The 2010 season that saw the Bears in a bowl game for the first time since 1994 is officially a thing of the past, as the 2011 preparations have officially begun.

With the April 2 spring game quickly approaching, Baylor football diagnoses itself with a healthy offensive pulse and a fresh, promising look on defense.

Football’s path to consecutive postseason appearances started Monday as the Bears returned to the Highers Athletics Complex for the first of 15 spring workouts. As normal, energy and emotions ran high among players itching to get back on the field.

Make no mistake, on paper Baylor’s 2011 recruiting class is nothing to get too excited about.

As Baylor students were waking up to frigid temperatures and no electricity, hoping to find class cancellation e-mails on their phones, four-star recruit Spencer Drango had already signed his national letter of intent for Baylor, the first signee of the day.

It did not take coach Art Briles much time to determine the Bears’ 2011 recruiting needs. Bidding farewell to senior leaders like safety Byron Landor, defensive tackle Phil Taylor and linebacker Antonio Johnson, Baylor placed a premium on defensive players.

One of Waco’s finest football stars will be playing for a new team this fall, but he but he will not be leaving the city.

In the world of college football, no day in the offseason carries as much as importance as the first Wednesday of February. Today is National Signing Day. All around the country, athletes will sign their letters of intent, signaling where they will play their college football.

Baylor’s new defensive coordinator Phil Bennett made his first appearance to the local media earlier this month, joining coach Art Briles in discussing Bennett’s hiring and plans on the field.