It’s actually breaking news. I’ve done some Christmas shopping before Dec. 20. I couldn’t tell you how it happened or why it happened. But you don’t question the vibe going through the universe. Maybe it’s the random juke box that set the mood for the balance of the season. Here is one of my all-time favorites.
*****
While Baylor didn’t finish first in the 2015 Big 12 football standings, the program distinguished itself on two firsts on Sunday. With wide receiver Corey Coleman, defensive tackle Andrew Billings and offensive tackle Spencer Drango being named to the AP All-American first team, the program accomplished the first first by having three on that first team. The second first was Baylor led the conference with first-team representation. Only TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson was the other Big 12 representative.
If you read the release, the most impressive thing about this accomplishment is that Baylor has produced a plurality of its 32 All-American selections during the Art Briles era. It’s another indication of where the program is. Obviously, the Bears would have traded these accomplishments for a third consecutive conference championship and a trip to the national college football playoffs. Injuries just changed the complexion of this season. It happens.
What you can honestly say about these three is that if you were going to name Baylor’s best chances to have anybody make the AP team, Billings and Drango would have been the strongest candidates. Of course, then you would be suggesting that Drango makes a return visit. Billings chances would be predicated on if he could continue the dominant play that all of us witnessed in 2014.
Coleman’s chances were difficult to gage. Certainly, he had the makeup and the offense to help his case. Still, you just didn’t know.
Now, that it’s official, it really speaks to how important these three were to trying to keep this team together when everything spiraled. You could argue that these three were the go-to guys in the locker room. Given their personalities, few would look to them to be the voices. They’re the speak through their actions type of players. But they also would hold the room’s attention when they did have something to say.
Drango returned for his senior season and bypassed a chance to potentially go in the 2015 NFL draft. He wanted to stay at Baylor and see if the unprecedented could be done. I’m sure he would do it all over again if he was asked if he would do it all over again. As a whole, I don’t think the offensive line had a great year. Part of that was on Pat Colbert’s shoulder issue toward the end. However, Drango had a great season. You don’t repeat as Big 12 offensive lineman of the year because you were just decent.
With Billings, I don’t think he made an AP All-American team in 2014 only because he was a sophomore. That’s it. He unleashed his might on opposing offenses every week. Of course, there was the memorable play when he ran down Kansas running back Corey Avery 30 yards down the field. But this 2015 season featured even more consistency. When he wasn’t in there or not playing at 100 percent, you could just tell how different that defensive line was. Perhaps the play that sealed his placement on this team was Nov. 21 in Stillwater, OK. when Billings took an Oklahoma State double team, pushed it right back into Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph’s face and drew an intentional grounding call.
With receivers, it’s a numbers game. And without a doubt, Coleman’s numbers were the best through the first two months of the season. What was understandable was that those who put this type of thing together likely realized the limitations he was dealing with when his top two quarterbacks went down to injury. When you set a school single-season touchdown record (20) along with the school record for touchdown receptions, that’s plenty to work with.
No disrespect to Shawn Oakman, but I think his reputation of taking plays off here and there filtered throughout all of college football to the point where it hurt him. His productivity numbers notwithstanding, he didn’t deserve to be named. I just hope for his draft stock sake that he channels some inner fury and plays his tail off in the Russell Athletic Bowl so NFL teams will be convinced he can make a contribution.
The point was made about whether or not the Baylor fan base as a whole really appreciates what all this means. When we and other accounts tweeted out the news, there was decent but not overwhelming reaction. On the Baylor football account, the latest I saw was 123 retweets and 228 likes. On the surface those look good. But I was expecting numbers to be at least twice that.
This is a pretty big deal. As close to the Heisman Trophy as it gets in terms of national recognition for a program. Baylor tied national blue blood Alabama with three selections. That’s Alabama – the owner of the most national titles in college football history. I don’t care if they came out on a Sunday or not, there should have been more.
Then I’m reminded of what Art Briles has said that when it comes to building and sustaining a program. It takes about 12 years for it to become solvent. This program is only halfway through it. The ramp up continues. It’s far better than what it was in 2007 and before. Still not totally there yet.
****
Alabama running back Derrick Henry won the Heisman Memorial Trophy this past Saturday (no surprise). When those major awards come out, there’s the automatic list of contenders for next year. The 2016 list has been released in other circles and Baylor quarterback Seth Russell is on it.
I am and I am not surprised by this. I am because when you have someone lost to a neck injury and very questionable about being available for the spring, I’m not sure if those in the know really know or have the context as to the full extent of this injury. Now, I’ve seen the quotes from family members expressing confidence that Russell will return. What else are they going to say? I hope he does. I hope Russell can regain the form that we saw through the first two months. But at this point, I just want Russell to have a normal like with everything fully functional. Football can wait. I’m not surprised because any Baylor quarterback can put up some huge numbers in this offense. Maybe Russell’s name was just thrown out there for the sake of doing it.
I become less and less captivated by this award – 2011 with RGIII notwithstanding – because it’s evolved into more of a glorified offensive player of the year award. Isn’t that what the Maxwell Award is? Michigan’s Charles Woodson was the last defensive player to win this in 1997. Now, I understand that this has always been an award that leans to the offense. But we haven’t had a defensive player in college football dominate a season in the last 19? Really?
****
Pretty important bone scan for quarterback Jarrett Stidham on Monday. We hope to pass along what the prognosis is as soon as we get word.
Art Briles said last week that if everything is good, Stidham can immediately start his rehab. The good thing is that Baylor finishes finals on Tuesday (maybe Stidham is already done) so he could jump right into it if he’s cleared. Then we’ll wait and see what that means for him being able to practice for the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 29.
Baylor’s hopes of winning that game really hinge on Stidham being available. If he’s not and the staff has to go with Chris Johnson – provided he’s through the head injury he suffered against Texas – I just think this is going to be a huge mountain to climb against a North Carolina that is not nearly as banged up. Time will be our guide.
****
The recruiting dead period begins on Tuesday and runs through Jan. 14. But the early JUCO signing period is Wednesday. Baylor is expected to receive the letters from Garden City C.C. defensive tackle Jeremy Faulk and Coffeyville C.C. offensive tackle Branton Autry. Baylor likely will announce four on Wednesday between those two, Grandview QB Zach and Navasota wide receiver Tren’Davian Dickson. Those two really won’t be signing anything because they already submitted their financial aid documents to Baylor earlier this year. I have not heard of any surprises for Wednesday beyond those four.
Oh, and Baylor has slipped just a little bit in the Rivals national team rankings. It’s now at No. 13. But that happens when other schools are adding commitments. In fact, there was a lot of movement last week as 70 commitments were made to Power 5 schools.
****
On a personal note, I watched the Army-Navy game from start to finish and loved every minute of it. This game is on my bucket list. I was so devastated for the Black Knights when their trick play at the end (I have no idea why they called that) was intercepted and basically ended the game. The midshipmen were ripe to get beat but escaped, 21-17, to win their 14th consecutive in the series. A great season for Navy at 10-2 with another Commander in Chief’s Trophy and a bowl appearance. Another tough year for Army at 2-10. I think it lost six games by less than a touchdown. That’s rough.
Two of the greatest moments in sports is when the core of cadets and brigade of midshipmen march into the stadium. I’m not ashamed that when the two teams go to each other’s side and stand for the playing of the respective alma mater, I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. My daughters looked at me like I was out of my mind. That’s fine. They’re teen-agers.
Like it’s been tweeted, “The only game where everybody playing in it is willing to die for everybody watching it.”
I love everything about that game and what it stands for.
****
Recently finished the great David McCullough’s book “The Path Between the Seas” on the building of the Panama Canal. Great book.
I have turned in a Christmas list on other historical books to the family. We’ll see what they come up with.
****
Again, another light week for Baylor sports. The women’s basketball team blew out McNeese State on Sunday. The men play that special game on Wednesday at Fort Hood against Division III Hardin-Simmons. A great tribute to those who serve for us. And then Saturday, a trip to College Station to play Texas A&M. We can talk about that as we go along.
Let’s make it a great week!
*****
While Baylor didn’t finish first in the 2015 Big 12 football standings, the program distinguished itself on two firsts on Sunday. With wide receiver Corey Coleman, defensive tackle Andrew Billings and offensive tackle Spencer Drango being named to the AP All-American first team, the program accomplished the first first by having three on that first team. The second first was Baylor led the conference with first-team representation. Only TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson was the other Big 12 representative.
If you read the release, the most impressive thing about this accomplishment is that Baylor has produced a plurality of its 32 All-American selections during the Art Briles era. It’s another indication of where the program is. Obviously, the Bears would have traded these accomplishments for a third consecutive conference championship and a trip to the national college football playoffs. Injuries just changed the complexion of this season. It happens.
What you can honestly say about these three is that if you were going to name Baylor’s best chances to have anybody make the AP team, Billings and Drango would have been the strongest candidates. Of course, then you would be suggesting that Drango makes a return visit. Billings chances would be predicated on if he could continue the dominant play that all of us witnessed in 2014.
Coleman’s chances were difficult to gage. Certainly, he had the makeup and the offense to help his case. Still, you just didn’t know.
Now, that it’s official, it really speaks to how important these three were to trying to keep this team together when everything spiraled. You could argue that these three were the go-to guys in the locker room. Given their personalities, few would look to them to be the voices. They’re the speak through their actions type of players. But they also would hold the room’s attention when they did have something to say.
Drango returned for his senior season and bypassed a chance to potentially go in the 2015 NFL draft. He wanted to stay at Baylor and see if the unprecedented could be done. I’m sure he would do it all over again if he was asked if he would do it all over again. As a whole, I don’t think the offensive line had a great year. Part of that was on Pat Colbert’s shoulder issue toward the end. However, Drango had a great season. You don’t repeat as Big 12 offensive lineman of the year because you were just decent.
With Billings, I don’t think he made an AP All-American team in 2014 only because he was a sophomore. That’s it. He unleashed his might on opposing offenses every week. Of course, there was the memorable play when he ran down Kansas running back Corey Avery 30 yards down the field. But this 2015 season featured even more consistency. When he wasn’t in there or not playing at 100 percent, you could just tell how different that defensive line was. Perhaps the play that sealed his placement on this team was Nov. 21 in Stillwater, OK. when Billings took an Oklahoma State double team, pushed it right back into Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph’s face and drew an intentional grounding call.
With receivers, it’s a numbers game. And without a doubt, Coleman’s numbers were the best through the first two months of the season. What was understandable was that those who put this type of thing together likely realized the limitations he was dealing with when his top two quarterbacks went down to injury. When you set a school single-season touchdown record (20) along with the school record for touchdown receptions, that’s plenty to work with.
No disrespect to Shawn Oakman, but I think his reputation of taking plays off here and there filtered throughout all of college football to the point where it hurt him. His productivity numbers notwithstanding, he didn’t deserve to be named. I just hope for his draft stock sake that he channels some inner fury and plays his tail off in the Russell Athletic Bowl so NFL teams will be convinced he can make a contribution.
The point was made about whether or not the Baylor fan base as a whole really appreciates what all this means. When we and other accounts tweeted out the news, there was decent but not overwhelming reaction. On the Baylor football account, the latest I saw was 123 retweets and 228 likes. On the surface those look good. But I was expecting numbers to be at least twice that.
This is a pretty big deal. As close to the Heisman Trophy as it gets in terms of national recognition for a program. Baylor tied national blue blood Alabama with three selections. That’s Alabama – the owner of the most national titles in college football history. I don’t care if they came out on a Sunday or not, there should have been more.
Then I’m reminded of what Art Briles has said that when it comes to building and sustaining a program. It takes about 12 years for it to become solvent. This program is only halfway through it. The ramp up continues. It’s far better than what it was in 2007 and before. Still not totally there yet.
****
Alabama running back Derrick Henry won the Heisman Memorial Trophy this past Saturday (no surprise). When those major awards come out, there’s the automatic list of contenders for next year. The 2016 list has been released in other circles and Baylor quarterback Seth Russell is on it.
I am and I am not surprised by this. I am because when you have someone lost to a neck injury and very questionable about being available for the spring, I’m not sure if those in the know really know or have the context as to the full extent of this injury. Now, I’ve seen the quotes from family members expressing confidence that Russell will return. What else are they going to say? I hope he does. I hope Russell can regain the form that we saw through the first two months. But at this point, I just want Russell to have a normal like with everything fully functional. Football can wait. I’m not surprised because any Baylor quarterback can put up some huge numbers in this offense. Maybe Russell’s name was just thrown out there for the sake of doing it.
I become less and less captivated by this award – 2011 with RGIII notwithstanding – because it’s evolved into more of a glorified offensive player of the year award. Isn’t that what the Maxwell Award is? Michigan’s Charles Woodson was the last defensive player to win this in 1997. Now, I understand that this has always been an award that leans to the offense. But we haven’t had a defensive player in college football dominate a season in the last 19? Really?
****
Pretty important bone scan for quarterback Jarrett Stidham on Monday. We hope to pass along what the prognosis is as soon as we get word.
Art Briles said last week that if everything is good, Stidham can immediately start his rehab. The good thing is that Baylor finishes finals on Tuesday (maybe Stidham is already done) so he could jump right into it if he’s cleared. Then we’ll wait and see what that means for him being able to practice for the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 29.
Baylor’s hopes of winning that game really hinge on Stidham being available. If he’s not and the staff has to go with Chris Johnson – provided he’s through the head injury he suffered against Texas – I just think this is going to be a huge mountain to climb against a North Carolina that is not nearly as banged up. Time will be our guide.
****
The recruiting dead period begins on Tuesday and runs through Jan. 14. But the early JUCO signing period is Wednesday. Baylor is expected to receive the letters from Garden City C.C. defensive tackle Jeremy Faulk and Coffeyville C.C. offensive tackle Branton Autry. Baylor likely will announce four on Wednesday between those two, Grandview QB Zach and Navasota wide receiver Tren’Davian Dickson. Those two really won’t be signing anything because they already submitted their financial aid documents to Baylor earlier this year. I have not heard of any surprises for Wednesday beyond those four.
Oh, and Baylor has slipped just a little bit in the Rivals national team rankings. It’s now at No. 13. But that happens when other schools are adding commitments. In fact, there was a lot of movement last week as 70 commitments were made to Power 5 schools.
****
On a personal note, I watched the Army-Navy game from start to finish and loved every minute of it. This game is on my bucket list. I was so devastated for the Black Knights when their trick play at the end (I have no idea why they called that) was intercepted and basically ended the game. The midshipmen were ripe to get beat but escaped, 21-17, to win their 14th consecutive in the series. A great season for Navy at 10-2 with another Commander in Chief’s Trophy and a bowl appearance. Another tough year for Army at 2-10. I think it lost six games by less than a touchdown. That’s rough.
Two of the greatest moments in sports is when the core of cadets and brigade of midshipmen march into the stadium. I’m not ashamed that when the two teams go to each other’s side and stand for the playing of the respective alma mater, I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. My daughters looked at me like I was out of my mind. That’s fine. They’re teen-agers.
Like it’s been tweeted, “The only game where everybody playing in it is willing to die for everybody watching it.”
I love everything about that game and what it stands for.
****
Recently finished the great David McCullough’s book “The Path Between the Seas” on the building of the Panama Canal. Great book.
I have turned in a Christmas list on other historical books to the family. We’ll see what they come up with.
****
Again, another light week for Baylor sports. The women’s basketball team blew out McNeese State on Sunday. The men play that special game on Wednesday at Fort Hood against Division III Hardin-Simmons. A great tribute to those who serve for us. And then Saturday, a trip to College Station to play Texas A&M. We can talk about that as we go along.
Let’s make it a great week!
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