn't really mind helping out and moving around," he said. "But it's nice that I can just focus on the receiver spot this year."

Armstrong said last year's success, which came after going 1-10 in 2005, helped build needed confidence.

"The whole mind-set of the team has changed," he said. "The excitement is high, and we expect to win. We go into practice knowing that we're a good team, and it makes everything flow better."

On defense the Owls return linebacker Brian Raines, who looks to rebound from an offseason injury and build on his success in 2006. He led the team with 118 tackles, the most since Larry Izzo had 121 in 1995. He forced five fumbles and had 10 or more tackles in six games.

Nose tackle George Chukwu had a career-high eight tackles for losses last season.