Aug. 30, 2001

Head football coach Kevin Steele sat down Thursday afternoon and chatted with fans online. The following is a transcript of the chat session.

For archived transcripts of earlier chats, click here.

alexander city, al: coach steele, i bleed green and gold, win or lose. i preferr that we win, howerver, i hope that all at baylor keeps the two most impotant things in mind....education and despline!!! i love to win as most people do but at the college level, high school or how low you go an education is most important than a win. that is what we must instill in the young people today and not the chance on being a super star in any major leage sports or winning the lottery! how do you feel about this and most important is how does the ad and presisent feel? sic'em bears '75 rtb

Kevin Steele: You said it very well -- winning is our ultimate goal, and we will win, but we can accomplish it in the process of educating student athletes. The President and Athletic Director feel the same way.

Philip Dorr---Chicago, IL: Coach Steele: What is the one necessary item that you look for in all of your recruits that indicates to you that they are qualified to be part of your program? Can't wait to see this great group of guys win a lot of games this year!!!! Phil Dorr

Kevin Steele: Ability to earn a degree, character, and athletic traits applicable to each position. Thanks.

Pat Shannon (Round Rock, Tx): I read the Waco Tribune Herald "bowling" article (a feature on you that ran several months ago). In that article you asked that a Baylor fan save the M&M's she offered you until after your first bowl game win at Baylor at the conclusion of this season. That was pretty bold talk coming off the last two seasons. I have just one question, Plain or Peanut? P.S. You really don't have to answer this question because I'll make sure I've got both Plain and Peanut on me when bowl-season 2001 gets here. Sic 'em!

Kevin Steele: Plain -- thanks for the encouaging words.

Steve (San Jose, CA): What happened to Jarrod Douglas, Odell James, and Derek Lagway. Will Derek recover from the motorcycle accident? Do Jarrod and Odell have a change in the CFL or with the teams in Europe?

Kevin Steele: I don't know about Jerrod Douglas. Odell James has graduated and is coaching junior high football in Waco, and Derek Lagway is currently on our team. His recovery process is going well.

Brent (Irving, TX): I have read about several injuries recently in the printed media. Please speak to the current injuries and the seriousness of those injuries. Thanks for your time, and please know, there are many Baylor faithful out there that think you are doing a terrific job!

Kevin Steele: Brent, a lot of programs do not release any injuries. Our practice is open to the media, so they notice who is out there and who isn't. Therefore, some of the injuries are magnified. We do have concerns about: Jamal Harper is out for the season due to knee injury. Matt Amendola is questionable as to when we'll get him back, and Derek Long is out 3-4 weeks. The rest are day-to-day. Thanks for your positive support.

Jim Hancock (Lubbock): Coach Steele: I wish for you and team a great year and believe it will be no less than that. I am so very impressed with the way you are building the football program. Thanks for your positive outlook and determination. My question: In what ways will our offense be different? I sense that you will unveil much that is new on Sept. 8th.

Kevin Steele: We have condensed in some ways both the offensive and defensive schemes, and magnified other areas that we will feature more. I know you'll enjoy watching it on Sept. 8. Thanks for your positive support.

Buddy (Houston): Will we have continuity with our uniforms this year instead of changing from week to week? My preference is green jerseys and gold pants at home and white jerseys and gold pants on the road.

Kevin Steele: Your favorites are my favorites, too. Most of the time, the captains and the team leadership decide on the combinations.

Chris (Houston): I notice that none of the juco players at this point have established themselves as starters. Is this subject to change, it seems that we need more mass on the field in conference play?

Kevin Steele: Junior college help: Greg Wade, AC Collier and Shaun Jackson are all prepared to get substantial playing time. On offense, Antoine Murphy and Ray Harrington fit in the same category, and Matt Bickle is coming on.

Jason (Kingwood): Can we expect tighter coverage on the corners this year? Last year our 2 corners were supposed to be the strength of our team yet they were consistently 10 to 12 yards off the ball.

Kevin Steele: Actually, it was 8-9. This is the standard depth for certain style coverages. Our coverage change-ups are based on pass rush as well as ability of the secondary. Our ineffective pass rush prevented full package.

Walter,McGregor,TX: Coach Steele, I am behind your program 100%.I realize it takes time to build.I have 2 questions: 1)How do you call audibles in a place like the Metrodome when the noise level gets high? 2)Are the JC transfers going to play a lot? Please elaborate on which ones seem to be in the mix.

Kevin Steele: I commented earlier on the JC transfers. As far as audibling in the Metrodome, I can only relate to past experiences both in the NFL and at Nebraska. I can't imagine that it would ever be any louder than it was against the Vikings, so the standard audible system of hand signals as well as vocal signals will suffice.

John (Houston): I have heard great things about Davon Vinson, how could he compare with seasoning to Dantzler at Clemson? How soon could he contribute?

Kevin Steele: Davon Vinson is a special player. He possesses all the skills and is progressing very nicely. We will bring him along as needed.

Lee Roy Anderson-Austin: Good Luck on the upcoming season.Do you feel that the running back position is in good shape to take pressure off of the passing game.

Kevin Steele: Chedrick Ricks, Jonathan Golden, Melvin Barnett as well as true freshman Anthony Krieg have shown in 2-a-day practices and in the spring practices that they have the ability to be very effective in the running game.

Jonathan (Waco): Hey Coach, can't wait for the season to start! I'd be interested to hear about the development of 2 of your true freshmen: Anthony Krieg and Justin Crooks. How are they progressing? What do you expect from them over the next few years? And finally, is there a chance they might push for a starting role later in the season? Thanks, and have a great season!

Kevin Steele: Anthony Kreig and Justin Crooks both are progressing nicely. Anthony is in the mix at RB and will see playing time offensively and on special teams. Justin is a strong, very mature young LB who at this point will see playing time on special times as well as defense.

Roger (Pearland, TX): I am interested in two things: Improvement in the lines and improved tackling. How is the team looking? Did Robinson(?) the big lineman from Jersey Village make it to school? He is not listed on the roster.

Kevin Steele: Both lines of scrimmages are bigger and stronger, with added depth, and will be much improved. Abe dual-signed on national signing day with a junior college. We did this so that we could sign him in two years.

Greg - Lufkin, TX: Coach - I noticed you really don't heavily recruit in East Texas....any particular reason? There's a ton of talent in 12AAAAA

Kevin Steele: Greg - we do recruit very heavily in east Texas. We have signed in two years five players from east Texas, plus two other juco placements for a total of seven. When we first arrived here, there were 2 players from East Texas on our roster.

ro (Tyler): Coach, You have made the statement that this year's team would be "good". You emphasized that this was the first time that you have made that statement about our team. Obviously, the term "good" is quite subjective. Can you give us some objective standards of what good means? Thank you.

Kevin Steele: The statement "Good team" -- "good" means they're fun to coach, we've accumulated depth, they're bigger-stronger-faster. But the emphasis in the speeches was not placed on good as much as on team. I said I felt we had become one team with one heartbeat and purpose. Talent is a factor, but team (unity and purpose) is very important. This team has it.

Chris(Arlington, Texas): If you had a 'wish list' from your alumni(both former athlete and non-athlete), what would it be?

Kevin Steele: 1. Be positive. 2. Show up and support all the Baylor teams. Not that we do not have positive team or people that support us, but you can always use more.

Ed - Highland Park: Coach - going into the 2001 season, your projected starters at Defensive End (Mann & Lard) had a total of 2 sacks between them in 2000 (Lard with 2 and Mann with 0). Has the defensive scheme changed or have these players developed enough athletically to allow them to sack the QB more frequently (9 total team sacks in 2000)?

Kevin Steele: Ed -- I appreciate your astuteness and the stat totals that I am well aware of. I normally don't answer questions that have a negative overtone of the past, but Aaron Lard and Charles Mann are both bigger, stronger, faster and more mature, and our pass rush has improved. Look forward to seeing you in the stands to see our new improved pass rush.

MartPantherFan: In my opinion, the best (and probably only) point you have in selling Baylor to a true blue chip recruit is the ability to come in and play as a freshman, especially in skilled positions. When the season fell apart once Cicero was injured, why didn't you scratch every senior, except maybe Baxter, from the starting line-up and play underclassmen so that you could go out and tell recruits "come to Baylor and play immediately, just like this year." Not only would have this help with recruiting, it would have helped prepare those players for this year. I predict John Garret will be All Big XII, finishing among the top 5 tacklers, averaging about 12 a game.

Kevin Steele: I agree -- John Garrett is a special player of all-Big 12 and even all-America caliber. We have to keep recruiting the John Garrett's of the world.

Kevin Steele: Thanks -- appreciate your support. Show up, be positive, wear gold, and have fun. Gotta run -- we'll do this again!