College Confidential: Art Briles would rather play Tech in Waco

Art Briles would rather play Tech in Waco

WACO _ Like his coaching counterpart at Texas Tech, Baylor coach Art Briles isn't exactly thrilled about playing the Red Raiders at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

"And I hate to be that way,'' Briles said. "We've got a job to do and our job is to go out there and win the football game, and it really doesn't matter where it's played or any of those conditions.

"I wish I could say really it excites me (to play in the Cowboys Stadium). But I know once the game gets going, then all that's out the window and you just concentrate on what's going on.''

Baylor faces Texas Tech at 5 p.m. Saturday in Arlington, and the game is technically a home game for the Bears. Tech will be the home team when these same two teams play next year at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas while the State Fair of Texas is going on.

Actually, both Baylor and Tech may have a financial windfall because of Saturday's game. Had the game been played at Baylor, the crowd likely would have been smaller, because it's Thanksgivings and the majority of the students will have left for home.

However, a standing-room-only crowd of some 75,000 folks will be at the game in Arlington, which will give both Baylor and Texas Tech a much better payday.

Earlier, Tech coach Mike Leach also said he wasn't exactly happy to lose a home game (next year) while playing Baylor.

"I think it is a big deal, it's a great stadium, it's a great venue, and for our fans it's very convenient being in the Metroplex,'' Briles said. "It's going to allow some people to get to the game that otherwise might not have been able to.

"But for me personally, it's an opportunity to represent this university and have a good chance to beat Texas Tech. That's what I'm concentrating on.''

-- Dwain Price

Posted at 01:20 PM | Permalink