Reminder: Baylor's Return to the Top Takes Everyone
Writing that Baylor’s home game against No. 22 BYU is important would not do the situation and moment justice. For a single team, no isolated game should ever be defining.
A single game for a program trying to find its bearings could arguably provide so much definition that it would only slightly fall short of having its own place in a hard copy of a Webster’s Dictionary. Not because of the result of one game but because of the accumulation of multiple factors, none of which are more important than wins or losses.
More specifically, wins and losses that happen on the turf in Waco.
From 2010 to 2021, Baylor football posted a home record of 56-18. Remove that abysmal transition year to the Matt Rhule era, when his team posted an 0-6 home record, and Baylor’s winning percentage in Waco over those 12 seasons was 82.5%.
That included four undefeated records (27-0) in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2021. How quickly that has changed.
When Baylor kicks off against the No. 22 Cougars on Saturday morning, the Bears will be looking for their first home win over a power opponent since October 22, 2022, when they defeated Kansas 35-23 inside McLane Stadium.
Another layer to that difficult stretch is that Baylor hasn’t defeated a top-25 opponent at McLane Stadium since November 13, 2021, when it knocked off No. 8 Oklahoma, 27-14. Since then, Baylor is 0-4 against ranked opponents at home and 0-8 against teams from power conferences. BYU is ranked No. 22 after its thumping of No. 13 Kansas State last Saturday.
The point here is to not dwell on this unforgivable stretch of failure that happened in the immediate wake of the golden era of Baylor football.
This is a reminder for Baylor players and coaches that you were brought here with an expectation to win. That can be a motivation if you retain your confidence, or a burden if you lose it. Fans want to hold you to a standard that was set in prior seasons by prior teams. For some who remain from 2021, a standard set by you. On Saturday, don’t let past failures influence potential success.
This is a reminder to fans that the potential of this program is well beyond what could be nine-consecutive losses at home to teams determined as peers based on conference affiliation. It’s a challenge to not forget the shortfallings, but make personal commitments as if those shortfallings never happened. The path forward to returning to the high bar of success is through continued support, not removal of loyalty.
This is a reminder to the University’s administration that fans are not content with the current trend because the precedent has already been set. The emphasis made on fan engagement this offseason has been an incredibly great shift. The athletic facilities movement is tremendous and worthwhile. All that’s asked is to make sure that decisions about winning isn’t neglected. For a fanbase that lacks strength in numbers, continue to do everything in your power to engage what you have, and attract new people.
To young Baylor students who have not had the privilege of experiencing a sold out McLane Stadium rocking to its full potential, remain steady. Those memories of struggles turn from bitter to sweet when the memories of success follow. The stories you will tell your future friends and family will be like those of us who have the memories of Robert Griffin III in Floyd Casey that never fade.
We each have a role in reestablishing the future of Baylor football. It’s all there for the taking, and this Saturday could be the moment that shows us the light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t miss it.