Dave714 became pretty insistent that we cut it loose with a little classic rock from the 1970s in the random juke box. So I came here to serve and not to be served. I was pleased to find Boston. If I remember the story correctly, these guys made their own instruments.
Art Briles must be loving this 2015 fall camp. The drama off the field has been isolated. There are no major injuries that he has to confront. The questions surrounding this group of Bears have been existent since the Cotton Bowl ended.
For the most part, this team is just going through the rigors of a camp where the players are getting their work in, making sure assignments are understood thoroughly and the focus is where it needs to be.
For the media and the fans, it’s kind of boring. For the coaching staff it’s utopia. We’re caught up in a world where people absorb and embrace headlines where there’s angst, discord and a little chaos feed the monster.
We want to read about this stuff more than we do about how the candidates in the secondary are performing.
If there’s no TMZ in your program, well then there’s nothing going on. Sensationalism and flash have drowned out the substance. Why do you think TMZ opened a sports division to its operation? It certainly wasn’t because they wanted to give us the latest in the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
In a way, that’s a shame. But people like TMZ are pretty smart because they know there’s an appetite for this material. They’ll probably tell you that this makes sports more attractive because it’s a form of entertainment. You can’t control it. All you can do is choose to follow what you want to follow and recognize what’s important to you.
But let’s examine the issues I brought up at the top.
*The off the field drama – DE Sam Ukwuachu’s pending sexual assault trial – has been put in its place because Baylor handled it right. Ukwuachu really has never been a part of this program since he arrived. He’s never gone through a fall camp much less anything else. And sure, there was some thought he was going to be on the team this fall. But when the story broke about this that pretty much ended everything for now.
So he’s out of sight and pretty much out of mind. Baylor is waiting to see what happens with the outcome of his trial before it acts.
And as far as defensive back/nickel back Cordell Dorsey leaving – remember he had a similar sexual assault case following him in Abilene before he arrived last year – I don’t consider that a huge loss because, well, it’s hard to get tied to a guy who really was on the fringe anyway.
Then you have the long gone departure of Javonte Magee. In some cases you can only do so much to help someone before you have to move the program forward. That’s what Baylor did here.
The point is that Baylor handled everything internally and to the point where it kept the message controlled and consistent. Once you get issues that start to leak and become a distraction, then it really can negatively impact your locker room.
In another walk of life, I had conversation with a high school football coach, who talked about the importance of locker room chemistry. Back when he was a younger head coach, he was more concerned about making sure the players knew what they were doing on the field.
As he’s grown, he’s recognized the importance of making this locker room scene a priority so that everybody will trust each other. It’s really hard thing to master because you’re talking about 55-60 kids – in college 105 – coming from varied socioeconomic backgrounds with different interests or concerns. The formula for getting everybody on board is not the same for every team. Coaches just know they have to find a way to build it and maintain it.
So this coach took a different approach with his offseason program. He spent more time working with his players in classroom settings, going through other exercises and doing workshops in what he hopes will be a turnaround season. His program went 3-7 in 2014 and lost at least four games by a touchdown or less.
In Baylor’s case, I think the moment a season ends, Briles and his coaching staff are building the model to where the chemistry remains the crux of success. I’ve always said that Briles can appeal to players and get them to play to a level that they didn’t think they could. But part of that lies in his ability to make sure the locker room is for the most part a tranquil environment. It’s not perfect. It never will be. But it’s a case where guys generally get along with each other and are pushing in the right direction.
*No major injures – Everybody’s back including DE Jamal Palmer (knee), S Terrell Burt (shoulder), DE Shawn Oakman (wrist). KD Cannon’s hip flexor was just a blip. The only thing to watch is Pat Colbert’s knee strain. Time will tell.
*The recycled camp storylines - Can Seth Russell pick up with Bryce Petty left off? Will enough depth in the offensive line surface? How will a young secondary progress in camp?
Let’s face it, those issues are pretty much talked over and over and over again to the point where they’ve lost their luster. We really won’t starting to know the answers until Sept. 4 at SMU. And then again, we really may not know the answers until November when Baylor begins the arduous five-game stretch at Kansas State.
****
By the time this is posted, Art Briles will have had his session with the media for Monday’s practice. My impressions of Saturday’s scrimmage are limited because it was limited to a pool reporter along with John Morris interviewing Briles after it finished.
I don’t know how to interpret Seth Russell’s numbers except that they are encouraging. But there are things that you can look for that give you a better sense.
It looks like Palmer is healthy since he had a sack. I have every reason to believe Travon Blanchard is going to revolutionize how the NB is going to be played. I’ve seen a clip of him knocking LaQuan McGowan flat on his rear end. So if you’re 205 pounds and taking out someone who is pretty much twice your size, well then it shows you how physical Blanchard’s going to be.
I don’t have concerns about the running game even though the numbers were quite pedestrian. Chris Johnson going 0-6? I’m aware there were one or two drops. But even if those were caught, we’re then talking 2-6. It just continues to build the argument that Jarrett Stidham is going to play this year and probably be the backup to Seth Russell.
I also really want to see Davion Hall stay healthy and give us an idea of what he’s capable of doing. We saw some good things early in 2014. But he can’t stay on the field. So if he’s right and is focused, it’s time to see where that talent comes to the front. Remember, Baylor fought off Alabama’s charge.
Now, Baylor is going to have a second scrimmage this coming Saturday. So you would think that the coaches will change up some things and get a better idea of really is going to work and what really needs to be revised. However, I will say that the scrimmage the week before SMU will be the dress rehearsal. That’s the one where Baylor needs to make sure everything is locked in. I don’t think you’ll see 1v2. But you’re going to want those first units moving.
****
A short but productive trip by the basketball team to Canada. Going 3-1 is good but it did look like Scott Drew wanted to get a look at players in different roles. I was really impressed with some of the stat lines for Johnathan Motley. He went through a freshman season in 2014-15 where he was good early and then faded because the long season caught up with him. Now, he’s grown into it.
The recruiting/transfer scene hasn’t been kind lately to this program with Khalid Lewis going to Illinois and point guard candidate Skylar Mays committing to LSU. But the last two weeks of the month should be pretty important in terms of the staff setting visits and maybe snaring a couple of commitments before November signing period.
I think they have a decent chance at Irving MacArthur guard Andrew Jones but I also believe they are in a soup with other suitors.
****
In two weeks, we begin our weekly coverage of the season. I’m going to change up the Big 12 coach’s corner on Mondays and call it the Big 12 roundup. It could be items from the weekly call. It could be links to stories from the other nine teams. I have to admit that sitting on that call for 2 ½ hours each Monday can be draining especially when it comes to segments where you have the same reporter asking all of the coaches the same question for a story that’s being developed. But don’t be alarmed. I will jump on for Art Briles’ segment and report back what he had to say.
****
We’re getting closer to getting you caught up with the other sports. The first event is going to be the soccer team playing host to South Florida Friday at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field. Baylor won both of its exhibition matches against Abilene Christian and Samford. New volleyball coach Ryan McGuyre begins his first season Aug. 28 at Colorado State in the Rams Invitational in Fort Collins, Co. Cross Country doesn’t begin until Sept. 1.
****
Some other thoughts:
>I just get this sense former Bear WR Terrance Williams will have a huge year for Dallas. I can see him being the Tony Hill to Drew Pearson or the Alvin Harper to Michael Irvin. He’s got that chance.
>Jason Day sets a record by shooting 20 under par to win the 97th PGA. What an incredible weekend at Whistling Straits. But also give Jordan Spieth his due for finishing second and being in position to win all four majors this year. With these young guns, golf is showing us that it doesn’t need Tiger Woods to carry the message. By the way, he missed the cut and is pretty much off the radar in golf circles. Now, if the media could stop coming up with excuses and stop trying to explain to us how he can get it back. We’ve been hearing that for the last three years. It’s time for ESPN, the Golf Channel and FOX Sports to stop jamming this story down our throats.
>You would think that the Rangers would have put themselves on the brink of being out of the AL Wild Card race. And then they sweep Tampa Bay and the LA Angels are collapsing. Did you know the Rangers are a half game behind the Angels for second place in the AL West and a game back of Baltimore for the second wild card? While Cole Hamels – he’s been decent but not overpowering – drew the headlines in his trade, the deal that’s really paying off is for Florida RHP Sam Dyson. He’s been really good. No offense to Baylor alum Shawn Tolleson, who has done yeoman’s work as the closer (23 of 24 in save opportunities), but I think you could see Tolleson and Dyson battle to become the closer in 2016. That power sinker Dyson has is lethal.
>Lest I forget the Astros who needed to get back to Minute Maid Park. Nice walk-off win against Detroit on Sunday. But their lead over the Rangers is only four games. What a fun baseball season.
>So how about Snoop Dogg’s son Cordell Broadus deciding to give up football months after he went on national TV and announced he was going to sign with UCLA? Good for him. If it’s not where you want to be, better to know now. Obviously, walking away from a paid for education is the price of this decision. But everybody has to live their lives differently.
>SMU head coach Chad Morris said last week former Texas A&M QB Matt Davis will be his starter for 2015. That’s really no surprise since Davis was SMU's starter for the balance of 2014. He’s pretty athletic. He’s also a pretty erratic passer. It will be interesting to see what he looks like with a full offseason under Morris. Waco Midway product Ben Hicks' chances as the backup seem a little more clouded.
Let’s make it a great week.
Art Briles must be loving this 2015 fall camp. The drama off the field has been isolated. There are no major injuries that he has to confront. The questions surrounding this group of Bears have been existent since the Cotton Bowl ended.
For the most part, this team is just going through the rigors of a camp where the players are getting their work in, making sure assignments are understood thoroughly and the focus is where it needs to be.
For the media and the fans, it’s kind of boring. For the coaching staff it’s utopia. We’re caught up in a world where people absorb and embrace headlines where there’s angst, discord and a little chaos feed the monster.
We want to read about this stuff more than we do about how the candidates in the secondary are performing.
If there’s no TMZ in your program, well then there’s nothing going on. Sensationalism and flash have drowned out the substance. Why do you think TMZ opened a sports division to its operation? It certainly wasn’t because they wanted to give us the latest in the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
In a way, that’s a shame. But people like TMZ are pretty smart because they know there’s an appetite for this material. They’ll probably tell you that this makes sports more attractive because it’s a form of entertainment. You can’t control it. All you can do is choose to follow what you want to follow and recognize what’s important to you.
But let’s examine the issues I brought up at the top.
*The off the field drama – DE Sam Ukwuachu’s pending sexual assault trial – has been put in its place because Baylor handled it right. Ukwuachu really has never been a part of this program since he arrived. He’s never gone through a fall camp much less anything else. And sure, there was some thought he was going to be on the team this fall. But when the story broke about this that pretty much ended everything for now.
So he’s out of sight and pretty much out of mind. Baylor is waiting to see what happens with the outcome of his trial before it acts.
And as far as defensive back/nickel back Cordell Dorsey leaving – remember he had a similar sexual assault case following him in Abilene before he arrived last year – I don’t consider that a huge loss because, well, it’s hard to get tied to a guy who really was on the fringe anyway.
Then you have the long gone departure of Javonte Magee. In some cases you can only do so much to help someone before you have to move the program forward. That’s what Baylor did here.
The point is that Baylor handled everything internally and to the point where it kept the message controlled and consistent. Once you get issues that start to leak and become a distraction, then it really can negatively impact your locker room.
In another walk of life, I had conversation with a high school football coach, who talked about the importance of locker room chemistry. Back when he was a younger head coach, he was more concerned about making sure the players knew what they were doing on the field.
As he’s grown, he’s recognized the importance of making this locker room scene a priority so that everybody will trust each other. It’s really hard thing to master because you’re talking about 55-60 kids – in college 105 – coming from varied socioeconomic backgrounds with different interests or concerns. The formula for getting everybody on board is not the same for every team. Coaches just know they have to find a way to build it and maintain it.
So this coach took a different approach with his offseason program. He spent more time working with his players in classroom settings, going through other exercises and doing workshops in what he hopes will be a turnaround season. His program went 3-7 in 2014 and lost at least four games by a touchdown or less.
In Baylor’s case, I think the moment a season ends, Briles and his coaching staff are building the model to where the chemistry remains the crux of success. I’ve always said that Briles can appeal to players and get them to play to a level that they didn’t think they could. But part of that lies in his ability to make sure the locker room is for the most part a tranquil environment. It’s not perfect. It never will be. But it’s a case where guys generally get along with each other and are pushing in the right direction.
*No major injures – Everybody’s back including DE Jamal Palmer (knee), S Terrell Burt (shoulder), DE Shawn Oakman (wrist). KD Cannon’s hip flexor was just a blip. The only thing to watch is Pat Colbert’s knee strain. Time will tell.
*The recycled camp storylines - Can Seth Russell pick up with Bryce Petty left off? Will enough depth in the offensive line surface? How will a young secondary progress in camp?
Let’s face it, those issues are pretty much talked over and over and over again to the point where they’ve lost their luster. We really won’t starting to know the answers until Sept. 4 at SMU. And then again, we really may not know the answers until November when Baylor begins the arduous five-game stretch at Kansas State.
****
By the time this is posted, Art Briles will have had his session with the media for Monday’s practice. My impressions of Saturday’s scrimmage are limited because it was limited to a pool reporter along with John Morris interviewing Briles after it finished.
I don’t know how to interpret Seth Russell’s numbers except that they are encouraging. But there are things that you can look for that give you a better sense.
It looks like Palmer is healthy since he had a sack. I have every reason to believe Travon Blanchard is going to revolutionize how the NB is going to be played. I’ve seen a clip of him knocking LaQuan McGowan flat on his rear end. So if you’re 205 pounds and taking out someone who is pretty much twice your size, well then it shows you how physical Blanchard’s going to be.
I don’t have concerns about the running game even though the numbers were quite pedestrian. Chris Johnson going 0-6? I’m aware there were one or two drops. But even if those were caught, we’re then talking 2-6. It just continues to build the argument that Jarrett Stidham is going to play this year and probably be the backup to Seth Russell.
I also really want to see Davion Hall stay healthy and give us an idea of what he’s capable of doing. We saw some good things early in 2014. But he can’t stay on the field. So if he’s right and is focused, it’s time to see where that talent comes to the front. Remember, Baylor fought off Alabama’s charge.
Now, Baylor is going to have a second scrimmage this coming Saturday. So you would think that the coaches will change up some things and get a better idea of really is going to work and what really needs to be revised. However, I will say that the scrimmage the week before SMU will be the dress rehearsal. That’s the one where Baylor needs to make sure everything is locked in. I don’t think you’ll see 1v2. But you’re going to want those first units moving.
****
A short but productive trip by the basketball team to Canada. Going 3-1 is good but it did look like Scott Drew wanted to get a look at players in different roles. I was really impressed with some of the stat lines for Johnathan Motley. He went through a freshman season in 2014-15 where he was good early and then faded because the long season caught up with him. Now, he’s grown into it.
The recruiting/transfer scene hasn’t been kind lately to this program with Khalid Lewis going to Illinois and point guard candidate Skylar Mays committing to LSU. But the last two weeks of the month should be pretty important in terms of the staff setting visits and maybe snaring a couple of commitments before November signing period.
I think they have a decent chance at Irving MacArthur guard Andrew Jones but I also believe they are in a soup with other suitors.
****
In two weeks, we begin our weekly coverage of the season. I’m going to change up the Big 12 coach’s corner on Mondays and call it the Big 12 roundup. It could be items from the weekly call. It could be links to stories from the other nine teams. I have to admit that sitting on that call for 2 ½ hours each Monday can be draining especially when it comes to segments where you have the same reporter asking all of the coaches the same question for a story that’s being developed. But don’t be alarmed. I will jump on for Art Briles’ segment and report back what he had to say.
****
We’re getting closer to getting you caught up with the other sports. The first event is going to be the soccer team playing host to South Florida Friday at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field. Baylor won both of its exhibition matches against Abilene Christian and Samford. New volleyball coach Ryan McGuyre begins his first season Aug. 28 at Colorado State in the Rams Invitational in Fort Collins, Co. Cross Country doesn’t begin until Sept. 1.
****
Some other thoughts:
>I just get this sense former Bear WR Terrance Williams will have a huge year for Dallas. I can see him being the Tony Hill to Drew Pearson or the Alvin Harper to Michael Irvin. He’s got that chance.
>Jason Day sets a record by shooting 20 under par to win the 97th PGA. What an incredible weekend at Whistling Straits. But also give Jordan Spieth his due for finishing second and being in position to win all four majors this year. With these young guns, golf is showing us that it doesn’t need Tiger Woods to carry the message. By the way, he missed the cut and is pretty much off the radar in golf circles. Now, if the media could stop coming up with excuses and stop trying to explain to us how he can get it back. We’ve been hearing that for the last three years. It’s time for ESPN, the Golf Channel and FOX Sports to stop jamming this story down our throats.
>You would think that the Rangers would have put themselves on the brink of being out of the AL Wild Card race. And then they sweep Tampa Bay and the LA Angels are collapsing. Did you know the Rangers are a half game behind the Angels for second place in the AL West and a game back of Baltimore for the second wild card? While Cole Hamels – he’s been decent but not overpowering – drew the headlines in his trade, the deal that’s really paying off is for Florida RHP Sam Dyson. He’s been really good. No offense to Baylor alum Shawn Tolleson, who has done yeoman’s work as the closer (23 of 24 in save opportunities), but I think you could see Tolleson and Dyson battle to become the closer in 2016. That power sinker Dyson has is lethal.
>Lest I forget the Astros who needed to get back to Minute Maid Park. Nice walk-off win against Detroit on Sunday. But their lead over the Rangers is only four games. What a fun baseball season.
>So how about Snoop Dogg’s son Cordell Broadus deciding to give up football months after he went on national TV and announced he was going to sign with UCLA? Good for him. If it’s not where you want to be, better to know now. Obviously, walking away from a paid for education is the price of this decision. But everybody has to live their lives differently.
>SMU head coach Chad Morris said last week former Texas A&M QB Matt Davis will be his starter for 2015. That’s really no surprise since Davis was SMU's starter for the balance of 2014. He’s pretty athletic. He’s also a pretty erratic passer. It will be interesting to see what he looks like with a full offseason under Morris. Waco Midway product Ben Hicks' chances as the backup seem a little more clouded.
Let’s make it a great week.
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