It was only a year ago when fans called for the firing of Baylor’s defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, as he faced constant scrutiny. The defense left a lot to be desired after giving up more than 519 yards per game through the first nine games of 2012.
Nov. 17, 2012, everything changed.
The Baylor Bears’ record-setting season has created an influx of students at The Case.
The homecoming game against Iowa State produced the second-largest student crowd Floyd Casey Stadium has ever had, with 8,900 students attending. This is just behind the 2011 University of Texas game, where 9,000 students showed up.
With all of the firepower of Baylor football, it’s no surprise a valuable weapon has slipped through the cracks. Junior wide receiver Clay Fuller may be sensationalized. There’s no doubt in his teammates minds, Fuller is one of the leaders of this team.
Flashback to Sept. 29, 2012: Baylor had just put up 581 passing yards, 700 yards of total offense and 63 points against No. 9 West Virginia… and lost.
In that game, the Baylor defense allowed West Virginia to pass for an astounding 656 yards and finish with 807 yards of total offense.
No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. TCU
Despite the perception of Oklahoma State as an offensive oriented team, the defense has stepped up and has been integral to the Cowboys’ success. OSU is currently 38th in the country and fifth in the Big 12 in total defense, holding teams to 361.2 yards per game.
TCU (1-2) vs. SMU (1-2)
The Horned Frogs have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball, ranking outside the top 50 in passing yards, rushing yards, points for, points against and total defense.
Luckily for TCU, this may be the game to turn things around. SMU is coming off a big loss to No. 10 Texas A&M in College Station. SMU barely sneaked by in a win against FCS opponent Montana State.
Kansas (1-1) vs. Louisiana Tech (1-2)
So far this season, the Kansas Jayhawks have been decidedly poor. After taking care of business against a bad South Dakota team, Kansas was soundly defeated by Rice a week later. While Rice is not a bad team, it is not the type of team that should be beating Big 12 opponents. Kansas has struggled mightily throwing the ball with 140.0 passing yards a game.
No. 24 TCU (1-1) at Texas Tech (2-0)
After being suspended for much of last season, senior TCU quarterback Casey Pachall broke his arm in last week’s game against Southeastern Louisiana. Backup sophomore quarterback Trevone Boykin was able to come in and lift TCU to the victory, throwing for 133 yards and two touchdowns on only 13 pass attempts.
Baylor’s recruiting class has drawn some national attention. ESPN ranked Baylor’s recruiting class at No. 28 in the country, just behind Oklahoma State and Oregon. There are only three Big 12 schools ahead of Baylor on the list: No. 15 Texas, No. 16 Oklahoma, and No. 27 Oklahoma State.
The Bears’ most highly touted recruit this year is wide receiver Robbie Rhodes. As a senior at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Rhodes racked up 20 touchdowns, including 15 through the air. During his three years on varsity, Rhodes tallied 2,500 receiving yards and 751 rushing yards.
While the football team is busy trying to scrape a win out of the goose egg in the conference win column, the women’s basketball team is protecting its 40-game win streak.
What’s the difference between the two besides the obvious?
Baylor hits the road for a Friday night nationally televised game versus ULM on ESPN. Baylor is 2-0 after coming off an ugly win against Sam Houston State. This looks to be a tough game, and Baylor fans ought to be slightly nervous since this is the Bears ‘first road game of the season.
As you may have heard, the Baylor and TCU’s student governments have agreed to come up with a name for the football rivalry.
As I sat at my computer at the Lariat sports desk, I came up with a name of my own: The Trust Fund Tussle.
At left guard, a 6-foot-5-inch, 335-pound man stares down the opposing line, a man who squats 705 pounds and cleans 341 pounds.
His goal: making sure no one touches his quarterback.
After an unprecedented year of athletic success, current and former Baylor student-athletes hauled in a number of prestigious awards this summer.
On July 11, at the ESPY awards in Los Angeles, Heisman trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III was given “Best College Male Athlete.”
Senior women’s basketball phenom Brittney Griner actually ended up winning two trophies at the ESPY’s, laying claim to the “Best Female College Athlete” in addition to the “Best Female Athlete” award.
Does lightning strike the same place twice? Baylor athletics is on a mission to make sure that it does.
Going from an overlooked extra in the Big 12 to a front-runner in multiple sports, the Bears are not settling for the past but are hungry for more.
Baylor Student Activities is confident the SUB will hold everyone who comes to the Heisman trophy watch party on Saturday night.
Baylor students wanting to see the Heisman trophy presentation on TV can do so at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at the…
As expected, this game has proved to be an offensive showdown, with Baylor leading Texas Tech 31-28 at halftime in Cowboys Stadium.
Lightning stopped the game but not the Bears, as they defeated Stephen F. Austin 48-0 after three quarters.
