Thursday, October 19, 2006

Show Me

The table is set for the rest of the season. We need 3 out of 5 to be bowl eligible. The dynamics have changed somewhat since the beginning of the season and even since conference play started. Tech and OU all of a sudden look very beatable. But let's be honest here, for Baylor, "beatable" means "not a sure loss." Let's go over the remaining schedule to see what's coming up:

People have already started to leave KU for dead. I think these people are one game too early. You know the Jayhawks are looking at us as "beatable" as well. This is a coach and program that was arguably in worse shape than Baylor not too long ago (Steele's only Big 12 win) but have been bowling since. They will be looking to get well against us. If we do beat them, then I think they roll over for the rest of the season. Don't get me wrong, I see the stats and the common opponets and all of that too. We play a good game and we probably win. But would you put your house on that happening? Would it suprise anyone if we come out shooting ourselves in the foot? Didn't think so. We need to show up, man up, and win this one.

A&M isn't looking as beatable as they did to begin the year. MU was a solid team regardless of who they had played to that point. I think the only reason the Kanas game was close was because aggy is a below average passing team and couldn't exploit KU's most glaring weakness. If we don't get two scores ahead somehow and take the ball out of Lane's hands (I don't think we can stop him), we will be in trouble.

Tech to me is Jekyl/Hyde. We know that Leach's system can work. We know that they haven't been consistent with it this season. We're going to have to do like last year. Hopefully, our offense won't leave the defense for dead after keeping the team in it all game.

I haven't seen anything on OSU. I saw the score and read about the big comeback against Kansas but that's it. I think they are a dangerous team. They have plenty of athletes and are capable of making plays despite Gundy on the sideline. This game being on the road also concerns me.

Everyone is also saying that OU is a possible win now too. I know Peterson is done for the regular season but he didn't play last year against us either. Instead we made Mr. 4th string Jacob Guttierrez look like Walter Payton. Does anyone believe that Bomar was that much better than Paul Thompson? By the time we get to this game, it will be interesting to see if we are playing for something or if OU is for that matter.

First thing's first though. We don't want to have to start imagining scenarios if we lose to the Jayhawks. Having to win 2 out of 4 looks much better than 3 out of 5. People keep saying that the Bears are going to do it. Now is the time to actually show it. Saying you are better is not the same as actually going out there and doing it. Show me.

OSU Coach Spits On KU Player




It's at about the 30 second mark on the video above and you can clearly see the guy in the orange shirt standing over the player and lean over and spit on him.

This is unbelieveable!!

OSU should move quickly and fire this guy. That is completely unacceptable behavior. We will see how the school handles itself in the way they deal with this situation and what type of athletics department they are running up there in Stillwater.

Weekly Press Conference

Baylor football had its weekly press conference leading up to the Kansas game, and there were some very interesting things said.

Guy Morriss believes that the next five games are all winnable and also all loseable. Well, the first thing that pops in my head is, "Duh." But then I think about it. This is a good team, with some solid talent, but we still do have a long way to go before we can even think about sleep-walking through a game. Kansas in particular is a game that we can dominate from wire to wire, but only if we approach it with the same intensity that we did the Texas game.

I think that's key. We've shown the propensity to play to the level of our competition. #5 team in the nation? OK, we'll pass for 300 yards and hold them to their third lowest rushing total of the year. Army, no problem, we'll let you run on us and hang around long enough to beat us. If we don't cut that stuff out, we definitely could lose all five games. If we learn to play with intensity and determination no matter the opponent, we can win out and finish 7-1 in conference. I'd settle for 5-3 and a bowl game, though.

Coach Hays mentioned that he wants to play a bit more physical brand of football. That's good to hear. The problem with the spread offense is that by its very nature, it doesn't develop a toughness along the lines and in the players. Especially if the player buy into the fact that this is a finesse offense. I do like that we are seeing wide receivers blocking down field (although if Zeigler would have finished his block on the last TD against Texas, there wouldn't be any controversy about it).

Nick Moore had this quote:

We really want to show our fans that we are the team that we keep saying we are. We just need to keep working hard and eventually we will get respect."

I like that Moore recognizes that the team isn't quite performing as well as they say they are. They are a 3-4 team. They might be one of the better teams in the Big XII, but they don't play like it all the time. The fact that they realize it and are wanting to prove they are as good as they think/say they are makes me feel better about the Kansas game.


If you'd like to check out the transcript of the entire press conference, you can go here to check it out on the Baylor Official Athletics site.