The Bears are Growing Up and Embracing Their Opportunities
As the Bears pack their bags and gear up for a road trip to Norman, they do so for perhaps the final time, maybe ever. The Sooners would be scheduled for one more trip to Waco next season before breaking off along with Texas into the new SEC, while the Bears remain in a revamped Big 12.
This isn't a storied rivalry, but the programs have tangled in many meaningful contests and measuring stick games since RGIII's Heisman moment throw to Terrence Williams in 2011. Oklahoma State won the Big 12 that year, but in the ten full seasons since, the Sooners and Bears have hoarded most of the hardware, with seven and three championships, respectively.
History is fun as a backdrop, but history has no bearing on what occurs this Saturday when these two meet again.
What will matter is how the Bears remain motivated without all the emotions and the type of energy they bring in the face of yet another hostile crowd. From young to old and in all three phases, a trio of players provided their insight as they prepared for Sooner country.
SAFETY DEVIN LEMEAR
Lemear and his fellow merry band of hungry defensive backs admittedly fed off last week's storylines. Against Tech, the various angles served the Bears well in preparing to cross enemy lines, but only some games will have that type of buildup. Indeed this weekend doesn't have that type of feel.
"We had a lot of motivation going into that game. You hear the noise from the outside, you try to block it out as much as possible, but you hear it, and it just adds a chip on your shoulder."
For the Bears, the noise and news are fewer and farther between for this contest. OU isn't a night game against (recent) beloved assistants, and at last check, I don't think OU is honoring Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield or posting any alternative uniforms. So, Lemear and the Bears will have to organically manufacture their own edge and energy to feed off once again.
Last week, some of that juice came from turnovers as the secondary feasted on five Tech interceptions, including the first of Lemear's young career, which got the party started.
"It was a confidence builder, for sure. We're a young secondary, so I feel like we're all waiting to make plays for the team and it was just nice to do it, especially against our old coach, whose whole movement was Take 3, so an extra added motivation for that."
It was a banner night and a long time coming for the secondary, but those turnovers were a team effort. For Lemear, much of the credit goes to the Bears' talented defensive line, which registered six sacks, eight tackles for loss, and several pressures overall — inevitably leading to some hurried decisions for whoever Tech lined up behind center.
Three of those sacks came from junior lineman Gabe Hall, who Lemear described quite simply: "He's a monster."
Thanks to some help up front and more experience each week, a light is flickering on as guys fully realize the importance of practice efforts and how they successfully translate to on-field performance. No better example set than seeing lineman notching sacks using the same moves they worked on in drills during the week.
The same applies to seeing his secondary brethren's hard work paying off — a common theme exiting last week's game. Redshirt classmate and cornerback Tevin Williams was one example, despite being thrown into the fire. Given an opportunity, Williams bullied his way to an incredible — and essential — interception in the endzone, the first of his career.
"I think that was Tevin's first drive of the game or one of his first drives. I know that he was a little nervous coming in so it was just awesome to see him make a play, because he works hard in practice," Lemear said. "Coach [Kevin] Curtis pushes the corners every day to be intentional in practice and focus on the reps they do take, so it was awesome to see that."
One night does not make a great secondary, but the Bears' young defensive backs are starting to learn and apply the lessons that can make a secondary great.
GUARD GRANT MILLER
The Bears' run game has begun blossoming of late, and most recently, Miller and company paved the way for 230 yards on the ground vs. Texas Tech, including a healthy 148 yards and three scores from freshman Richard Reese.
"I think he just has a real natural feel for the game as well as he's not afraid to put his shoulder down and fight for extra yards," the sixth-year senior legacy said of the true freshman.
That inspired the line to match his level of intensity and led to great results of late for the offense.
"It really makes us want to go out there, win the line of scrimmage, and fight for every extra yard. If the guys in the backfield are willing to do that, especially as the big guys up front, it makes you want to do that as well," Miller said.
According to Miller, injuries have played a role in the line and the entire offense, taking time to find its stride. With players like Khalil Keith out of action until recently, that played some havoc on the group's ability to find the right synergy.
With Keith back in the fold, the Bears are seeing the benefits quickly. Not only with his skill set but the added ability to share snaps with Gavin Byers and keep each other fresher in the process. Good news for the Bears, bad news for opposing defenses.
In the same way, Keith's absence and return have evolved the offense; more experience away from home has brought this team a long way from the batch of wide-eyed youngsters in Provo. Or the mistake-ridden group that fumbled the bag in Morgantown. Back on the road for the second week in a row and fifth overall, the Bears are more battle-hardened after wins in Ames and now Lubbock, plus defeats against BYU and WVU.
"I think it's another thing we're kind of catching our stride in and we're feeling confident in going into the weekend."
KICKER JOHN MAYERS
"Just ready for OU, in the wise words of Bryce Petty."
Mic drop. The interview's over. But seriously, a fun way for Mayers to start the rare media session for a specialist after re-establishing himself as the Bears' go-to kicker after being supplanted by Isaiah Hankins through all of 2021.
This season, the senior from Flower Mound is currently 5-5 on field goals, including 3-3 between 40-49 yards. One of those a 48-yarder last weekend against Tech. A good kicker and good special teams are great weapons, and Baylor fans have seen the advantage of genuinely playing all three phases up close and personal. It can be the difference between making a bowl game or not — the difference between winning a championship and finishing a runner-up.
"It certainly feels good and glad to be contributing and helping the team win games."
Watching from the sidelines a year ago was tough, and Mayers figured God was providing him valuable lessons in patience and gratitude and making the most of any opportunities. He did that last season and admittedly became more grateful, but at times felt like he'd been transported back to his true freshman season in 2018.
Texas State was his first start back in the saddle, but it quickly got him comfortable again, and he hasn't looked back. It was a nice payoff and relaunched to all the hard work put in the last offseason, bound and determined to win back his starting job after handling kicks the prior two seasons.
Part of regaining that role involved improving the height of his kicks, plus the quickness of elevation to avoid blocks and strengthening his power to improve the distance of his field goals or kickoffs, whatever is needed. That boiled down to work in the weight room, hitting the squat rack to strengthen his legs under the guidance of Vic Viloria.
Mayers has been mostly money throughout his career. In 2019, he played a considerable role in the Bears' marching toward a Big 12 title opportunity. His clutch gene was on display when he hit a memorable 51-yarder to force overtime in an eventual victory against TCU and a game-winner against Iowa State. During the forgettable 2-7 COVID season, Mayers nailed the game-winner to beat Kansas State. Along the way, there were other kicks to send games into or occurring during overtime.
He's not asking for pressure, but if it is between him and the other guy, he wants to take the kick every time and control his and his team's destiny.
