What's Not in the Game Notes...Buffalo
1:22 P.M., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BUFootball, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every Wednesday during the 2010 football season, "This is Bear Country" Blog will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opposition that week. This week's 'What's Not in the Game Notes' focuses on Baylor's second non-conference foe, the Buffalo Bulls:

For starters, Buffalo is a part of the State University of New York system, which consists of 64 campuses throughout the state of New York. And it's not the University of Buffalo; it's the University at Buffalo (short for SUNY at Buffalo). Buffalo has been playing football since 1894 (five years before Baylor fielded a team), but has only been playing at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level (formerly I-A) since 1999. Jeff Quinn, who is in his first season as Buffalo head coach, won his head coaching debut 31-0 over Rhode Island last week.

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Prior to 1931, UB's athletic teams were known as the "Bisons". However in 1931, local pro teams adopt the "Bison" nickname (currently the Buffalo Bisons of the AAA International League). In return, UB changes its nickname to the "Bulls".

BULL MARKET
In 109 seasons of Baylor football, the Bears have played only two teams with the nickname 'Bulls' - Buffalo and South Florida. Baylor is 2-0 all-time against the Bulls - 1-0 vs. Buffalo (a 34-21 win in 2007) and 1-0 vs. USF (a 28-13 win in 2000).

FROM UB TO POTUS
The University at Buffalo was founded as a medical school in 1846 and the private school was known as the University of Buffalo until 1962. UB's founder and first chancellor was Millard Fillmore, who served from 1846-1874. Fillmore later served as the 12th Vice President of the United States (March 1849-July 1850) and the 13th President of the United Status (July 1850-March 1853).

IT'S ALL RELATIVE
This is actually in Buffalo's game notes: Several Bulls have interesting family ties. Junior RB Brandon Thermilus is the son of NFL running back Alonzo Highsmith. Junior TE Kyle Brey is the son of Notre Dame head men's basketball coach Mike Brey. Redshirt freshman RB Branden Oliver is the cousin of Buffalo Bills WR Roscoe Parrish. Redshirt freshman CB Carlos Lammons is the cousin of Baltimore Ravens WR Anquan Boldin.

A LONE STAR HOMECOMING
Another UB game note: Buffalo has eight players on its roster that hail from the Lone Star State - DB Alan Hayes (Houston/Northland Christian), WR Terrell Jackson (Temple/Temple HS), LB Ray Anthony Long (Houston/Nimitz HS), DL Terry Peden (Houston/Langham Creek HS), RB Brandon Thermilus (Flower Mound/Marcus HS), DB Josh Thomas (Cedar Hill/Cedar Hill HS), OL Graham Whinery (Arlington/Martin HS) and WR Ed Young (Fort Worth/Eastern Hills HS).

NOTABLE ALUMNI
Journalist and host of CNN's The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer is one of Buffalo's most famous alums, graduating from UB in 1970. Baylor's Athletic Department boasts one Buffalo alumna of its staff - assistant volleyball coach Candice O'Brien (UB 1997).

1958 LAMBERT CUP AND TANGERINE BOWL
In 1958, (then known as) the University of Buffalo finished the regular season 8-1 and was awarded the Lambert Cup as the best small-school program in the eastern U.S. Team co-captains Nick Bottini and Lou Reale received the trophy during a Sunday night broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show. A few days later, the Bulls were invited to face Florida State in the 13th annual Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla. - the schools only bowl bid until the 2009 International Bowl. However, the players opted not to go. Read ESPN's Outside the Lines story, "All or Nothing".

BUFFALO'S RETURN TO DIVISION I
Ten years after moving up to University Division status (now known as NCAA Division I), 1970 was Buffalo's last season of "major" football. In 1971, financial problems forced the school to drop the program. The program is later reinstated in 1977 at the Division III level. The Bulls returned to Division I in 1993 and later moved to to Division I-A in football (now FBS) as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 1999. A decade after its first FBS season, Buffalo wins the 2008 MAC Championship, finishing 8-6 and earning a trip to the International Bowl in Toronto - the first bowl appearance in school history.

Channel Guide: FOX College Sports
8:47 A.M., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

Baylor's non-conference game Saturday against the Buffalo Bulls of the Mid-American Conference will air live on FOX College Sports Central with a 6:10 p.m. CDT kickoff. Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (color analyst) and Samantha Steele (sideline reporter) will serve as the on-air talent for the FCS telecast.

The national and Waco-area listings are below and there's an online "channel finder" on the FCS website where you can enter your zip code and provider to locate the FCS channel in your area.

FCS CENTRAL
National satellite: DirecTV channel 617
Cable (in Central Texas): Time Warner Cable channel 430, Grande Cable channel 227
Internet Protocal TV (IPTV): Verizon FiOS channel 301, AT&T Uverse channel 648
For cable listings outside Central Texas, contact your local provider.

Status Update: Former Bears in the NFL
11:25 A.M., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

Former Baylor All-American linebacker Joe Pawelek was signed to the Seahawks' practice squad.

Just two days after being cut by Seattle, the Seahawks signed former Baylor All-American linebacker and undrafted free agent Joe Pawelek to their practice squad Monday.

Over the weekend, Carolina cut CB C.J. Wilson, who played in 15 games over three seasons with the Panthers. WR David Gettis, who was drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, made Carolina's 53-man roster.

Another former Baylor wide receiver will be on an opening-day roster. WR Dominique Zeigler has made the 53-man roster for the San Francisco 49ers.

DE Jason Lamb and OT Dan Gay IV were among the final cuts made the New York Jets Saturday. CB Josh Bell is on the Green Bay Packers' injured reserve list.

In all, nine former Baylor Bears will be on 53-man opening-day rosters throughout the NFL, including C J.D. Walton, who is projected to be Denver's starting center:

Day-After Reaction: Sam Houston State
11:26 A.M., SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010

Robert Griffin III threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, while running for a third score in Baylor's 34-3 season-opening victory over Sam Houston State Saturday.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS: RECAPPING SATURDAY'S WIN
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery  | Highlights

Nearly one year after his 2009 season ended with a knee injury, sophomore QB Robert Griffin III made his triumphant return to the field Saturday, leading the Bears to a resounding 34-3 victory over Sam Houston State. Saturday's attendance of 42,821 was the third-largest opening-day crowd in the 61-year history of Floyd Casey Stadium. After the Bears won their first home opener since 2007, Baylor is receiving rave reviews one day after its 31-point victory. Here's a look at the Sunday Headlines around Central Texas:

• Griffin good as ever in Baylor's 34-3 win (Alex Byington, Killeen Daily Herald)
• Griffin, in prime form, leads football 34-3 over Bearkats (Chris Derrett, Baylor Lariat)
• Griffin leads Baylor past Sam Houston State, 34-3 (Jaime Aron, Dallas Morning News/AP)
• Good news, Bears: QB Griffin back from injury (Eric Drennan, Temple Daily Telegram)
• Bears cruise to victory, 34-3 (BearsIllustrated.com)
• For Bears, it's a win that leaves you wanting more (Todd Wills, SicEmSports.com)
• Griffin shows the way as Baylor rules opener, 34-3 (John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Baylor defense shuts down Bearkats (Jason Orts, Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Baylor fans do indeed rise up (Brice Cherry, Waco Tribune-Herald)

Countdown to Kickoff...What You Need to Know Before Saturday
11:03 A.M., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

One more day. As the Countdown to Kickoff nears the 24-hour mark, there are plenty of things going on before, during and after Saturday's season-opener against Sam Houston State. Below, we offer a rundown of Saturday's highlights.

• Catch Inside Baylor Sports' Baylor football preview Friday night at 10:30 p.m. immediately following the news on KCEN-HD
• Gold Rush Tailgater: A free shuttle begins three hours before the game and runs approx. every 15 minutes. The Gold Rush Tailgater can be boarded at Vitek's, Heritage Square and across from Heritage Quarters and will drop off at Snickers Touchdown Alley.  Contact Waco Transit System for more information (750-1900).
• New Gameday Improvements at Floyd Casey Stadium
• Ekpe Udoh to receive Baylor-sized Send-Off at Snickers Touchdown Alley
• Baylor's newest tradition: March of the Bears
• Baylor Alumnus David Crowder to Debut New Single, 'Rise Up'
• Baylor Tailgate Show live beginning two hours prior to kickoff with Derek Smith and John Morris
  
• Baylor men's basketball will receive 2010 Elite Eight rings during first quarter
• President Ken Starr will lead in singing of 'The Good Old Baylor Line' following Saturday's game
• NEW THIS YEAR: Central National Bank Post-Game Fan Forum with Derek Smith, Shaun Rochon and Brandon Blagg (one-hour show immediately following post-game show)
  
• IBS debuts for the 2010-11 season in its normal 10:30 p.m. timeslot (KCEN-HD) on Sunday
  

Don't forget to check out This is Bear Country's What's Not in the Game Notes: Sam Houston State edition for an unconventional (and somewhat) random preview of the Bears' first opponent.

And, if you can't make it to the Case on Saturday, you can listen to all the action on 1660 ESPN or log onto www.BaylorBears.com for free audio. Fans can also follow the action via Gametracker or BaylorBears.com's Live In-Game Blog.

BU Alum David Crowder to Debut New Single 'Rise Up' Saturday
6:15 P.M., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

After hearing Baylor Football's "Rise Up" commercials this summer, Baylor alumnus and award-winning recording artist David Crowder was inspired to not only write but record a new song, also titled "Rise Up."

Crowder offered the song to Baylor, and fans at Floyd Casey Stadium this fall will hear it as the Bears take the field immediately prior to each game. "Rise Up" debuts during Baylor's home opener Sept. 4, and Crowder will make the song available as a free download just for Bear fans.

Fans can download the song after the Baylor, Sam Houston State game at BaylorBears.com/RiseUp.

Thursday Headlines...Sam Houston State
12:17 P.M., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BUFootball, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

RELATED CONTENT: What's Not in the Game Notes (Wednesday)

As anticipation of Baylor's 2010 season opener increases rapidly, let's take a look at what everyone is saying about Saturday's showdown between the Bears and the Sam Houston State Bearkats...

• Griffin III prepares for first big hit (Chris Derrett, Baylor Lariat)
• Baylor football's last line of defense lays down law (John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Bears anxious to test mettle (John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Baylor football ready to play somebody (John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Trying wait near end for Bears, QB (Brice Cherry, Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Special teams outlook bright for 2010 (Cody Stark, Huntsville Item)
• New head coach brings enthusiasm to Kat football (Cody Stark, Huntsville Item)
• The punter from Down Under (Brandon Scott, GoBearkats.com)
• Defensive classic in 1990 first of two previous Bears-Bearkats meetings (GoBearkats.com)
• Bryan Randolph named starting QB (Cody Stark, Huntsville Item)
• Defensive line to get on-the-job experience (Cody Stark, Huntsville Item)

What's Not in the Game Notes...Sam Houston State
11:58 A.M., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BUFootball, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

No Xs and Os here. Every Wednesday during the 2010 football season, "This is Bear Country" Blog will take an unconventional (and somewhat random) look at Baylor's opposition that week. This week's 'What's Not in the Game Notes' focuses on Baylor's season-opening opponent, Sam Houston State:

Separated by a mere 135 miles, Baylor and Sam Houston State will meet on the football field this weekend for only the third time. When SHSU fielded its first athletic team in 1906, the Bears had been playing football for seven seasons (Baylor did not field a team in 1906). By the time Sam Houston State played its first football game in 1912, Baylor was three years away from its first Southwest Conference title in football (1915).

WHAT'S IN A NAME
Sam Houston State's athletic teams have been nicknamed the "Bearkats" since 1923 when the university's named was changed by the state legislature from Sam Houston Normal to Sam Houston State Teachers College. Throughout the years, early spellings included Bearcats, Bear Cats or Bearkats. And, a Bearkat is not a Kinkajou or a Binturong.

BEARKATS WITH A 'K', NOT A 'C'
Cincinnati has the Bearcats. Sam Houston has the Bearkats. Perahps adding more confusion: Cincinnati's official athletics site is www.GoBearcats.com and Sam Houston State's is www.GoBearkats.com.

TEXAS-SIZED ROSTERS
Of the 67 players listed on Sam Houston State's roster for Saturday's game, 11 hail from somewhere outside the state of Texas. In comparison, of the 120 players on Baylor's roster, only 14 are not from the state of Texas.

NOTABLE ALUMNI
Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather is one of Sam Houston State's most famous alums. Baylor's Athletic Department boasts two SHSU alums on its staff - first-year competitive cheer Head Coach Karry Forsythe (SHSU 1999) and Coordinator of New Media (athletic communications) Brad Sheffield (SHSU 2006).

BATTLE OF THE HALLS
Sam Houston State's historic Austin Hall is the oldest continuously-used state-owned higher education facility west of the Mississippi River. Earlier this year, Baylor's Waco Hall, which opened in 1930, turned 80 years old.

BATTLE OF THE 'BATTLES'
Both Baylor and Sam Houston State are part of two of the oldest rivalries in the state of Texas. Baylor's annual rivalry with Texas A&M is called the "Battle of the Brazos"; Sam Houston State's yearly showdown with fellow Southland Conference member Stephen F. Austin is known as the "Battle of the Piney Woods".

OLD SCHOOL
Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State is the third-oldest public university in Texas and the fifth-oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in the state. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor is the oldest, continually operating university in the state.

Robert Griffin III is Baylor's 'Big Man on Campus'
9:07 A.M., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
RELATED BLOG: "A View From the Hill"
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter: @BUFootball, @BaylorAthletics | Facebook: Baylor Athletics

Screen capture of Robert Griffin III on ESPN.com's CFB front page