Oct 15, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Seth Russell (17) goes in for the 5-yard touch run against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first quarter at McLane Stadium. Photo Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Baylor will always be intensely motivated to defeat Texas.
It doesn’t matter that the Bears are undefeated and the Longhorns have struggled to maintain momentum this season. Baylor won’t be overlooking its longtime conference rival.
But there are two big scoops of extra incentive for the Bears on this trip to Austin.
For starters, the Longhorns upset Baylor in Waco less than eleven months ago, taking advantage of the Bears’ injuries at quarterback.
Even more recently, Texas made an agonizing summer for Baylor even more excruciating. After Baylor dismissed head coach Art Briles for his involvement in the school’s Title IX problems, the Longhorns pounced on the Bears’ recruiting class.
No matter that Texas media members were among the loudest in criticizing Baylor, as soon as the Bears incoming freshman went up for grabs, the Longhorns opened their arms wide and took in four ex-Baylor signees.
One of those players, wide receiver Devin Duvernay has become Texas’s most dangerous target in its burgeoning passing game.
So when an Austin reporter asked Baylor interim coach Jim Grobe about Duvernayon Monday, the Bears coach responded with a knowing grin.
“We didn’t miss on that guy,” Grobe said. “We thought he was really, really special and he’s proved that to us. When you watch him run by people it makes your heart skip a little bit.”
Certainly, Grobe and the Baylor coaching staff are not happy that their recruits ended up in burnt orange. But Grobe’s job has been, as much as anything, to smile and answer tough questions.
Grobe’s ability to answer questions has been suspect in his Baylor tenure. At times he’s seemed as though he doesn’t really know what’s going on within the football program.
However, through six games the Bears have given their interim coach nothing but reasons to smile as they’re still undefeated. If Baylor boosts its record to 7-0 this weekend, Grobe will still be smiling, while the Texas coaches will get a step closer to looking for their next jobs.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Seth Russell hasn’t been the prolific passer Baylor is used to, but he has done what it takes to keep the Bears winning this season. Russell passed for 144 yards and 2 TDs and ran for a team-high 68 yards and 2 TDs against Kansas. Given how Kansas State QB Jesse Ertz performed against Texas, Russell could be in for a big day on Saturday.
–CB Ryan Reid helped Baylor put away Kansas early as he intercepted a pass and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Reid, who has become an outspoken presence on the Baylor defense, finished the Kansas game with 2 picks and 116 return yards.
–KD Cannon will play a similar role to that of Oklahoma WR Dede Westbrook, who caught 10 passes for 232 yards against Texas. If Cannon comes anywhere close to those numbers, expect the Bears to win in Austin.
