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Baylor vs. Oklahoma, In-Game
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Jeff Brown
3:08 p.m. -- With that, we're done here for today. We'll see you back here next week for the Bears and Cyclones, a 6:05 p.m. kickoff here at Floyd Casey. If you can get down for the game, get your tickets now; if not, you can tune in next week on Fox College Sports.
Until then -- sic 'em, Bears!
3:04 p.m. -- That'll do it, folks. Next week, the Bears will face an Iowa State team that comes in with a 2-3 record. The Cyclones lost a heartbreaker today in Ames, leading 20-0 at the half before falling 35-33 to #16 Kansas. The Cyclones missed a two-point conversion that would have tied things up midway through the 4th quarter, but got the ball back on an onsides kick with just over a middle left. Four straight incomplete passes turned the ball over on downs, and the Jayhawks ran out the clock to seal the win. This, a week after ISU lost in overtime at UNLV last week.
That game will be a must win for the Bears, hosting the game here for Parents Weekend. After that, five of Baylor's final six games will be against teams at least receiving votes in the polls right now. That includes a showdown with #3 Missouri here for homecoming, and games at #5 Texas and #7 Texas Tech.
It will be fun to watch Griffin and the Bears learn over the next few games to see what they can do when they face another top-five game a month from now.
2:53 p.m. -- Two new QBs in here late in the game. Senior Joey Halzle, Bradford's back-up, only attempted three passes in OU's final drive as they ran time off the clock by keeping the ball on the ground. Blake Szymanski came in for the Bears with just over a minute remaining and did not attempt a pass.
FINAL: OKLAHOMA 49, BAYLOR 17
2:35 p.m. -- Robert Griffin has again been effective with his feet, rushing for 104 yards on 19 carries (including two touchdowns) to lead the Bears through three quarters. But he's been limited in the air, completing just 11-of-24 passes for 75 yards so far today.
Contrast that with OU quarterback Sam Bradford, who is 23-of-31 for 372 yards and 2 TDs (one interception). He's not a running QB -- just 2 carries for 4 yards and a TD -- but that's not his strength. He's got teammates to carry the ball (OU has 196 rushing yards on 52 carries, very similar to the Bears' 191 yards on 35 carries.).
I think that might be the last series we see Bradford in for today, with the Sooners up 32 in the fourth quarter. I'll be curious to see if the Bears give another QB besides Griffin any playing time here today, as well, with the game's outcome nearly decided.
OKLAHOMA 49, BAYLOR 17
2:27 p.m. -- The Bears' largest crowd of the season came out today, announced at 37,145. They've seen a Baylor defense that has actually kept the Sooners' offense relatively in check, compared to OU's first four opponents. Only #23 TCU allowed fewer points to the Sooners through three quarters, and the Horned Frogs trailed 35-3 at the end of three.
The Bears trailed by 25 at the end of the third quarter; only Cincinnati was within closer striking distance, down 22 through three before losing 52-26. OU's other three opponents trailed by 32 (TCU), 41 (Washington) and 55 (UT-Chattanooga).
2:09 p.m. -- I like this team's heart. The Bears are not rolling over even down by a good margin as the third quarter ticks down, and that attitude comes straight from the top. Art Briles has been vocal in letting people know that there are no such things as moral victories, and I think the rest of the team has learned the same thing.
Robert Griffin has clearly learned that, even at the tender age of 18. That helps further impress the attitude on the team, and it can be seen in the Bears' last drive just now. Trailing 42-14, the Bears moved downfield swiftly and efficiently before getting held to a field goal.
OKLAHOMA 42, BAYLOR 17
1:58 p.m. -- Not sure whether it's a sign of cockiness or an admiration of respect for Baylor's offense, but the Sooners just went for it on 4th-and-1 inside their own 30, up 28 points in the third quarter. I'll take it as the latter -- that they know Baylor's offense, when clicking, can put up points in a hurry, and so they didn't want to punt the ball away if they could help it.
Unfortunately, they did convert the down. But the Bears did hold several plays longer on 3rd and 9, forcing the Sooners to punt the ball for the first time all day midway through the third quarter.
OKLAHOMA 42, BAYLOR 14
1:41 p.m. -- It's a beautiful day here -- temperature around 80 at kickoff, bright sun, and a strong wind from the south keeping things cool. But that same wind has affected the game -- giving the team kicking from south to north an extra 10 yards or more on the fly, and knocking the ball off the tee twice as Baylor attempted to kickoff to begin the second half.
The wind may have kept a Baylor student from winning $1,000 during halftime, too. One student was selected to try a short field goal, but the contestant was forced to kick into the wind today and just barely missed. Tough break for the kid.
1:17 p.m. -- It's only halftime, and the Bears have already scored more points against the Sooners than 23rd-ranked TCU was able to manage all day against OU last week. (The Sooners beat the Horned Frogs 35-10, with TCU's only TD coming in the 4th quarter).
In fact, it's the most points that the Sooners have allowed in the first half all year. Washington put up 14 in the second half (after falling behind 41-0), while Cincinnati scored 13 in the first half and 13 more in the second half.
Obviously the Bears would prefer the score to be reversed at the half, but they are not out of this one yet.
HALFTIME: OKLAHOMA 35, BAYLOR 14
1:06 p.m. -- Dr. Derek Dodson, a lecturer in the Baylor religion department, was honored during the last TV timeout with a game ball as today's Guidestone Outstanding Professor.
I love the values that the weekly honor reflects -- how Baylor values its professors enough to honor them on one of the biggest stages the University has -- a football game in front of 30-40,000 people. At most schools, the academic and athletic sides of the university are kept almost entirely separate, but not here.
And with the athletic department's upcoming move from Floyd Casey to the Highers Athletic Complex and Simpson Athletics and Academic Center on campus, the ties between athletics and academics will only be further strengthened.
12:49 p.m. -- Robert Griffin is learning on the job today, facing a caliber of defense he certainly didn't see at Copperas Cove -- one befitting not just a Big 12 team, but a defense that is among the league leaders in tackles for loss (1st), sacks (4th), pass efficiency defense (4th), rushing defense (12th) and total defense (15th).
In the Bears' first four games, Griffin has been able to outrun the other team's defense, but Oklahoma has enough athletes that they've generally been able to keep him contained. He finally broke his first long run of the game early in the second quarter, a 37-yard scramble that keyed Baylor's first scoring drive of the game. So far today, Griffin is 5-of-12 passing for just 33 yards, and he's rushed 9 times for 45 yards and a TD. He's often been made to scramble and has been less effective on the run than we've seen in previous weeks -- probably because OU not only has faster defenders pursuing him, but also better coverage downfield.
Even if the Bears don't pull out this game, the experience will be an important part of Griffin's football education. With Missouri and Texas also ranked in the top five nationally, the true freshman will get plenty of chances to learn this season.
OKLAHOMA 28, BAYLOR 7
12:25 p.m. -- Oklahoma's making a habit of jumping out to a big early lead so far this season. Check out these numbers:
* vs. Tennesee-Chattanooga: 27-0 end 1st, 50-0 halftime
* vs. Cincinnati: 14-0 end 1st, 21-13 halftime
* at Washington: 13-0 end 1st, 34-0 halftime
* vs. #23 TCU: 21-3 end 1st, 28-3 halftime
Unfortunately, Oklahoma has followed the same pattern today, taking advantage of a stiff wind that has limited the Bears' punts today and given the Sooners excellent field position here in the first quarter.
OKLAHOMA 28, BAYLOR 0
12:12 p.m. -- A group of about 12 Waco natives received a warm round of applause from Baylor and Oklahoma fans alike when they were inducted into the U.S. Army on the Floyd Casey Stadium field during a TV timeout.
Baylor and the Army have a good connection, as one would hope given the close proximity of Fort Hood to Waco. Each week during Coach Briles' call-in show, a local soldier is highlighted and given the chance to ask a question of the head coach. Those "Soldier Stories" are archived on the Baylor football page at BaylorBears.com.
12:05 p.m. -- A BIG missed opportunity there for the Bears. Joe Pawelek intercepted a pass over the middle right at the goal line, but the INT was negated by a pass interception penalty against Baylor. A defender interfered with the catch attempt several feet behind Pawelek; the reciever had no play on the ball.
Head coach Art Briles let the referees hear his dissatisfaction with the call, continuing to talk to the refs even after Oklahoma scored on the next play and kicked the extra point, while the teams headed to their respective benches during the TV timeout.
OKLAHOMA 14, BAYLOR 0
11:59 a.m. -- Both teams were running some version of a hurry-up offense here early on. The Sooners looked to be trying to run plays as quick as they could get lined up, and it paid off with a long touchdown pass against failed Baylor coverage for the 7-0 lead.
On the Bears' second possession, Robert Griffin was doing the same thing as the Bears moved from their own 25 into Sooner territory. At that point, the offense slowed down a bit, and eventually stalled out after failing to convert on 4th down near the Oklahoma 35.
OKLAHOMA 7, BAYLOR 0
11:41 a.m. -- Olympic gold medalists Jeremy Wariner and Reggie Witherspoon led the team's charge on to the field, with Wariner carrying an American flag and Witherspoon hoisting a gold flag with the interlocking BU on it. The pair got not only a nice cheer from the crowd, but plenty of handshakes and "welcome backs" from Baylor players as they collected along the sideline a few minutes before kickoff.
A group of freshmen running in at the back of the Baylor Line drew some laughs from the crowd, carrying a sign that read "Borat no like Sooners" and led by a student dressed as the movie character.
Baylor vs. Oklahoma, Pre-Game
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Jeff Brown
11:30 a.m. -- FSN has the rights to today's telecast, but ESPN is also all over this game. In addition to Baylor and Oklahoma radio, the game is being aired on ESPN Radio nationwide. ESPN.com has a writer up here in the press box, too.
There are seats reserved up here for writers from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, too, in addition to the usual paper: Waco Trib, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Austin American-Statesman, and Houston Chronicle.
11:12 a.m. -- LOTS of Oklahoma crimson in the stands already with about 30 minutes 'til kickoff. I'm sure plenty of Sooners from Dallas and Houston decided to make the drive to Waco to see their #1-ranked squad closer to home than a trip to Norman. The rest of OU's home schedule is sold out, but even if you could buy a ticket at list price, it would run you nearly twice the average cost of a Baylor football ticket.
There's been a lot of talk recently that Baylor should reduce its ticket prices to allow more native Wacoans to attend games, but I just don't see how they can go down much more. They're already the cheapest in the Big 12, and any further cuts would reduce our chances of being able to afford to keep other coaches like Scott Drew and Kim Mulkey.
Here's hoping all the green and gold fans are still tailgating and enjoying Snickers Touchdown Alley. 27 minutes 'til kickoff!
10:34 a.m. -- We've got an early one here today, as the Bears welcome top-ranked Oklahoma to Waco for yet another nationally televised game. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. (CT), and the game will be broadcast nationwide on Fox Sports Net. So if you're reading this and can't get to Waco in the next hour or so, tune in on FSN, or listen in along the Baylor Radio Network or right here at BaylorBears.com!
10:15 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
Brad Sheffield
Well, you can't fault the effort. Baylor gave Connecticut one whale of a game.
Baylor returns to action Saturday, Oct. 4, hosting top-ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff between the Bears and Sooners is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. CDT at Floyd Casey Stadium. Saturday's game will be televised nationally on FSN, Baylor's fourth televised game this season.
The Bears (2-2, 0-0 Big 12) enjoyed one of two open dates on their 2008 schedule last weekend. Baylor has not played since a 31-28 loss Sept. 19 at Connecticut. The Bears are 2-1 at home this season, falling to then-No. 23 Wake Forest and defeating Northwestern State and Washington State.
The Sooners (4-0, 0-0 Big 12) defeated then-No. 24 TCU 35-10 at home last Saturday. Oklahoma also defeated Chattanooga, Cincinnati and Washington this season. The Sooners are 1-0 on the road in 2008, winning 55-14 at Washington three weeks ago. Oklahoma is ranked first nationally in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
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