College Confidential

Now do you believe in the Baylor Bears?

Let's see now, the Baylor Bears drove to Austin and defeated the Texas Longhorns, 30-22, on Saturday night in a Big 12 Conference grudge match.

And the Bears won despite a sub-par game from their most dynamic player, quarterback Robert Griffin.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Or, are the Bears the "mighty'' right now?

In a season where Baylor is turning plenty of heads for its sufficient play on the football field, the Bears turned many more heads Saturday when they won in Austin for the first since 1991. That last victory in Austin was back when George H. Bush was the President.

Afterwards, Baylor coach Art Briles -- who could probably run for mayor or any political office he wants to in Waco -- took pride in the toughness his team displayed in front of a massive crowd of 100,452.

"I am really proud of our football team, our players, our staff and our fans, because it has been a while since we have given any proof to believe, and people have really taken to it and supported it in a tremendous fashion,'' Briles said. "As a part of the football team, hats off to the people who are supporting us.

"And to our players, I think they are a resilient bunch and have great leadership in general and great senior leadership. And the guys always believe something good is going to happen."

The Bears are now 7-2 overall and are guaranteed of having their first winning season since they finished 7-4 in 1995. Baylor also continues to be in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 South with an impressive 4-1 record, and are ranked No. 22 in the latest Associated Press poll.

Maybe none of this should be surprising after all. Maybe a whole lot of folks are simply missing one of the greatest stories in college football this season.

Briles, who doesn't toot his team's horn, tried to put the win over Texas in perspective. He more or less said the Bears arrived a long time ago.

It just took some people a long time to recognize it.

"I think the thing that I am excited about is that we have seven wins on the board and we are in the middle of the Big 12 South (race),'' Briles said. "I am not looking at the (last win for Baylor in Austin) from 15 years ago because that does not affect our players.

"Our players came in here with the notion that we were going to play hard for 60 minutes and get out of here with a win, and that is all that we were concerned with.''

For those who are keeping score -- and there are many -- in less than a year Baylor has come out on the winning end of the stick against Texas in both of the major sports. The Bears swept Texas in men's basketball last season, three games to none, en route to advancing to the NCAA Elite 8.

Wasn't that -- the Elite 8 appearance, not the three wins over Texas -- arguably the greatest story in college basketball last season?

And now this head-scratcher in football.

Could what has transpired between Baylor and Texas over the past year in football and men's basketball alter things in the minds of recruits in both of those sports? Only the mommies and daddies _ and the recruits _ know for sure.

Griffin, who was just 16-of-24 for 219 yards, an interception and two touchdowns, said Baylor's years of struggles against Texas never came up during the week of preparation for the game. In their minds, Griffin and his teammates already knew they were on par with -- or better than -- the Longhorns.

Saturday, they went out and proved it.

"For us, it was another win,'' Griffin said. "The tide has changed this year.

"We are the team to beat and we are just going to keep rolling with that.''

The recruits are certainly paying close attention.

-- Dwain Price

 

 

UT loses another committment

Longtime Texas basketball recruit Myck Kabongo has reopened the recruiting process after committing to the Longhorns in January of 2009.

A talented point guard who is now the nation’s top uncommitted recruit, Kabongo told a national recruiting analyst that he will now also consider Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and Syracuse in addition to Texas.Two former AAU and Findlay Prep teammates Tristan Thompson and point guard Cory Joseph are freshmen at Texas.  Though he said he also is still considering Texas, California forward DeAndre Daniels has also broken a previous commitment.—Mike Jones.

 

 

TCU projected to jump Boise State in BCS standings

TCU will be third in the BCS standings this week, moving past Boise State, ESPN's Brad Edwards is projecting. Edwards' projections are 1. Auburn, 2. Oregon, 3. TCU, 4. Boise State and 5. Alabama.

This week, TCU plays at Utah,which was eighth in the BCS last week and possibly could move up to sixth after Michigan State (5) and Missouri (6) lost on Saturday. Oregon plays host to Washington and Auburn entertains Chattanooga. Alabama can build its case with a win at LSU, 12th in the BCS last week.

The BCS standings are announced at 7 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

TCU's Kirkpatrick, Texas' Acho among 2010 Lombardi semifinalists

TCU center Jake Kirkpatrick and Texas defensive end Sam Acho are among 12 semifinalists for the 2010 Lombardi Award, organizers announced today.

Other semifinalists from Big 12 schools included Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal and Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick. The winner will be announced Dec. 8 in Houston.

Other semifinalists include Clemson defensive end Da’quan Bowers, Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn, Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, Ohio State defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, Florida guard Rodney Hudson, Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones, Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan and LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas DE Acho selected as finalist for academic honor

Texas defensive end Sam Acho has been selected as a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, given to the top scholar-athlete among the nation’s college football players.

Each finalist for the Campbell Trophy, formerly known as the Draddy Trophy, receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation. Acho, who is on pace to graduate in December with a business degree, is the third different Longhorns to be recognized as a finalist in the past four seasons. Former Texas center Dallas Griffin won the award in 2007. Former quarterback Colt McCoy was a finalist last year.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

New Campaign: Put #TCU Gary Patterson in a Fedora and a Suit

TCU coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday that for the finale of Amon G. Carter Stadium as we know it on Nov. 13, his team will wear its classic purple and white uniforms. TCU has been at the forefront of teams sporting new duds in a season more than Britney Spears changes outfits during a concert (good way to get in a Britney Spears shot).
Patterson wants the team to go out of The Carter as it came in.

In a perfect world, this means leather helmets and no facemasks.

I asked GP if he would do the same and sport the old school suit and a fedora. He didn't sound very committed to the concept.

He needs to be. 

This needs to happen. If TCU remains undefeated through its next two games, Gary Patterson needs to go Abe Martin for the Amon G. Carter Stadium finale.

This must happen.

 

- Mac Engel

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@MacEngelProf

Tech's Neal Brown said Baylor's got talent

The talking heads, opposing alumni and other critics may not believe Baylor belongs on the same football field with Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. But Texas Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown said not so fast.

Baylor is in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 South with a 3-1 record. While it may be difficult for opposing alumni to digest that concept, Brown said it's high-time for everyone to get a reality check and stop player-hating on one of college football's best stories of the year.

Already bowl eligible with four games remaining, Baylor has just two losses in eight games this season. One loss was on the road against the No. 4-ranked team in the country, TCU, 45-10. The other loss was against the Red Raiders, 45-38, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

So, Brown knows first-hand about the superb job Bears coach Art Briles has done in less than three years at Baylor.

No, the Bears are not going to run the table and win their remaining four regular season games. But so far, they've done a lot better than a lot of other high-profile teams in this state.

"They're talented,'' Brown said. "People don't understand that coach Briles and his staff has done a great job.

"Their offensive skilled people are as good as anybody in the league, and better than most. They're just really fast.''

Brown's offense compiled 635 yards in the Oct. 9 win over the Bears. However, Brown also remembers that Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin passed for 384 yards and the Bears racked up 507 yards and did not commit any turnovers against the Red Raiders.

"Obviously, Griffin is Griffin, and everybody knows how good he is,'' Brown said. "But their wide outs are really good, they've got two running backs that are really talented, and they're going to score on just about everybody they play against.

"On defense, they've got two huge guys that play in the interior line who are good players. And they've got guys who can run.''

In a lot of ways, Brown believes the Raiders were fortunate to get out of Dallas with a win over Baylor. And the way Tech's season has gone thus far, the victory against the Bears is the Raiders' most impressive one to date.

Indeed, the Bears (6-2) are ranked No. 25 in the country and gaining confidence every week. And they're the only team Tech has beaten that has been ranked in the Top 25 at any point this season.

"We played very well against them and we got them on their heels a little bit,'' Brown said. "That was a good win for us, and every week it looks a little better.

"Guys like Baylor, they went out and got some skilled guys. When you've got speed, man, you can turn things around in a hurry, and they've got it.''

-- Dwain Price

Tech still can't believe Colorado took the ball

Two days have passed and Texas Tech still can't believe Colorado won the coin toss in Saturday's Red Raider-Buffalo game and stunningly decided to take the ball.

That ill-fated decision cost the Buffaloes dearly. Not only did it put the wind at the Raiders' back in the decisive fourth quarter, but it played a key role in the three field goals that were attempted in the final period.

While Colorado kicker Aric Goodman missed a 35-yard field goal into a stiff and swirling wind in the fourth quarter, Tech kicker Matt Williams took advantage of the wind to his back by kicking fourth-quarter field goals of 40 and 36 yards. The latter kicker came with 2:08 left and won the game for Tech, 27-24.

"I was shocked, too, I really was,'' said Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown, when asked about Buffs coach Dan Hawkins' decision to take the ball after winning the coin toss. "I think their thinking was if they could get up in the game, then they could kind of control it.

"I think they probably wanted to get that homecoming crowd into it a little bit. But that definitely worked to our favor.''

The fact that Tech has been struggling in the first period is reason along to just give the Raiders the ball to start the game.

In the first quarter against Colorado, the Raiders had two just first downs and only 20 total yards on 12 plays. In the previous game against Oklahoma State, Tech had just two first downs and only 38 yards on 20 plays in the first period.

In other words, if you win the opening coin toss take your chance and give the ball to Tech. Besides, shouldn't you be taking the wind in the fourth quarter anyway?

-- Dwain Price

 

Brown reflects on 'Soulja Boy' dance to motivate team in 2007

How far will Texas coach Mack Brown go to motivate a slumping team? Brown said today that, before the Longhorns’ 2007 game at Oklahoma State, he dressed in camouflage pants and a camouflage shirt and performed the “Soulja Boy” dance in the locker room.

It marked quite a sacrifice, Brown said, because, “I can’t dance a lick.”

How did players respond to their coach’s dance moves?

“They laughed so hard, they were crying. And I was so embarrassed,” Brown said. “But I thought, ‘Finally, we’re getting some emotion. It’s going to work.’ Then, we went out and stunk. We were down 35-14 … and I made a fool out of myself trying to get somebody to have a little passion.”

Eventually, the Longhorns rallied for a dramatic, 38-35 victory. Brown did not offer any insight about pre-game plans for Saturday’s game against Baylor (6-2, 3-1 in Big 12), when Texas (4-3, 2-2) seeks to bounce back from consecutive home losses for the first time since the 1997 season. But he left open the door to a potential fresh attempt at creative motivation.

“We’re back to trying anything to stir them up,” Brown said.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas didn't think Griffin was quarterback worthy

WACO _ They say recruitment of high school football players in an inexact science. But if the Texas Longhorns would have played their cards right, they could have had Baylor's Robert Griffin starting for them as their quarterback right now.

And wouldn't everyone in Longhorn Nation would like to see Griffin as their quarterback rather than you know who?

After all, Griffin is as close to another version of former UT quarterback Vince Young as anyone in college football. And remember, the only national title the Longhorns have won over the past 40 years came when Young took them there at the conclusion of the 2005 season.

Yeah, Texas did recruit Griffin, who was a standout high school quarterback up the road from Austin in Copperas Cove. But somebody at Texas ultimately dropped the ball when Griffin said the Longhorns didn't believe he could continue that success and become a polished college quarterback.

On Monday, Griffin was named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, an honor which goes to the country's best quarterback. So, it will be interesting to see how Griffin performs against a UT coaching staff who didn't think he had what it takes to be a quarterback on this level. 

"Texas did not recruit me as a quarterback,'' Griffin said Monday. "But they walked into my (high school) coach's office and placed an offer on the table as an "athlete,'' then walked out, so I never saw them.''

Say what?

"That's Texas for you,'' Griffin said. "But they get talent from anywhere they want.

"If they put an offer on the table and you don't accept it, they'll go find some other guy.''

Griffin didn't necessarily view Texas' "offer'' as a sign of disrespect to his ability _ or lack there of _ to play quarterback on the collegiate level.

"I was one (player) that didn't go to (summer) camps,'' Griffin said. "I felt like my game tapes did the talking for me, and I didn't have to go prove it.

"I only went to two camps -- one in Houston and one in Tulsa.''

Griffin orally committed to play for coach Art Briles at the University of Houston, because Briles promised he wanted him as his quarterback. And when Briles resigned at Houston and became Baylor's coach on Nov. 28, 2007, shortly thereafter Griffin withdrew his oral commitment to UH and decided to follow Briles at Baylor.

Less than three years later, Griffin is the main reason Baylor (6-2) is bowl eligible for the first time since 1995. Meanwhile, Brown and the Longhorns are struggling with a 4-3 record going into Saturday's big matchup against Griffin and the Bears.

Statisically, Griffin is the second-best quarterback in the nation behind Hawaii's Bryant Moniz. A 6-2, 220-pound sophomore, Griffin has completed 180-of-270 passes for 2,373 yards, 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also has rushed 76 times for 384 yards and six touchdowns.

Sounds like Vince Young-type numbers.

And guess what Brown had to say Monday about Griffin -- as a quarterback.

"You've got to have a trigger guy and Robert Griffin is as good as anybody in the country,'' Brown said. "I can't imagine people not having him in the Heisman (Trophy) race after watching him the last two weekends here.

"This is unbelievable. He's making plays, he's averaging 344 total offense himself, he threw for over 400 yards last week (against Kansas State), and he's scored 55 and 47 points two weeks in a row.

"I think he's as good as anybody out there that I've seen, and he changes their program completely, and he's got skilled people around him, he's got the good front. But he has made the complete difference in their program, and I think he's as good as any quarterback right now that's playing.''

Briles certainly is glad Brown recognizes Griffin's talents. And he especially fond of that comment about Griffin and the Heisman Trophy.

"I think it is a great honor that an opposing coach would mention that, without a doubt,'' Briles said. "We certainly feel like he is in the (Heisman) category and needs to be mentioned in that line of people that are mentioned with others around the nation.

"We are intelligent enough to understand if we maintain and continue at this pace that there will be some legitimate talk later on in the year. The main thing we got to do is just keep doing what we are doing and once again that will take of itself."

From Texas' standpoint, too bad Brown didn't have that strong impression of Griffin as a quarterback when he was at Copperas Cove. Otherwise, the whole landscape of the Big 12 Conference would have been altered.

Griffin is an extremely talented and confident player who can put a team on his back and carry them across the finish line. He said after Baylor played Texas during his freshman season two years ago, Brown tried to explain to him why he didn't offer him a scholarship to play quarterback at Texas.

But the point, by then, was moot.

"I'm glad I'm here at Baylor,'' Griffin said. "And I'm glad I'm here with coach Briles.''

-- Dwain Price