By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer, Video by Nate Smith | Broadcast Reporter When your back is against the goal line, you have nothing to lose. At least that’s what junior quarterback Charlie Brewer thought when he decided that it was time to lead his fifth-career fourth quarter comeback in the Bears’ 33-30 thrilling double-overtime win against Texas Tech Saturday. “It was going to give me a heart attack, but you find a way to win,” Brewer said. “I just feel like that’s when the quarterback has to be at his best, when the game is on the line.” Down…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterWhen I first heard about college athletes wanting to be paid on top of a full-ride scholarship, I had to laugh. Looking at Baylor alone, with tuition, housing and student charges, the full attendance price is just shy of $62,000. Then multiply that by four. Let’s keep in mind, according to the US Census Bureau, the average American household has an income of $63,000. It simply seemed like greed, and I was entirely against the idea of paying college athletes. Until I began researching for this editorial. Business Insider made a video researching NCAA’s revenue,…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer, Video by Drake Toll | Broadcast Reporter What does a “1-0 every week” mindset mean to No. 22 Baylor football? Well, for starters, it meant that junior running back John Lovett didn’t know the team broke into the AP Top 25 or who the Bears will face after Texas Tech this weekend. “A lot of people, like outsiders, might think we’re focusing on Texas or Oklahoma, but we’re just worried about what’s next,” the leading rusher said. “Which is 1-0 against Texas Tech.” This Saturday, the Red Raiders come to McLane Stadium for the…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer Baylor’s defense held Kansas State to only one touchdown in its 31-12 win in Manhattan, Kan. on Saturday. After giving up 21 points to Iowa State in the fourth quarter two weeks ago, head coach Matt Rhule and his defensive unit emphasized that it was important to play hard to the last second. And the Bears did just that. Baylor clinched its second consecutive conference victory, marking the first back-to-back Big 12 win under Rhule. With six sacks, 15 tackles for a total loss of 40 yards and an interception, Baylor’s defense was the…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterAt home hosting the 11th annual Willis Invitational, No. 8 Baylor equestrian bounced back after a slow start to the season, sweeping Delaware State (12-3) and UC Davis (14-2).Last week the Bears traveled to Dallas to face No.5 Southern Methodist. The team struggled to keep up with SMU, falling to the Mustangs 14-5. To open their second meet of the season, Baylor matched up against Delaware State on Friday, securing a 12-3 victory to open the home matches. Saturday morning the Bears faced UC Davis in a dominant 14-2 performance. Head coach Casie Maxwell said…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterBaylor men’s basketball spent nine days in Italy over the summer, which allowed the team to gain four extra games of experience before its official practice schedule began this month. More importantly though, the Bears took steps toward creating a “brotherhood” for the new season, according to junior guard MaCio Teague, who said the best part of the trip was the team bonding. “We have a lot of guys on the team who respect each other and love each other,” Teague said. “That’s the main thing, just being a brotherhood and a family at Baylor…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports writer, Video by Drake Toll | Broadcast Reporter Traveling to Manhattan Kan., this weekend, Baylor football has the opportunity to clinch their first away conference win since November 2017. In Big 12 play last year, the Bears couldn’t hold on to a road win — falling 23-17 to Texas, 28-14 against Iowa State and 16-9 to TCU. The last conference victory on the road for Baylor came against Kansas in 2017 (38-9), which was also the Bears’ only win of the season that year. Coming off their first conference victory of the season against Iowa…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterBaylor’s defense held Iowa State scoreless in the first three quarters of its Big 12 opener on Saturday, but then the Bears ended up giving away three touchdowns in the fourth. Although worry began to grow in the stands, junior defensive end James Lockhart said there was no panic to be seen on the defensive sideline. “Normally in the past, like last year, there were times where things kind of got chaotic, and sometimes I feel like that hurt us in the past. But I feel this time when there was chaos, we embraced it,”…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer, Video by Drake Toll | Broadcast Reporter Baylor ran up a 20-0 lead, then gave up 21 unanswered points before a clutch drive in the final minutes helped the Bears defeat Iowa State 23-21. Redshirt freshman John Mayers kicked his first career field goal with 0:21 to go to give Matt Rhule’s team its first conference win and their fourth straight victory to start the season. After missing an early field goal in the first quarter, Rhule said when it came down to the final play, the team had confidence in Mayers. “I told…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterBaylor football looks to snap a two-game losing streak against Iowa State after a competitive — and some may say controversial — matchup last year. When the Bears faced off against the Cyclones in 2018, Baylor rallied 505 total offensive yards and seemed to be on their way to a comeback after trailing 20-0 into the third. With two Baylor touchdowns to close the third quarter and open the fourth, the team was driving down for the third time, but momentum was cut short after quarterback Charlie Brewer was disqualified for questioning an official’s mark…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer Coming up on the second month and ninth video since she created her YouTube vlog, senior defender Kylie Ross has reached over 30,000 subscribers and 440,000 views. What originally was just meant to be documentation of her final year at Baylor University ended up becoming her platform to inspire others, the senior said. “Once it started gaining traction, I realized the words I was putting out there could really have an effect on people,” Ross said. “It’s just helped me realize it’s always been more than soccer. Now more than ever I realize that.…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterPrior to the Rice and Baylor matchup Saturday, The Dallas Morning News predicted the Bears to come out victorious 49-14. The 21-13 victory came as a surprise to many, and led to some points of concern for head coach Matt Rhule Monday during his weekly press conference. Junior quarterback Charlie Brewer was 20-27 for over 300 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown. The Austin native also led the team with 58 rushing yards, contributing to nearly half of the team’s rushing yardage against the Owls (124). Although it sounds like a successful day for…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer After dropping two of their last three matchups, Baylor soccer looks forward to a weekend of possible upsets as it hosts the No. 2 USC Trojans on Friday night and Gonzaga on Sunday afternoon. USC comes to Waco undefeated (7-0) and averaging three goals a game, already outscoring opponents 19-5 on the 2019 season. The Bears last played USC in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Trojans, who were the defending national champions at the time, fell to Baylor in overtime as the Bears took a 3-0 advantage in penalty kicks.…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer There’s one word consistently used to describe Grayland Arnold by his teammates and coaches – leader. The junior cornerback comes off a four-game and redshirt season that was cut short from injury in 2018. Yet, Arnold opened 2019 strong with a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown in week two against UTSA (Baylor’s first punt return for a touchdown since 2013) and a total of seven tackles in the Bears’ first two games.Head coach Matt Rhule explained that Arnold’s unselfishness and willingness to do anything for the team are two traits that attest to…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterMy favorite tradition in college football (and this is going to sound bad because sic ‘em bears) is Penn State’s annual “White Out” during big games. You can expect to see a sold out crowd of over 100,000 fans in white in support of their team, no matter how hot or cold it is. With chants of “we are” on the left side of the field being responded with “Penn State” on the right, and while watching the game on television gets you excited and wondering, “What if this happened at my university?” Part of…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer This summer was a time of redemption for senior Cooper Dossey after suffering a wrist injury that resulted in surgery last fall. Dealing with a triangular fibrocartilage complex cartilage tear (TFCC), and shifting his extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon out of place, Dossey missed four tournaments last season. The senior noted though that he spent the summer playing in tournaments — focusing on regaining his strength and confidence. “To have that win early on in the summer was really big for me,” Dossey said. “It was cool to see the hard work pay off…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer Ninety-nine degrees, clear blue skies and a blazing sun made Saturday’s 63-14 victory over UTSA was the hottest game ever at McLane Stadium. And what seemed to be melting fans in the stadium was only intensified on the turf, as the rubber brought the temperature to 181 degrees on the field. To some players this wasn’t the worst game they played in, though. Junior offensive lineman Sam Tecklenberg said that his Texas roots made it “nothing new,” and junior linebacker Clay Johnston reminisced back to his freshman year for the hottest game. “It was…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterNo. 17 Baylor volleyball stays perfect on the season after sweeping No. 11 Marquette Sunday afternoon. With five consecutive wins, the Bears victory marked the programs first ever back-to-back wins against a ranked opponent after beating No. 4 Wisconsin on Friday. The game gave many Bears season and career highs. Junior outside hitter Yossiana Pressley led the hitters with 20 kills on a .444 clip and racked up over 1,000 collegiate kills. Senior redshirt middle blocker Shelly Stafford also had a season-high hitting .522, with 13 kills and eight blocks. The matchup marked a season-high…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer After falling short on their first set 25-21, No.17 Baylor came back with a 3-1 upset over No. 4 Wisconsin on Friday night, making it the highest ranked win in program history. The matchup was close throughout the night, with each set between two and four points until the Bears were able to gain an advantage in the fourth set and close out the game 25-17. Junior outside hitter Yossiana Pressley led the team with 31 kills and 16 digs, followed by middle blocker Shelly Stafford and outside hitter Gia Milana with eight kills.…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterWhat looked like an easy third-consecutive game sweep for No. 17 Baylor volleyball was challenged in the third set before the Bears overcame a deficit and took the match 3-0 over Syracuse Thursday night in Madison, Wis. Baylor dominated the whole matchup, clinching the first two sets 25-15 and 25-11 before struggling in the third, where the Bears trailed the Orange 20-16 after an attacking error. The error didn’t stop the team though, as the Bears rallied off five straight points before junior setter Hannah Lockin secured the win with a kill bringing the final…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Editor Redshirting gives student athletes an extra year to develop themselves as players, in size or to generally improve their skill sets. The year of growth not only works physically but mentally, as six of the nine single-digit honorees have redshirted at some point in their career. Under third-year head coach Matt Rhule, over 79 true freshmen and redshirts have played a game on Baylor’s team. In Saturday’s matchup, sophomore wide receiver R.J Sneed earned his first two career touchdowns along with 57 total yards. Looking back at his 2018 season and taking a year…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer, Video by Drake Toll | Broadcast Reporter Eight touchdowns, two blocked kicks and over 500 yards of total offense later, Baylor opened its season with a blowout 56-17 victory against Stephen F. Austin, getting a season-opening win for the second-consecutive year. Even with 15 returning starters, 12 of whom are seniors, Saturday’s game was a big day for the younger Bears. Sophomore running back Trestan Ebner led the team with three touchdowns and 40 receiving yards, sophomore wide receiver R.J. Sneed clinched his first two career touchdowns, true freshman Gabe Hall blocked two kicks…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer No. 20 Baylor volleyball couldn’t have asked for a better way to open the season after a 3-0 sweep over UCLA in the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. The Bears held UCLA to a 0.74 percentage, marking the 20th undefeated match under head coach Ryan McGuyre where Baylor held an opponent below .100 hitting. McGuyre’s team held a .278 offensive efficiency to snap a two-match losing streak against UCLA. Coming off a 20-9 (.690) season in 2018, McGuyre is excited about how the season opener played out and said the matchup was a “very…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterComing up on their fifth matchup since 1928, Baylor aims to remain undefeated against Stephen F. Austin in their season-opener this Saturday. Last facing SFA in 2011, the Bears were led by Robert Griffin III and totaled a 48-0 victory in just three quarters before the game ended due to weather. Baylor averaged 50 points in the matchup and have held the Lumberjacks to consecutive shutouts. With an eventful past leading up to the game, head coach Matt Rhule expects the Lumberjacks to attack the Bears’ points of weakness.“What we know is the things that…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer The single-digit jersey number is one of the highest points of recognition in Baylor’s football program. Voted on by teammates, the jerseys one through nine represent leadership, hardwork and dedication. The final and complete list of honorees came out this Sunday. Five of the nine players wearing single-digits this season have been given the honor in previous years, including Chris Miller, Grayland Arnold and Henry Black on defense, along with running backs John Lovett and JaMycal Hasty. Additionally, six of the selected men are defensive players, showing the growing maturity and strength of the…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterIn the 2018-19 college football season, the Big 12 Conference produced 26 selected players in the NFL Draft, 11 of whom were chosen within the first three rounds, second-consecutive Heisman Trophy winners, and of 10 teams, only three (Kansas State, Texas Tech and Kansas) lost more games than they won. Of the seven teams with winning records, all made bowl games and four came out with victories, including Baylor’s 45-38 win in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby clarified that 2018 wasn’t the only year of post-season…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports Writer In preseason polls, Baylor soccer is ranked No. 14 nationally and program-high No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference going into the 2019 season. The rankings don’t hold any weight to seventh-year head coach Paul Jobson, though. “We don’t put much into that, you know. It’s people’s opinions. It’s not based on anything. People are looking at, ‘OK, what did the teams do last year, what did they lose, what do they have,’” Jobson said. “We’ve appreciate that attention, we appreciate the confidence people have in us, but it really means absolutely nothing. We…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterHead coach Matt Rhule is only the second coach at Baylor in the last 50 years to reach a bowl game after just two years on the job. Over the course of three seasons at Temple from 2013 to 2015, Coach Rhule’s team improved from a dismal 2-10 record to 10-4. Similarly, coming up on his third year of tenure with the Bears, the head coach has the chance to bring the program to its first 10-win season since 2015. That’s the head coach’s expectation, too, although he admits it’s easier said than done. “I…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterGold jerseys with nicknames engulf your vision. Sweat from the people around you mixes with yours. The new hype video plays on the big screen to your right as the words “whoa oh oh oh” are chanted and your eyes lock onto the human-wall holding thousands of new freshman behind it. The words from an upperclassmen you met the other day repeat in your head — “don’t trip.” In three…two…one…book it!If this vaguely sounds familiar, you likely ran the Baylor Line before.If you’re prepping for Saturday Aug. 31 and your first run, here’s some of…

By Jessika Harkay | Sports WriterMatt Rhule is only the second coach at Baylor in the last 50 years to have reached a bowl game after just two years on the job.Over the course of three seasons at Temple (2013-2015), Rhule’s team improved from a dismal 2-10 record to 10-4. Similarly, coming up on his third year of tenure with the Bears, the head coach has the chance to bring the program to its first 10-win season since 2015.That’s the head coach’s expectation, too, although he admits it’s easier said than done.“I want to make another jump from last year.…