With 4:26 remaining in a 34-34 contest with Kansas State, Charlie Brewer and Baylor's offense took the field with 87 yards of turf in front of them knowing they needed to kill the clock and put points on the board. The offense drove to KSU's eight-yard line and Connor Martin nailed his third field goal to claim victory.
The situation was significantly more challenging and the stakes were higher a week later. Down 23-17 to No. 9 Texas in Austin, Baylor gained possession at their own three-yard line with 1:43 remaining. After 12 plays covered 80 yards, Brewer had one second and a final attempt to get the ball in the end zone from the 17-yard line.
"First time since I've been here, I saw tears in guys' eyes. I saw older guys telling people they were hurting. That's a step in the right direction."
- Matt Rhule
The pass sailed through the back of the end zone and the Bears let the Longhorns off the hook.
Thrilling for fans? Yes. Satisfying for players? No.
"We didn’t win so I don’t know that it was very exciting, but it was good that we got the ball down there," Brewer said following the game. "But we didn’t win the game."
Seven days after the excitement of an important victory over Kansas State, there were tears and frustration from Baylor players in the DKR locker room knowing that could have been the moment that all of their hard work was noticed outside of Highers Athletic Complex.
It would have been a statement moment to the country and the Baylor fans still on the fence about giving their full support.
"First time since I've been here, I saw tears in guys' eyes," head coach Matt Rhule said. "I saw older guys telling people they were hurting. That's a step in the right direction."
As the teams left the field following the game, a Texas player made it clear to Baylor player that the game was a battle. According to Rhule, the comments from the unidentified Texas player reflect a primary goal of the staff for the program.
"'Man, you guys, we haven't played anybody that plays as hard and physical,'" Rhule shared from the conversation between the opposing players. "'I know this hurts, but you guys are a really good football team.'"
© John Gutierrez -USA Today
Rhule isn't ready to say the team is who they need to be or close to it, but the effort being noticed by opponents is an indication of where the team is headed. The toughness is a good start while there are still many other items to check off the list.
"I told them, I said, that's the good news, wait till we figure it all the way out," Rhule said. "Not many teams are going to be excited to play us because we play kind of a physical brand."
Baylor fans shouldn't take that as being satisfied or content with a close loss. There are no moral victories and no what ifs.
"We're a work in progress," Rhule said. "Anyone can say you're two or three plays away, but you're still away.
"We're hurting because we feel like we should have won the football game, but we didn't."
There is little doubt that Charlie Brewer put a high level of pressure on himself, intentional or not, as he walked onto the field at DKR Saturday afternoon. After the game, he didn't deny the pressure and he didn't back down of being responsible for the outcome of the game.
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Two weeks in a row he led his team down the field for a chance to win. Once they found victory, the next fell short.
"Just so close, gotta find a way to finish," Brewer said. "Put that on me, really. I need to find a way to get the ball in the end zone and on previous drives not put us in that situation."
With five games remaining and two victories needed to become bowl eligible, Brewer is confident on the state of the team heading into the stretch run.
"I know we’re there, really,"
