Despite their own trials, seniors feel they owe something to Baylor fans

Senior days come around twice in an athlete’s career: once at the conclusion of their final high school season and once to end their collegiate career. It’s a day to honor seniors for their accomplishments and let family, friends and fans in attendance show their appreciation for a player’s dedication during their time in the program.

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Senior defensive lineman Ira Lewis has totaled 10.0 sacks and 20.5 TFL in his career.

With that in mind, a player’s career is always full of ups and downs. If could have been an injury, a game-winning play, a key missed tackle, a crucial punt to pin an opponent deep, a missed kick, or a great special teams play, there is something for everyone. 

This group of Baylor seniors in 2018, however, have a lot more to be recognized for than their ups and downs on the field.

“I think for our senior class, you go back to 2016 before I was here, they were 6-1, getting ready to play TCU and obviously that game got away from them,” Matt Rhule said. 

“And I think if you ask them, these last two years have been tough years for them. And for it now to all culminate and come full circle, where those same guys that were out there in that rout, here they are now with a chance to go out there on senior day and play their best football game.”

Tough is right. 

Baylor’s 2018 seniors have played under three different head coaches. They have seen friends and teammates leave. They have been called unimaginable names on the sidelines at opposing stadiums. 

With everything they have endured they refused to fall. They stood tall and represented their University no matter what.

“I’ve looked at it as a learning experience, just being able to be resilient from everything I’ve been going through,” Baylor senior wide receiver Chris Platt said. Platt suffered a season-ending injury as a junior, but has totaled nearly 1,500 yards receiving in his career with 11 touchdowns.

A total of 28 prospects signed National Letter of Intents with Baylor in 2014. Of those 28, nine remain on the roster. Transfers have come and gone, non-scholarship players were given scholarships, and one 2015 signee, punter Drew Galitz, didn’t redshirt as a member of the 2015 class. 

That’s leaves Baylor with 15 seniors in 2018.  

For one of the original 28, former Houston Lamar High School defensive lineman Ira Lewis, he knows the bond is something that will never be broken.

“Those are going to be my brothers for life,” Ira Lewis said. “We’ve been through thick and thin. Whatever it is, later down the road I’m always going to be able to call on those guys if I need something or just talk to them and see how they’re doing. I love those guys and it’s been a pleasure playing with them.”

In 2014, Lewis, Platt and several of their true freshmen teammates watched on the sideline as Bryce Petty and company pulled of a miraculous comeback to defeat TCU 61-58 on their way to a second Big 12 Championship.

Two years later inside McLane Stadium, the Horned Frogs left with a 62-22 victory and everything was on its way down hill.

Now they get their final shot at the Horned Frogs inside McLane Stadium and it happens to be the final home game of their careers with win No. 6 and a trip to a bowl game on the line. It’s not because it’s TCU, it’s because what it could mean.

“I’ve actually been thinking about it a lot lately,” Platt said. “They’ve been bringing it up a lot. Just thinking about it from the first time I played in that stadium, for it to be my last, it kind of hit me kind of fast. I had to gather myself a little bit and just calm myself down because I don’t want to get into the game and psych myself out.”

After finishing 2017 with an 0-6 record at home, Baylor has opportunity to close 2018 with a 5-1 record inside McLane Stadium. It would mark the best home record for Baylor since 2014 and it means the seniors have completely reversed the course. 

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Senior receiver Chris Platt has totaled 1,484 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career.

“I’m only worried about the seniors going out on senior day the right way,” Rhule said. “That’s always been a really big deal to me, that they walk off the field as winners. I want to make sure these guys who have really stood for Baylor, and they’ve also stood for me personally, I want them to walk off the field as winners.”

“Because that’s what this is, this is an opportunity for us to play our best football, for those seniors to walk off the field and sing “That Good Ol’ Baylor Line” and walk in the locker room and dance and sing and love each other and hug on each other, they will have stood for something.”

Lewis said he wasn’t emotional yet, but admitted that as game day draws closer, all bets are off. At the same time, however, he also is focused on putting it all on the line for Baylor fans and knows his senior class owes them a victory.

“It’s like an emotional rollercoaster,” Lewis said. “We’ve been through a lot of highs and good lows and I take it all and I really enjoyed it.

“I have to say I want to give my best to all of Baylor nation and we’re going to come out there on Saturday and we’re going to do out best.”