By Bennett Parker | Sports Writer
It has been an emotional four days for the Baylor football program. Former head coach Dave Aranda gave the team his gratitude before leaving, while interim head coach Joe Klanderman took the reins despite being “an emotional mess” on Sunday.
Klanderman has immediately stressed how this time can be a catalyst for the team despite its somber climate.
“Coach Klanderman brings the energy and the juice to this program,” fifth-year safety Michael Allen said. “In some ways, it’s a really tough day, but in other ways, it’s galvanizing for us to kind of find a new foundation.”
The program has plenty to sort through in the coming days. Certain roles and responsibilities will change as Klanderman oversees the whole team instead of just the defense. Some on the staff will also learn to work under Klanderman’s new guidance.
The move comes at a critical point of the season, leading up to a road game against an electrified UCF team with an accelerated week of practice.
“Who knows where I would have been without him?” defensive line coach Jacori Greer said. “I would say our team has a lot of resolve. I think they’ve done a really good job on focusing what they can control, so I’m fired up. … The timing was a little difficult being on a short week, but like I said, we’re focusing right now on the things that matter to us.“
Unity and energy underline the message from Klanderman and his players. Tactical strategy and execution are important, but the Bears are highlighting playing as a singular unit and playing free like they did earlier in the year.
“Everyone’s just bought in,” senior tight end Matthew Klopfenstein said. “They realize that we have a lot left on the table. And with that, we want to make the biggest impact we can with the seniors. The only way we’re going to do this is if we come together and we play as one.”
Baylor is coming off back-to-back losses to TCU and Kansas. The Bears haven’t played their best football of the season but juice on the field is the antidote.
“I want us to go out there and play with a passion and an energy that no one can match us with,” Allen said. “We’ve talked about just going out there and having fun. Not trying to be perfect, but if we play with an energy that those guys can’t match and have fun playing football, the results will take care of themselves.”
Baylor has hit a rocky stretch in its season, but standing at 4-3, the team still controls its own destiny with more chances to prove themselves in the remaining five weeks.
“Our guys are excited to play, honestly,” Greer said. “They wanna put on a show. They wanna show the world what this football team can be, because we’ve yet to do that in all three phases of the game. Everybody’s just chomping at the bit to get back out there on the grass.”
The Bears are set to play the UCF Knights at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida.
