Aug. 10, 2001
With a successful spring training in the books and the spring semester now history, the Baylor football team is turning its focus to the off-season program leading up to the 2001 season.
Before they head into a long, hot summer of preparations for the Sept. 8 season-opener against Arkansas State, Baylor Bear Insider contributor Maxey Parrish sat down with several key Bears to ask them a set of questions and garner their thoughts about the 2001 campaign.
Watch for interviews with various Bears all summer leading up to the 2001 football season. For an archive of other interviews, click here.
Andrew Obriotti, TE, 6-3, 238, Sr-3L, San Antonio -- As Baylor's starting tight end in 2000, Obriotti caught 10 passes for 96 yards. A veteran of the Big 12 wars, he has played in all 33 games of his career, starting 24. As the Bears play a more wide-open passing game next year, Obriotti should be a big part of the offensive scheme.
1. Will the team be better or significantly better next year and why?
"In my opinion, significantly better. We go into the fall with a quarterback in Greg Cicero who had a great spring. He's a great leader. He went out early last year with an injury and it changed the team. I feel like we'll be more successful and move the ball. We'll be more open in our attack, throwing the ball.
"The defense will be much more experienced. Last year a lot of young players played. They had a great spring. They're energized and enthusiastic and it trickles over everybody else. The junior college players will add some needed depth."
2. Who will be the team to beat in the Big 12 South this year and where do you see Baylor fitting into the conference race?
"I definitely think Oklahoma is the team to beat. They're the returning national champions and they were No. 1 for a reason. They're undefeated and they've got a long winning streak. They're No. 1 until somebody knocks them off. Somebody will have to beat them to say they're No. 1.
"Baylor, I see us around fourth or fifth in the Big 12 South, but that's just for a start. I think there will be a lot of changes and we have the opportunity to slip up on some people."
3. What do you believe will be the greatest areas of improvement in the Baylor team next year and what do you believe will be the greatest areas of concern?
"On offense, we'll be improved a lot. We were pretty dismal last year. We had so many key injuries. But this year I think the offense will be pretty tough. We've put a few different things in the system, we'll be more open, do audibles differently. There are a lot of new aspects to the offense."
"I suppose cornerback would be the area of concern, because we're inexperienced there. We lost a second round draft choice in Gary Baxter and a tremendous playmaker in Daniel Wilturner. It's not to say we don't have great players coming back, they're just young and it will be a challenge for them."
4. What player or players at Baylor will be the most pleasant surprises next year?
"Jonathan Golden has been a real surprise. He works so hard. He and Chedrick Ricks and Melvin Barnett. I have to include them all. I've never seen anything like the work they're doing. They have a tremendous work ethic. They challenge each other. I think they'll step up and be big-time backs like the other backs in the Big 12. There are high standards in this conference and they're working hard reach those standards."
5. What Baylor players are on the verge of becoming Big 12 standouts?
"You have to say that Reggie Newhouse will be a standout in the Big 12. I think he's just outstanding. And on defense, John Garrett. He'll be a star in this conference the next three years."
6. What will you do this summer?
"I'm not sure right now. I might be working on an internship in Dallas. I'm in the marketing field and I need to be looking at the future."
7. What are your goals for next season?
"I want to catch at least 20 balls next year. That's my benchmark. And I'd like to score at least two touchdowns. I haven't scored one since I've been here, so I need to score a touchdown.
"As for the team, I'd like to go to a bowl game. I think we need to start by winning our home games. You can start to set the tone by winning at home. That would be big because it would bring out more fans and help us get the support we need. You do that by winning at home. It would help us regain the respect for our team and our school."
8. Which early-season game do you view as a key next year?
"I think the game at Minnesota. The reason is they're a Big 10 team and a good Big 10 team. We lost to them last year and it's up there. They've been to back-to-back bowls. To go up there and beat a solid Big 10 team would help us get it going."
