Baylor Football
One-loss Bears facing a familiar situation
In October of 2014, Bryce Petty and the Baylor Bears traveled to West Virginia with a perfect 6-0 record.
Taking on a WVU team that had showed some promise but only squeaked out wins against Maryland and Texas Tech in weeks prior, the Bears jumped out to an early lead, but couldn't capitalize on opportunities to extend that lead throughout the game.
The Bears settled for two field goals which allowed the Mountaineers to keep themselves in the game and ultimately separate for a victory in the final quarter of play. Baylor went on to win the conference championship, but missed their shot at the playoffs with a one-loss season.
Fast forward to 2016 and the Bears are in a very similar situation.
After a heartbreaking loss in October to Texas, Baylor's chances for the College Football Playoff are likely gone. But the Bears will have their chance to control their destiny starting with TCU on Saturday.
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“I still think Big 12 Championship, for sure," Baylor quarterback Seth Russell said of the goals of the team.
"I think it is just to stay focused. More noise outside, but we’ve got to stay focused, got to keep fighting. Got to put this behind us, you know, learn from what we did wrong. Get better at what we can fix and we will try to come out and get the win on Saturday.”
Like in 2014, the Bears will need to win what is always a thriller at home against TCU, but also win their second game in Norman in the history of the series on Nov. 12. The Bears won there for the first time on Nov. 8, 2014, defeating the Sooners 48-14.
“We know that we have to take care of business, and that it is still a possibility," senior linebacker Aiavion Edwards said. "We have to take it one game at a time though. There isn’t much we can control other than that, so we just have to focus on this week.”
Fortunately for Baylor, the Bears will see TCU in Waco before hitting the road to Norman. The Horned Frogs have lost three of their last four and in their lone victory, a missed field goal by Kansas in the final seconds of the game was all that separated them from four-straight losses.
No matter TCU's record, however, there is enough bad blood between the two teams that it won't be an issue for the Bears to come out focused.
“It’s another big game," Baylor tight end Jordan Feuerbacher said. "I know everyone was a littlebummed after the loss, but we’ve got a big game to look forward to."
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Feuerbacher added, "We’re just not really worrying about that at this point, we’re just worrying about TCU and winning out and winning the Big 12. Whatever happens happens. We’ll play hard no matter what bowl game or where we’re at.”
Baylor interim head coach Jim Grobe has also become familiar quickly with the rivalry that the two private institutions have. The Bears have won three of the last five against the in-state rival, including the 2014 matchup in Waco, a game that only fueled the rivalry.
“There are a lot of teams that hold a special place for us, and TCU is one of them," Grobe said. "I think any in-state school is going to be a rival. I mean that’s just the way it’s going to be. Any Big 12 school is going to be a rival for us."
As in the 2014 season, the goal of winning the Big 12 Championship is still in front of the Bears. The path is now a little more foggy, but it is still there to be taken.
"Every team has a goal," Grobe said. "There’s not a team in the country that plays in a conference that doesn’t have a goal to win their conference. Everybody talks about it all the time. So our goal has always been to win a Big 12 Championship. Even though we are really disappointed that we didn’t get it done against Texas, going forward the goal is still out there. It is still reachable.
The Bears finished the 2014 season by winning their final five games, something they will also need to do this fall.
“I don’t think we have any concern about how we’ll bounce back," Feuerbacher said. "We were talking after the game and in meetings yesterday - we’re still in the driver’s seat for this thing. We still have a lot of football to play.”
Taking on a WVU team that had showed some promise but only squeaked out wins against Maryland and Texas Tech in weeks prior, the Bears jumped out to an early lead, but couldn't capitalize on opportunities to extend that lead throughout the game.
The Bears settled for two field goals which allowed the Mountaineers to keep themselves in the game and ultimately separate for a victory in the final quarter of play. Baylor went on to win the conference championship, but missed their shot at the playoffs with a one-loss season.
Fast forward to 2016 and the Bears are in a very similar situation.
After a heartbreaking loss in October to Texas, Baylor's chances for the College Football Playoff are likely gone. But the Bears will have their chance to control their destiny starting with TCU on Saturday.
SicEm365
“I still think Big 12 Championship, for sure," Baylor quarterback Seth Russell said of the goals of the team.
"I think it is just to stay focused. More noise outside, but we’ve got to stay focused, got to keep fighting. Got to put this behind us, you know, learn from what we did wrong. Get better at what we can fix and we will try to come out and get the win on Saturday.”
Like in 2014, the Bears will need to win what is always a thriller at home against TCU, but also win their second game in Norman in the history of the series on Nov. 12. The Bears won there for the first time on Nov. 8, 2014, defeating the Sooners 48-14.
“We know that we have to take care of business, and that it is still a possibility," senior linebacker Aiavion Edwards said. "We have to take it one game at a time though. There isn’t much we can control other than that, so we just have to focus on this week.”
Fortunately for Baylor, the Bears will see TCU in Waco before hitting the road to Norman. The Horned Frogs have lost three of their last four and in their lone victory, a missed field goal by Kansas in the final seconds of the game was all that separated them from four-straight losses.
No matter TCU's record, however, there is enough bad blood between the two teams that it won't be an issue for the Bears to come out focused.
“It’s another big game," Baylor tight end Jordan Feuerbacher said. "I know everyone was a littlebummed after the loss, but we’ve got a big game to look forward to."
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Feuerbacher added, "We’re just not really worrying about that at this point, we’re just worrying about TCU and winning out and winning the Big 12. Whatever happens happens. We’ll play hard no matter what bowl game or where we’re at.”
Baylor interim head coach Jim Grobe has also become familiar quickly with the rivalry that the two private institutions have. The Bears have won three of the last five against the in-state rival, including the 2014 matchup in Waco, a game that only fueled the rivalry.
“There are a lot of teams that hold a special place for us, and TCU is one of them," Grobe said. "I think any in-state school is going to be a rival. I mean that’s just the way it’s going to be. Any Big 12 school is going to be a rival for us."
As in the 2014 season, the goal of winning the Big 12 Championship is still in front of the Bears. The path is now a little more foggy, but it is still there to be taken.
"Every team has a goal," Grobe said. "There’s not a team in the country that plays in a conference that doesn’t have a goal to win their conference. Everybody talks about it all the time. So our goal has always been to win a Big 12 Championship. Even though we are really disappointed that we didn’t get it done against Texas, going forward the goal is still out there. It is still reachable.
The Bears finished the 2014 season by winning their final five games, something they will also need to do this fall.
“I don’t think we have any concern about how we’ll bounce back," Feuerbacher said. "We were talking after the game and in meetings yesterday - we’re still in the driver’s seat for this thing. We still have a lot of football to play.”
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