The next set of Rivals 2016 rankings will not be released until November. Look for them before Thanksgiving. But given how we do things, I know this process doesn’t sit well with several of you. Now, this is all in good fun, but I thought of Justin Whitt when it came to the Random Juke Box and what song could define the frustration. We love ya, JW.
****
So we are back into football mode with the Baylor football program for the next five consecutive weeks. It starts Saturday with 2:00 p.m. game (nice and toasty with temperatures in the 90s) against Rice at McLane Stadium.
If you’re like me, you’re now waiting to see if anything will happen after 5:00 p.m. this coming Friday. Let’s consider what’s happened the last three weeks. Late in the evening on Thursday Sept. 3, the story breaks that both defensive end Shawn Oakman and safety Orion Stewart are suspended for the SMU game. About 24 hours before Lamar on Sept. 11, Baylor releases a statement that offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wide receivers coach Tate Wallis are suspended for that game because of NCAA rules violations. Then we find out last Wednesday after Lamar that starting tight end Tre’Von Armstead was suspended for a team rule violation. Finally, right at the 5:00 pm hour on Friday Baylor releases a statement that Armstead has been dismissed for what is likely the same violation.
In time, we’ll probably all learn what the fallout was. As I mentioned in the Armstead thread, we’re aware of the rumors out there. Some of you who see other sites know what it is. If people want to post on our board what they heard, that’s their right. As a moderator, I’m just not doing it because of the policy of handling stories like this. We’ll just have to wait and see what plays out. To be honest, I’m really getting irritated by writing wait and see.
This program needs to play a game in the worst way and have some fun. But you can’t help but wonder if players within the locker room are now looking over their shoulder asking, “What’s next?” It’s part of human nature for all of us to feel this way. Once we identify a track record, we get locked into it and are now more attentively tuned in.
Maybe the theory that all things come in threes plays out and we’re done with this. I don’t think this locker room and this program can take much more. I also don’t think it’s a stretch to use the word beleaguered either. Since the Sam U episode in mid-August, it’s been one thing after another.
Now, it’s going to get to the point that when we watch a Baylor game and someone of significance is not in the lineup, our first instinct is going to be to check the public records to see if anything has happened – unless we’re aware of a significant injury of family matter that is keeping someone from being there. I don’t like it. Nobody likes it. But this is where we are.
When Art Briles talked to the media last Wednesday, I was told that it was a much more stoic vibe around the place. Things appear to have changed. A sign was posted “Closed Practice” on the gates leading into the Highers Athletic Complex. The hip hop music, usually a staple of these practices, wasn’t playing. Players were subdued coming out to the practice field than being their normal upbeat selves.
Now, the media only gets to stay for the first 15-20 minutes of practice before it has to leave. So we can only tell you what we’re seeing in that window. You can only surmise that the weight of everything has brought internal change for the way things are being done. Maybe there was a little more tolerance for some things. Not anymore.
Maybe this is for the better. Maybe it’s the way this program handles itself for the foreseeable future.
But we shouldn’t be surprised either. For a season that has so many high hopes, more people are talking about what’s happening off the field than on it. Then when there is discussion about what’s happening on the field, that isn’t very good either. Baylor is 2-0 and ranked No. 4/5 in the national. It certainly doesn’t feel like it.
Perhaps the bye week came at the right time for everyone connected with the program. Perhaps all parties had that Come-To-Jesus discussion about what is to be valued, what is expected and what the responsibilities are for everyone.
Hopefully, the dark cloud that’s followed this program will dissipate. That can’t happen soon enough.
****
When I watched Tulsa and Oklahoma on Saturday, I had two thoughts. The first was I really interested and amazed how quickly Philip Montgomery has implemented his style of football in about nine months. The Golden Hurricane made things interesting for the Sooners on Saturday. That program appears to be in good hands.
The second thought was how much does starting quarterback Seth Russell miss Montgomery? Now, I know Art Briles is a master at teaching a quarterback. He knows exactly what he wants. But as a head coach, you’re spread pretty thin to where you can’t lock into one position. And given what Art has been dealing with over the last month, I don’t how much he can work closely with Russell. Kendal Briles is still settling into his position. So his head is still spinning with trying to make sure he can handle the offense with all of the skilled players. How much work he does with Seth is another matter. I’m sure there is some quality time being spent.
But there is nothing short of experience. You don’t really appreciate somebody until they’re gone. Montgomery was so behind the scenes, few really knew much about him, except the coaching staff. He’s a great quarterbacks coach. When I watched Monty work with the QBs at the camps, I saw someone really comfortable talking the language, enjoying what he was doing and looking at things we don’t even notice.
I’m not saying Kendal isn’t doing that. But maybe the communication is something you can’t ignore. It also probably didn’t help Russell that Kendal wasn’t with him for Lamar to guide him through it. After all, this was Russell’s third start. I’ve not changed my stance on Russell from last week. I think he is what he is. However, this process between him learning and his OC learning is going to take some time. Now, that the two will be reunited (no Peaches and Herb references please), so it should help against Rice. That relationship needs to be a fist.
****
I was all set to write today that this season is going to be a referendum on Baylor’s defensive recruiting and the fact that this program cannot attract top defensive prospects well enough to convince them to commit. The latest hand wringing was when McKinney North defensive end Justin Madubuike announced he was committing to Texas A&M. Check another one off the dwindling list.
Then this weekend happened. Granted TCU has lost six defensive starters and likely DB Ranthony Texada (Raleigh’s brother) to a knee injury, but the Horned Frogs were lit up for 37 points by SMU. Tulsa goes into Norman and plants 38 on the Sooners. Ole Miss hangs 43 in Tuscaloosa. Texas, led by a defensive minded coach, is involved in a game where 89 points are scored.
Despite a first week where I might have thought things were turning in favor of the defense, I don’t think that anymore. We’re just in an era where it’s really hard to play the game on that side of the ball. Defenses are spread out. It’s almost an afterthought to see plays cover 8-9 yards.
Now, I do think Baylor still has a reputation where offense is its calling card and defense just doesn’t have the same perception. That may never change as long as Briles is here because of his track record. That will be the same for Gary Patterson. His program will always carry the defensive reputation because of its track record.
If the Bears get Trophy Club Byron Nelson defensive end Brandon Bowen, who just returned from his official visit to Oregon, then that could signal a big change. It only takes one. Yes, I’m sure we were thinking the same thing when Javonte Magee signed and when Andrew Billings signed. But Bowen would be the highest rated defensive player ever secured by this program. That could make an impact on somebody else.
Sometimes, programs get labeled and have to work overtime to shed themselves of that. Remember, Baylor is in year six of a program that has experienced consistent success. In the grand scheme, it’s behind a lot of major powers which have been doing this for decades. In a venture like this, it’s a process. It’s ever changing. Once you think you’ve arrived, you really haven’t. Every year is different.
****
Some jottings
>I don’t know the reason, but I just happened to check KD Cannon’s twitter handle. What the heck was he doing in Oklahoma to watch a football game? But I don’t like that – at all. He can go watch a football game when he’s no longer playing for Baylor. I don’t care if it was an off week. Find something else to do.
>We hit the sprint portion of the baseball season where the Rangers hold a 1½ game AL West lead over the Astros. Nice bounce back for Houston to get two of three from Oakland. Seattle just owned the Rangers this year, going 12-7. King Felix was 5-0 against them. Ther Rangers start their final road trip Tuesday in Oakland and then head to Houston for three. The Astros play host to the Angels before the Rangers.
>Really tough break for the Cowboys losing QB Tony Romo for potentially 10 weeks with a broken left collarbone. But I don’t know who feels worse – the Cowboys or Eagels RB Demarco Murray. Every cutaway to him showed someone very frustrated with the way he was being used or not used. Well, that decision to leave Dallas for Philadelphia was his. Now he has to live with it. But if you’re the Cowboys, you’re just going to have to hope that Brandon Weeden can do enough not to mess it up too badly. However, this is the game. The best laid out plans don’t always turn out that way. That said, it is always refreshing to see the Eagles fans losing their minds when their most hated rival wins in their backyard for the fourth consecutive year. Their fans….well, nevermind.
>On a personal note, see what happens when the Vikings give Adrian Peterson the ball (28-115)? It’s not that hard. I’m becoming more and more convinced that NFL coaches are too into outthinking everybody rather than sticking with the philosophy of letting their best players be their best players.
>Anyone know the Emmys were on last night? I only knew because a teen-ager in my house was flipping around watching here and there segments. They’re really painful to watch.
****
Now, to Baylor news…
>Led by four runners in the top 10, the Baylor men’s cross country placed second at the Gerald Richey Invitational at Lynn Creek Park Saturday. Meanwhile, the BU women were third in the meet hosted by the UT Arlington. This coming weekend, the men and the women will be in different locations as the men travel to the Stanford Invitational and the women compete at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis. Minn.
>Baylor soccer won 2-0 over Colorado College Sunday afternoon at Stewart Field. In getting their fifth straight win and 200th in program history, the Bears (5-4-1) used two first-half goals to topple the Tigers (2-6-1). Baylor beat Air Force, 2-1, on Friday. The Bears begin Big 12 play with a home match against Oklahoma State next Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
>Baylor volleyball fought off an early deficit to defeat Rice 16-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-16 and win the 2015 Baylor Classic Saturday night at the Ferrell Center Baylor (10-2) travels to Denton to face North Texas Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Mean Green Volleyball Center.
Let’s make it a great week.
****
So we are back into football mode with the Baylor football program for the next five consecutive weeks. It starts Saturday with 2:00 p.m. game (nice and toasty with temperatures in the 90s) against Rice at McLane Stadium.
If you’re like me, you’re now waiting to see if anything will happen after 5:00 p.m. this coming Friday. Let’s consider what’s happened the last three weeks. Late in the evening on Thursday Sept. 3, the story breaks that both defensive end Shawn Oakman and safety Orion Stewart are suspended for the SMU game. About 24 hours before Lamar on Sept. 11, Baylor releases a statement that offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wide receivers coach Tate Wallis are suspended for that game because of NCAA rules violations. Then we find out last Wednesday after Lamar that starting tight end Tre’Von Armstead was suspended for a team rule violation. Finally, right at the 5:00 pm hour on Friday Baylor releases a statement that Armstead has been dismissed for what is likely the same violation.
In time, we’ll probably all learn what the fallout was. As I mentioned in the Armstead thread, we’re aware of the rumors out there. Some of you who see other sites know what it is. If people want to post on our board what they heard, that’s their right. As a moderator, I’m just not doing it because of the policy of handling stories like this. We’ll just have to wait and see what plays out. To be honest, I’m really getting irritated by writing wait and see.
This program needs to play a game in the worst way and have some fun. But you can’t help but wonder if players within the locker room are now looking over their shoulder asking, “What’s next?” It’s part of human nature for all of us to feel this way. Once we identify a track record, we get locked into it and are now more attentively tuned in.
Maybe the theory that all things come in threes plays out and we’re done with this. I don’t think this locker room and this program can take much more. I also don’t think it’s a stretch to use the word beleaguered either. Since the Sam U episode in mid-August, it’s been one thing after another.
Now, it’s going to get to the point that when we watch a Baylor game and someone of significance is not in the lineup, our first instinct is going to be to check the public records to see if anything has happened – unless we’re aware of a significant injury of family matter that is keeping someone from being there. I don’t like it. Nobody likes it. But this is where we are.
When Art Briles talked to the media last Wednesday, I was told that it was a much more stoic vibe around the place. Things appear to have changed. A sign was posted “Closed Practice” on the gates leading into the Highers Athletic Complex. The hip hop music, usually a staple of these practices, wasn’t playing. Players were subdued coming out to the practice field than being their normal upbeat selves.
Now, the media only gets to stay for the first 15-20 minutes of practice before it has to leave. So we can only tell you what we’re seeing in that window. You can only surmise that the weight of everything has brought internal change for the way things are being done. Maybe there was a little more tolerance for some things. Not anymore.
Maybe this is for the better. Maybe it’s the way this program handles itself for the foreseeable future.
But we shouldn’t be surprised either. For a season that has so many high hopes, more people are talking about what’s happening off the field than on it. Then when there is discussion about what’s happening on the field, that isn’t very good either. Baylor is 2-0 and ranked No. 4/5 in the national. It certainly doesn’t feel like it.
Perhaps the bye week came at the right time for everyone connected with the program. Perhaps all parties had that Come-To-Jesus discussion about what is to be valued, what is expected and what the responsibilities are for everyone.
Hopefully, the dark cloud that’s followed this program will dissipate. That can’t happen soon enough.
****
When I watched Tulsa and Oklahoma on Saturday, I had two thoughts. The first was I really interested and amazed how quickly Philip Montgomery has implemented his style of football in about nine months. The Golden Hurricane made things interesting for the Sooners on Saturday. That program appears to be in good hands.
The second thought was how much does starting quarterback Seth Russell miss Montgomery? Now, I know Art Briles is a master at teaching a quarterback. He knows exactly what he wants. But as a head coach, you’re spread pretty thin to where you can’t lock into one position. And given what Art has been dealing with over the last month, I don’t how much he can work closely with Russell. Kendal Briles is still settling into his position. So his head is still spinning with trying to make sure he can handle the offense with all of the skilled players. How much work he does with Seth is another matter. I’m sure there is some quality time being spent.
But there is nothing short of experience. You don’t really appreciate somebody until they’re gone. Montgomery was so behind the scenes, few really knew much about him, except the coaching staff. He’s a great quarterbacks coach. When I watched Monty work with the QBs at the camps, I saw someone really comfortable talking the language, enjoying what he was doing and looking at things we don’t even notice.
I’m not saying Kendal isn’t doing that. But maybe the communication is something you can’t ignore. It also probably didn’t help Russell that Kendal wasn’t with him for Lamar to guide him through it. After all, this was Russell’s third start. I’ve not changed my stance on Russell from last week. I think he is what he is. However, this process between him learning and his OC learning is going to take some time. Now, that the two will be reunited (no Peaches and Herb references please), so it should help against Rice. That relationship needs to be a fist.
****
I was all set to write today that this season is going to be a referendum on Baylor’s defensive recruiting and the fact that this program cannot attract top defensive prospects well enough to convince them to commit. The latest hand wringing was when McKinney North defensive end Justin Madubuike announced he was committing to Texas A&M. Check another one off the dwindling list.
Then this weekend happened. Granted TCU has lost six defensive starters and likely DB Ranthony Texada (Raleigh’s brother) to a knee injury, but the Horned Frogs were lit up for 37 points by SMU. Tulsa goes into Norman and plants 38 on the Sooners. Ole Miss hangs 43 in Tuscaloosa. Texas, led by a defensive minded coach, is involved in a game where 89 points are scored.
Despite a first week where I might have thought things were turning in favor of the defense, I don’t think that anymore. We’re just in an era where it’s really hard to play the game on that side of the ball. Defenses are spread out. It’s almost an afterthought to see plays cover 8-9 yards.
Now, I do think Baylor still has a reputation where offense is its calling card and defense just doesn’t have the same perception. That may never change as long as Briles is here because of his track record. That will be the same for Gary Patterson. His program will always carry the defensive reputation because of its track record.
If the Bears get Trophy Club Byron Nelson defensive end Brandon Bowen, who just returned from his official visit to Oregon, then that could signal a big change. It only takes one. Yes, I’m sure we were thinking the same thing when Javonte Magee signed and when Andrew Billings signed. But Bowen would be the highest rated defensive player ever secured by this program. That could make an impact on somebody else.
Sometimes, programs get labeled and have to work overtime to shed themselves of that. Remember, Baylor is in year six of a program that has experienced consistent success. In the grand scheme, it’s behind a lot of major powers which have been doing this for decades. In a venture like this, it’s a process. It’s ever changing. Once you think you’ve arrived, you really haven’t. Every year is different.
****
Some jottings
>I don’t know the reason, but I just happened to check KD Cannon’s twitter handle. What the heck was he doing in Oklahoma to watch a football game? But I don’t like that – at all. He can go watch a football game when he’s no longer playing for Baylor. I don’t care if it was an off week. Find something else to do.
>We hit the sprint portion of the baseball season where the Rangers hold a 1½ game AL West lead over the Astros. Nice bounce back for Houston to get two of three from Oakland. Seattle just owned the Rangers this year, going 12-7. King Felix was 5-0 against them. Ther Rangers start their final road trip Tuesday in Oakland and then head to Houston for three. The Astros play host to the Angels before the Rangers.
>Really tough break for the Cowboys losing QB Tony Romo for potentially 10 weeks with a broken left collarbone. But I don’t know who feels worse – the Cowboys or Eagels RB Demarco Murray. Every cutaway to him showed someone very frustrated with the way he was being used or not used. Well, that decision to leave Dallas for Philadelphia was his. Now he has to live with it. But if you’re the Cowboys, you’re just going to have to hope that Brandon Weeden can do enough not to mess it up too badly. However, this is the game. The best laid out plans don’t always turn out that way. That said, it is always refreshing to see the Eagles fans losing their minds when their most hated rival wins in their backyard for the fourth consecutive year. Their fans….well, nevermind.
>On a personal note, see what happens when the Vikings give Adrian Peterson the ball (28-115)? It’s not that hard. I’m becoming more and more convinced that NFL coaches are too into outthinking everybody rather than sticking with the philosophy of letting their best players be their best players.
>Anyone know the Emmys were on last night? I only knew because a teen-ager in my house was flipping around watching here and there segments. They’re really painful to watch.
****
Now, to Baylor news…
>Led by four runners in the top 10, the Baylor men’s cross country placed second at the Gerald Richey Invitational at Lynn Creek Park Saturday. Meanwhile, the BU women were third in the meet hosted by the UT Arlington. This coming weekend, the men and the women will be in different locations as the men travel to the Stanford Invitational and the women compete at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis. Minn.
>Baylor soccer won 2-0 over Colorado College Sunday afternoon at Stewart Field. In getting their fifth straight win and 200th in program history, the Bears (5-4-1) used two first-half goals to topple the Tigers (2-6-1). Baylor beat Air Force, 2-1, on Friday. The Bears begin Big 12 play with a home match against Oklahoma State next Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
>Baylor volleyball fought off an early deficit to defeat Rice 16-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-16 and win the 2015 Baylor Classic Saturday night at the Ferrell Center Baylor (10-2) travels to Denton to face North Texas Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Mean Green Volleyball Center.
Let’s make it a great week.
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