Nov. 8, 2000
Editor's Note: Dave Campbell's column appears in each edition of the Baylor Bear Insider Report, available upon membership in the Baylor Bear Foundation. For information on joining the Bear Foundation, click here. For an archive of his other columns, click here.
This weekend Baylor's old grads return to campus for the university's annual homecoming festivities, when it will be friends from college days once again renewing old friendships, when it will be Pigskin Revue and "Cabaret" and the Friday night bonfire, when the nation's grandest and largest and (some say) oldest annual homecoming parade -- with fantastic floats galore -- will make its way down Austin Avenue Saturday morning, when it will be Bear versus Tiger at Floyd Casey Stadium Saturday afternoon.
And, dare we say it, when maybe, just maybe, it will be the Baylor Bears winning a Big 12 Conference football game for the first time in 20 tries.
Understand, the Bears (2-6 for the season, 0-5 for league play) are likely to be underdogs Saturday. But for the first time since September, they will be facing an opponent that is not completely beyond their reach, one that is not currently ranked in the nation's Top 25.
Yes, Baylor fans, it's true: the Bears finally have put Murderers Row behind them. Taking on Texas A&M, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma was college football's equivalent of a serial public execution, at least it was for this Baylor football team, as beat up and as lacking in experience and talent at certain positions as it is.
But at least the ordeal is over.
Over at least until next year when the Bears, starting on Oct. 6, are scheduled to play Texas A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas, in that order.
Who is that guy who makes out the Big 12 schedule anyway, and what does he have against green and gold?
BUT THAT IS A PROBLEM for 2001, and the 2001 football season is still 10 months away. Baylor's more immediate problem is Missouri, a 1-5 team (2-7 overall) that has more in common with coach Kevin Steele's team than its current lodging in the Big 12's never-never land.
Namely, the Big 12 North cellar-dwelling Tigers, like the Big 12 South cellar-dwelling Bears, have been treated harshly by injuries. Decimated, you might say.
But, unlike Baylor, the Tigers are in the process of recovering from their worst one. Their top quarterback, Kirk Farmer, was performing in a sensational way against the likes of mighty Nebraska on Sept. 30 when he suffered a broken collarbone in third-quarter action. In his absence, the Tiger offense was left in the hands of redshirt freshman Darius Outlaw.
Sound familiar?
But the word from Columbia last week was that Farmer hoped to be back in action to some degree last Saturday against Colorado. "And if not then, then certainly against Baylor," said Jeremy McNeive, Missouri's information director for Tiger football.
In other words, the talented Farmer, a 6-5, 213-pound sophomore, is back, ready to take over the Tiger quarterbacking. The talented Greg Cicero, who was quarterbacking the Baylor Bears until he suffered a badly broken collarbone in BU's second game of the season against Minnesota, won't be back until spring drills begin next year.
Until he returns, the Bruins will remain under the direction of redshirt freshman Guy Tomcheck and true freshman Kerry Dixon. Neither has exactly awakened the echoes for Baylor.
IN SHORT, BAYLOR has a quarterback problem to go with its numerous other problems, which takes us back to 1996 and the first year of the Big 12 Conference. The Bears, who began their season that year with three straight victories over non-conference opponents, came to their next-to-last game of the season, against Missouri, with only one conference victory in their trophy sack -- a 49-21 victory over Iowa State.
By then the Bears had lost decisively to Texas Tech (45-24), to Nebraska (49-0), to Oklahoma (28-24), to Texas (28-23), to A&M (24-7). Come to think of it, they've lost to all those teams -- plus Iowa State -- this year, too.
In 1996 they had made it closer in most games, yes, but a loss is a loss is a loss.
When the Missouri Tigers came to town in 1996, bringing with them a 3-6 record, both teams were in a state of going nowhere. Indeed, the Bears, like this year, mainly were going nowhere because their defense gave up too many points and their quarterbacking was sub-par by Big 12 standards.
That afternoon, Missouri went into the fourth quarter with the game apparently well in hand. And then, for one brief shining quarter, the Bears got the quarterbacking they needed. Coach Chuck Reedy gave junior Jeff Watson another opportunity to work some magic and, lo, that time he succeeded beyond anyone's expectations. The Bears started making big plays, Watson started making big pass completions and the Bears started putting points on the scoreboard. What had been a seemingly-safe Missouri lead quickly melted. As the final second ticked off the clock, the two teams were tied.
Overtime.
At the end of the first overtime, both teams had scored a touchdown. The score was still tied.
At the end of the second overtime, same thing.
But at the end of the third overtime, the Tigers had sliced through that tissue-thin Baylor defense for still another touchdown, needing only two plays, as I recall, to do so. And that time the Bears were unable to answer.
Final score: Missouri 49, Baylor 42, in triple overtime. That is the only triple overtime game in Baylor's history, and it involved the school that will be taking on the Bears on that same Floyd Casey Stadium field this Saturday.
If we get another triple-overtime game this time, at least fans will have plenty to talk about.
WELL, THEY MAY HAVE plenty to talk about regardless. Baylor has to be upbeat, having moved beyond Murderer's Row. And the Tigers are sure to be upbeat with their best play-maker back at the switchboard.
Just how much Kirk Farmer plays, and how effectively, can only be surmised, but his availability has to be a plus for the Tigers and veteran coach Larry Smith (23 years a head coach with an overall record of 140-118-7, a dozen victories over Top Ten teams, 10 bowl games, and named the AP's Big 12 Coach of the Year in 1997).
Farmer has the tools to be an outstanding quarterback, he just doesn't have the luck.
"He's 6-5 and 213, he runs a 4.53 forty, he has a vertical leap of 36.5 inches, he squats 600 pounds, he has great arm strength -- he's the total package," said McNeive. "He was really having a great game against Nebraska until he broke his collarbone in the third quarter. We were only down by a touchdown when the injuries hit. Farmer's return will be a good morale booster for our team."
Last year, Farmer was displaying much promise while splitting time at quarterback as a redshirt freshman when he suffered a broken leg against Iowa State. Hailed as "an outstanding all-around athlete who very well could be the best fit to lead Mizzou's new open-style offensive attack," Farmer had thrown for 669 yards in four games and was averaging 5.8 yards per rush (24 carries) when injured. When he returns he probably will be rusty but obviously eager to make up for lost time.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are hardly bankrupt at quarterback. In Farmer's absence they have turned to Darius Outlaw, a 6-4, 194-pound redshirt freshman from Powder Springs, Ga., and while the Tigers have not been winning all that much, they have been scoring. They scored 24 against Nebraska, 17 against Kansas, 12 against Texas, 20 against Iowa State and 18 against Colorado in losing causes, and 24 against Oklahoma State in an outing crowned by victory.
"Outlaw is a lot like Farmer, just not as big," said McNeive. "But he has a very good arm, very good speed, and he's very elusive. He's actually faster than Farmer. I'd say he's very comparable to Corby Jones (a great Missouri quarterback of several seasons ago). He's a young guy but he's learning."
The youngster caught Missouri's eye when he attended Larry Smith's summer football camp in both 1997 and '98. Even so, Smith had to use his best recruiting wiles to get him away from Clemson, South Carolina and Georgia Tech
If something should happen to Outlaw and Farmer were not available, the Tigers would turn to their top wideout for quarterbacking help. He is sophomore Justin Gage, 6-5, 200 and a two-sport standout. Baylor fans might remember him from last basketball season, helping the Tigers win a narrow victory over Dave Bliss' team at the Ferrell Center.
Still another Missouri quarterback, junior Jim Daugherty (6-4, 192), had been penciled in as Farmer's No. 1 backup going into the season, but he tore ligaments in his elbow. More Tiger hard luck, McNeive said.
BUT WITH EACH successive game, Outlaw improves. And now Farmer is ready to take his turn in the pilot's seat. The Tigers may be about to produce a full-throated roar.
Farmer and Outlaw direct a re-tooled offense that, in the words of the Missouri football media guide, "combines the old Missouri smash-mouth style with a new wide-open assault." In revising his offense, Smith brought in three new coaches. Bill Cubit came in from Western Michigan to join Andy Hill as co-offensive coordinators. Sam Pittman also came in from Western Michigan to take over as offensive line coach. And Chris Tabor, a star small-college quarterback in his playing days, was promoted from Missouri grad assistant to tutor the running backs.
Until the injury bug started making a major impact, the Tigers had high hopes of returning to their 1997-98 level when they made it to two bowl games. Seven starters among 45 returning lettermen were available for both offense and defense. They began impressively, beating up on Western Illinois, 50-20, and while Clemson smashed them (62-9) in a televised battle of Tigers at Clemson, they came back well from that slaughter to give Michigan State all it could handle before losing, 13-10. And it was doing the same against Nebraska until Farmer got hurt.
The major spear-carriers in the Tigers' running game are junior Zain Gilmore (6-1, 220) and redshirt freshman Zach Abron (5-10, 234). In eight games, Gilmore had rushed for 416 yards, in six outings, Abron had annexed 344.
"We use whichever one has the hot hand," said McNeive. "Gilmore has more experience. Abron is the bowling ball type, hard to bring down. Both have good size."
Sophomore Joe Chirumbolo (6-2, 233), the starter at fullback, is strictly a blocker who catches an occasion pass coming out of the backfield. Going into last Saturday's game against Colorado, Chirumbolo had not carried the ball a single time this season.
THE TIGER WHO figured to be Missouri's top wide receiver, senior John Dausman (6-1, 180), is another hard-luck case. He was sidelined all of last season after tearing an ACL. Against Nebraska this season he tore the other ACL. When it rains, it pours. In 1998, Dausman was the Tigers' second leading receiver and they had big plans for him this season.
Those big plans now rest with Justin Gage (the footballer-basketballer), soph Terrence Curry, junior Eric Spencer and freshman Tay Jackson. Spencer and Gage are the Tigers to watch. Through eight games Spencer had 27 catches for 378 yards, Gage 25 for 421. Big junior tight end Dwayne Blakley (6-4, 254) also makes for an inviting target (15 catches, 189 yards).
"We think Blakley is one of the best tight ends in the conference but it's been a struggle this season to get the ball to him," said McNeive. "When we're looking for good blocking, we go more to Brandon Ford (6-3, 262, junior)."
The Tigers' offensive line has size and experience -- all juniors and seniors except for center A.J. Ricker, a 6-5, 288-pound redshirt freshman. Left guard Mike Hayes (junior, 6-3, 292) and senior right guard Joe Glauberman (6-3, 279), who moved from left tackle, are the pace-setters. "Glauberman is having a real good year," said McNeive. The guards and center play inside two huge tackles: junior Aaron Crittendon (6-5, 351) and junior Justin Bland (6-6, 349).
DEFENSIVELY, THE TIGERS lead with their ace, junior end Justin Smith (6-4, 270), an All-America candidate and a nominee for the Nagurski Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player. He had six sacks this season after eight games and 17 1/2 for his career. Longtime Tiger observers call him one of the most dominant defensive players in Missouri history, and coach Smith has likened him to one of his earlier proteges at Southern Cal, All-America (and now All-Pro) Junior Seau. The Holts Summitt, Mo., product has 4.5 speed, unusual for someone with that size.
Also conspicuous in the Tiger defensive front is senior nose tackle Pat Mingucci (6-2, 275), a three-year letterman who has moved from partial qualifier status to become a Missouri mainstay. Minguicci had 12 tackles in the Nebraska game while going against the Huskers' All-America center candidate Dominic Raiola, which is no small achievement.
Elsewhere up front are senior Danny McCamy (6-3, 270) and soph Cedric Harden (6-3, 299).
"Our linebackers have really been beat up," said McNeive. "The top one now is a sophomore, Sean Doyle (6-0, 232). Jamonte Robinson (6-2, 207, junior) started out on the Butkus list but he has a bad ankle. Sophomore Sean Ain (6-1, 215) started for the first time last week (against Iowa State), David Monroe (junior, 6-0, 233) for the first time two weeks ago."
THE TIGERS ALSO have been hard hit by injuries in the secondary, the Missouri spokesman said. Free safety Clarence Jones (junior, 6-1, 199) is a good one, the quarterback of the secondary. And senior Julian Jones (5-11, 195) is considered "a tremendous player" but he has had to do it while playing with a broken hand, causing him to wear a cast. Sophomore cornerback Antoine Duncan (5-10, 175) is described as a Tiger with a bright future.
In the kicking game, junior Jared Gilpin is having a fine season as the team's punter (17 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line), but the Tigers' kick coverage has been poor. They've given up two returns for touchdowns and several other long returns.
Brad Hammerich, a two-year letterman who was supposed to be the team's kicker, has surrendered those duties to Justin Scott, a walk-on true freshman.
All in all, Missouri will come to Waco as a struggling team that has been plagued by injuries and is hoping now to find a way to finish up strong. You could say the same about Baylor.
Editor's Note: Dave Campbell's column appears in each edition of the Baylor Bear Insider Report, available upon membership in the Baylor Bear Foundation. For information on joining the Bear Foundation, click here. For an archive of his other columns, click here.
