Dice makes resurgence

Dice makes resurgence

By Craig Sanders
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 23, 1996

SEATTLE - Richard Dice is back.
He may not be at 100 percent, but Arizona's go-to receiver showed on Saturday that he is ready to contribute to the Wildcats in a big way.
"I feel good now. I felt like I could go today," Dice said after the UA's 31-17 loss to Washington. "I held up really well, especially for playing on Astroturf."
Dice finished the game with five receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. He had several tough catches over defenders, and his touchdown was on one of his favorite plays, a fade pass to the corner of the end zone.
"I really like being able to just go after that ball one-on-one." Dice said. "He throws it up and I can go after it. I would like to see it used a lot more."
The commitment to go to Dice seemed clear from the beginning of the game. On Arizona's first play, quarterback Keith Smith hit Dice for a 23-yard gain.
"I knew we had to get him the ball," Smith said. "It is a part of the offense we haven't been taking advantage of."
Arizona head coach Dick Tomey said Dice was one of the game's bright spots. He said he also expects to see a lot more of him as the season progresses.
"He looked a lot stronger today and he will continue to look better," Tomey said. "He had some of that spring back in his step. With the bye week (Saturday) he should get even stronger. It was good to see him back making plays."
Dice has been rehabilitating his right knee since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last season. The injury caused him to miss five games and, after off-season surgery, has continued to slow him this year.
"It was a matter of not getting the reps and not being in football shape," Dice said. "I've slowly been getting back into action."
While Dice's injury has limited him, he said the team is just getting comfortable with the new passing game.
"All the receivers have been telling Coach (Homer) Smith to let us get more involved in the offense," Dice said. "Today he opened it up a little more and allowed Keith to throw the ball."