For the first time this season, Baylor lost. While I am a Michigan fan, I root for Baylor. Today their playoff hopes went up in smoke. This is a shame, & I am here to tell you why. Not too long ago, Baylor was one of the worst programs in college football. Nobody wanted to play Baylor & coaches worried about their jobs there. I remember quite a few years ago, Baylor fans stormed the field when they won their first conference game in years. Then two individuals came along that forever changed the face of the program. Coach Art Briles & Robert Griffin III.
When Briles came to Baylor, so did RG3. While they made minimal progress, their first two years together, it was their third that launched Baylor into the emotional spotlight. Baylor’s fast-paced offense designed by Briles & RG3 at the controls made Baylor a fun team to watch. Yet their defense remained a nightmare. Nevertheless, because of their accomplishments & success in turning a cupcake program around, Baylor reaped the benefits. The 2011 Heisman Trophy was awarded to Robert Griffin III. Having taken Baylor as far as he could, RG3 declared for the NFL Draft. The following season Baylor was in transition to build on the success begun by RG3. QB Nick Florence performed admirably, but due to a faulty defense, Baylor’s continued success remained in neutral. That season ended on a high note though as they won the Holiday Bowl. Last season Bryce Petty took over at QB & Baylor began the season flying high on all cylinders. Until they met Oklahoma St. Who, as Sam Titus continually pointed out, destroyed Baylor? Baylor completed its season though it ended with a huge upset loss to UCF. This season Baylor played a weak non-conference schedule & college football playoff committee members criticize them for it. In a thriller, Baylor overcame a 58-37 deficit halfway through the 4th quarter & defeated TCU 61-58. Sadly, Baylor lost to West Virginia. In retrospect, the loss does not look good as West Virginia is simply an average team. Baylor did crush Oklahoma on the road though.
After a discussion on Baylor’s recent improvements, I further inform you about my fondness for Baylor. I like their head coach Art Briles. An ESPN article about him is one of the greatest pieces of writing I have ever read. Inspirational, informative, & fortitude are three adjectives I use to describe the article. Recently, Briles wrote a book called Beating Goliath. I now own it. Briles also does not view Baylor as a stepping-stone. When asked how Baylor compares to Oklahoma, he said something along the lines of, “It’s no longer us trying to beat Oklahoma. It’s Oklahoma trying to beat us.” Profound & true. Baylor has arrived.
Another reason I support Baylor is the way they funded their brand new football stadium. While they probably could play football without it, the university did not cut funding from other programs when it paid for the football stadium. Out of all ways to pay for a football stadium, that is probably the best. Lastly, I root for Baylor because many college football fans do not. Baylor comes from the Big 12, a Power 5 conference, yet respect is not fully given. Baylor is not the traditional powerhouse of Texas or Oklahoma. Nor is Baylor in the SEC, arguably the best conference. Art Briles is not viewed as a coaching mastermind such as Nick Saban, Bob Stoops, Mark Dantonio, & Jimbo Fisher. Baylor’s stadium is not associated with the big name stadiums of The Big House, Death Valley, Tuscaloosa, & Eugene. Because of all these reasons, I root for Baylor.
When Briles came to Baylor, so did RG3. While they made minimal progress, their first two years together, it was their third that launched Baylor into the emotional spotlight. Baylor’s fast-paced offense designed by Briles & RG3 at the controls made Baylor a fun team to watch. Yet their defense remained a nightmare. Nevertheless, because of their accomplishments & success in turning a cupcake program around, Baylor reaped the benefits. The 2011 Heisman Trophy was awarded to Robert Griffin III. Having taken Baylor as far as he could, RG3 declared for the NFL Draft. The following season Baylor was in transition to build on the success begun by RG3. QB Nick Florence performed admirably, but due to a faulty defense, Baylor’s continued success remained in neutral. That season ended on a high note though as they won the Holiday Bowl. Last season Bryce Petty took over at QB & Baylor began the season flying high on all cylinders. Until they met Oklahoma St. Who, as Sam Titus continually pointed out, destroyed Baylor? Baylor completed its season though it ended with a huge upset loss to UCF. This season Baylor played a weak non-conference schedule & college football playoff committee members criticize them for it. In a thriller, Baylor overcame a 58-37 deficit halfway through the 4th quarter & defeated TCU 61-58. Sadly, Baylor lost to West Virginia. In retrospect, the loss does not look good as West Virginia is simply an average team. Baylor did crush Oklahoma on the road though.
After a discussion on Baylor’s recent improvements, I further inform you about my fondness for Baylor. I like their head coach Art Briles. An ESPN article about him is one of the greatest pieces of writing I have ever read. Inspirational, informative, & fortitude are three adjectives I use to describe the article. Recently, Briles wrote a book called Beating Goliath. I now own it. Briles also does not view Baylor as a stepping-stone. When asked how Baylor compares to Oklahoma, he said something along the lines of, “It’s no longer us trying to beat Oklahoma. It’s Oklahoma trying to beat us.” Profound & true. Baylor has arrived.
Another reason I support Baylor is the way they funded their brand new football stadium. While they probably could play football without it, the university did not cut funding from other programs when it paid for the football stadium. Out of all ways to pay for a football stadium, that is probably the best. Lastly, I root for Baylor because many college football fans do not. Baylor comes from the Big 12, a Power 5 conference, yet respect is not fully given. Baylor is not the traditional powerhouse of Texas or Oklahoma. Nor is Baylor in the SEC, arguably the best conference. Art Briles is not viewed as a coaching mastermind such as Nick Saban, Bob Stoops, Mark Dantonio, & Jimbo Fisher. Baylor’s stadium is not associated with the big name stadiums of The Big House, Death Valley, Tuscaloosa, & Eugene. Because of all these reasons, I root for Baylor.
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