Football Preview: Texas A&M at Baylor

Oct. 7, 2002

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BAYLOR (3-2, 1-0) vs. TEXAS A&M (3-2, 0-1)
Floyd Casey Stadium (50,000)
Waco, Texas
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002 * 11:30 a.m. CDT
Fox Sports Southwest

Baylor closes out a three-game homestand by hosting the 99th Battle of the Brazos against Texas A&M, Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Floyd Casey Stadium. The game is being televised by Fox Sports Net.

The Bears (3-2, 1-0) opened Big 12 Conference play last week with a come-from-behind, 35-32 win over Kansas, while the Aggies (3-2, 0-1) lost a tough, 48-47 overtime decision to Texas Tech at home.

SERIES
Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 60-29-9, including a 16-10 win last season in College Station. The two have met 54 times in Waco, with the Aggies leading in those games, 30-18-6.

Baylor's last win over A&M was in 1985 (20-15) in Waco. Since then, the Aggies have posted a 15-0-1 record against the Bears, including 11-straight wins.

Texas A&M is Baylor's second most-played opponent with 98 all-time meetings (The Bears have played TCU 103 times). The series' first meeting was a 33-0 Aggie victory in Waco. The Bears and Aggies have met every year since World War II.

COACHES
Kevin Steele (Tennessee, 1981) is 9-29 in his fourth season at Baylor. He is 0-3 against Texas A&M.

Texas A&M's R.C. Slocum (McNeese State, 1967) is 120-43-2 in his 14th season in College Station. He owns a 12-0-1 record against Baylor.

BEARS RALLY FOR BIG 12 WIN
Baylor rallied last week against Kansas to claim its first Big 12 win in four years, doing so in dramatic fashion. The Bears trailed 32-24 with under three minutes remaining before quarterback Aaron Karas led the team on an 80-yard drive and hit receiver Robert Quiroga on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 1:18 remaining. Chedrick Ricks then tied the game when he reached the endzone pylon on the two-point conversion. After forcing the Jayhawks to punt, the Bears took over on their 35 with :35 remaining and drove to the KU 16 before Daniel Andino connected on a 33-yard field goal with :01 left to clinch the win.

KARAS, BEARS POST BEST PASSING TOTAL IN 18 YEARS
Baylor's team passing total of 379 yards against Kansas was the third-highest single-game total in school history and the most since passing for a school-record 388 yards against TCU in 1984.

Aaron Karas passed for a career-high 359 yards against the Jayhawks, which is also the third-highest single-game total for an individual in Bear history.

During Baylor's two late scoring drives, Karas completed 7-of-9 passes for 119 yards and picked up a key first down with an eight-yard, fourth-down run to help set up the winning kick.

NEWHOUSE AMONG NCAA, BIG 12 LEADERS
Senior WR Reggie Newhouse, who has recorded 100 yards receiving in three of the Bears' five games, is fourth in the Big 12 in receptions per game (6.4, 15th nationally) and third in receiving yardage per game (100.0, 18th nationally).

Newhouse had eight catches for 164 yards at Cal, seven receptions for 119 yards against Samford and nine receptions for 120 yards versus Tulsa.

Against Kansas, Newhouse had six catches for 80 yards, but his clutch 12-yard, sideline reception with :04 remaining set up Daniel Andino's game-winning field goal.

Newhouse is currently third at Baylor in career receptions (140), fourth in yardage (1,912) and tied for fourth in TD receptions (13).

ANDINO GETS SECOND GAME WINNER
K Daniel Andino is now 2-of-2 in his career on game-winning field goal opportunities. Andino's 33-yard field goal with :01 left against Kansas gave Baylor a 35-32 win, just as his 29-yarder in 2001 gave the Bears a 16-13 overtime win over New Mexico.

The senior, who earlier in the KU game connected on a career-long 46-yarder, is now a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts this season.

BEARS BECOMING COMFORTABLE AT FLOYD CASEY
Baylor enters the Texas A&M game on a four-game home winning streak dating back to last season. It is BU's longest home win streak since 1994.

The Bears have also won their last six non-conference games at Floyd Casey Stadium dating back to 2000.

In its last six games at home, Baylor is average 416.5 yards and 33.3 points a contest.

TURNOVERS FRUSTRATE BEARS
Baylor ranks last in the Big 12 and 113th nationally with a minus-10 turnover margin (7 takeaways, 17 giveaways). Those mistakes have turned into opponent points, in some cases instantaneously. Opponents are averaging 14.4 points off turnovers, while the Bears are scoring just 2.6 points a game off takeaways.

NUMBERS UP ACROSS THE BOARD FOR BEARS
Baylor's NCAA statistical rankings are up for nearly every major team offensive and defensive category. After finishing 103rd (310.5 ypg) last year in total offense, the Bears are currently 49th (396.8 ypg). Defensively, Baylor is 44th nationally (345.0 ypg) after finishing 88th (418.2 ypg) last season. Below is the Bears' current NCAA ranking and corresponding 2001 finish:

Category    2001 (Rank) 2002 (Rank)Total Offense   310.5 (103) 396.8 (49)Scoring Offense 18.6 (101)  28.8 (53)Rush Offense    95.7 (108)  143.8 (70)Pass Offense    214.7 (63)  253.0 (39)Total Defense   418.2 (88)  345.0 (44)Scoring Defense 32.5 (91)   32.4 (98)Rush Defense    171.2 (73)  109.2 (23)Pass Defense    247.0 (91)  235.8 (81)

BEARS RACK UP SACKS VS. TULSA
After recording just one sack in the season's first three games, Baylor recorded six in the win over Tulsa. Junior DE Joe Simmons had two against the Hurricane, while sophomore DE Khari Long had one and a half.

RED ZONE SUCCESS
Baylor leads the Big 12 with an 89 percent success rate in the red zone. The Bears have scored on 16-of-18 attempts inside the opponents 20, including 13 touchdowns. Turnovers have kept BU from scoring in their two unsuccessful red zone trips.

FIRST QUARTER POINTS FOR BEARS
Since being outscored 35-7 in the first quarter of Baylor's season-opening loss at Cal, Baylor has turned the table on the opposition, outscoring its foes 51-13 in the opening stanza. The Bears' 14 first-quarter points against Kansas were the most it had ever scored in the first period of a Big 12 game.

GOLDEN AMONG BIG 12 SCORING LEADERS
Junior RB Jonathan Golden, thanks to a record-setting performance in the season's second game against Samford, is tied for second in the Big 12 Conference and tied for 20th nationally in scoring with 9.6 ppg.

Golden, who has eight touchdowns, tied a Big 12 record and set a Baylor one by scoring six touchdowns in the win over Samford.

Golden leads the Bears with a 70.2 rushing average and has rushed for over 85 yards in all three home games this season (108 vs. Samford, 95 against Tulsa, 88 vs. Kansas). His 100-yard effort against Samford was his first and the first by a Baylor back since Darrell Bush ran for 164 against North Texas in 1999.

KARAS 6th IN BIG 12 IN PASS EFFICIENCY
Sophomore QB Aaron Karas, who has won four of his five career starts, is fourth in the Big 12 with a passing rating of 137.4.

In seven career outings dating back to last season, Karas has now posted combined totals of 106-of-170 passing (62 percent) for 1,553 yards, 11 TDs, 7 interceptions and a 150.3 efficiency rating. He has thrown for 200 yards in five of the seven games, including all five he has started at home.

DAVIS KICK RETURNS BIG vs. TULSA
Senior DB Randy Davis, who ranks among Baylor career top 10 in all kickoff return categories, just missed school single-game records two weeks ago against Tulsa with five returns for 172 yards (34.4 ypr) against the Golden Hurricane. Kalief Muhammad set school records with six returns for 175 yards against TCU in 1993.

The following week against Kansas, Davis had a 100-yard return nullified due to a penalty.

Davis is currently fifth in the Big 12 in kickoff returns with a 23.2 average.

Davis, the only player in Bear history with a pair of 90-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career, is seventh all time at Baylor with a 22.07 ypr average, tied for sixth with 43 kickoff returns and sixth with 949 kickoff return yards.

BEAR TIDBITS
? When facing third down and six-yards-or-less, Baylor is converting 57 percent of the time (16-of-28). When having to go seven-yards-or-more, the Bears have only been successful 26 percent of time (11-of-43). Overall, Baylor is converting 38 percent of its third down conversions (27-of-71).

? Senior WR Bobby Darnell's 25-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring against Kansas was the first of his career.

? BU is averaging 8:47 of first-quarter possession time through its first four games.

? Four Bears - Reggie Newhouse, Robert Quiroga, Charles Radford and J.T. Thompson - have caught at least one pass in each game this season.

BU LEADS BIG 12 IN GRADUATION RATES
According to the latest NCAA graduation rates, Baylor's football team has posted a 76 percent success rate in this category, the best figure in the Big 12 and far above the NCAA division I average (52 percent).

Texas Tech was second among Big 12 football programs with a 73 percent graduation rate, followed by Nebraska (67), Texas A&M (59), Iowa State (50), Missouri (50), Texas (50), Oklahoma State (48), Kansas State (44), Kansas (43), Colorado (38) and Oklahoma (6).

BEARS FACE TOUGH SCHEDULE
Half of Baylor's 12 2002 opponents (Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech) participated in bowl games last season.

Baylor's 2002 opponents went a combined 73-67 (.521) in 2001 and are 36-28 (.563) this season. Three of the Bears' 12 opponents are currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

BEAR CAPTAINS NAMED
Four seniors, DT Ethan Kelley, DE Charles Mann, WR Reggie Newhouse and DT Kevin Stevenson, have been selected by their teammates as captains for the 2002 season.

GARRETT OUT FOR SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY
Junior LB John Garrett, one of 11 Big 12 players on the 67-man, preseason Butkus Award 'watch list,' is out for the season after injuring his knee (ACL) in Baylor's win over Kansas.

Garrett currently leads the team with 33 tackles and has five tackles for loss. One series before his injury, Garrett had set up a Bear field goal with his first career interception.

Garrett was named honorable mention All-Big 12 last year after finishing third on the team in tackles with 89. He has started 20 of his first 25 games as a Bear.

FAMILY TIES
A number of Bears have noteworthy family connections:

- WR Reggie Newhouse is the son of former Dallas Cowboy RB Robert Newhouse.

- The father of FB Jonathan Evans, Dr. Tony Evans, is the host of a nationally syndicated daily radio program which can be heard on 250 stations in the U.S. and in 40 countries. He is founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national organization seeking spiritual renewal in urban America through the church. He also serves as chaplain for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

- WR John Martin is the son of Dave Martin, current associate AD at Oklahoma State and one-time interim commissioner of the Big 12.

- QB Josh Zachry is the son of Pat Zachry, a 10-year major league pitcher who as a member of the 1976 World Champion Cincinnati Reds won the National League's Rookie of the Year award.

- CB Michael Boyd is the cousin of former Baylor standout Thomas Everett, a two-time All-SWC performer and winner of the inaugural Thorpe Award in 1986.

- DL Lorenzo Davis is the cousin of 14-year NBA veteran Derrick McKey.

- LB Jamaal Harper is a cousin of Kenyon Martin, who plays for the NBA's New Jersey Nets.

- Freshman TE Iris Williams has a pair of notable family members. Uncle Elvis Patterson won a pair of Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, while cousin and former Baylor standout Fred Miller is a starting offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans.

- Freshman WR Trent Shelton is the nephew of San Francisco 49er receivers coach George Stewart.

BAYLOR INJURY UPDATE
Here's an updated list at Baylor's injuries heading into the Texas A&M game:

Player, Pos.        Injury  StatusAnthony Arline, DB  Knee (l)    Out for seasonJohn Garrett, LB  Knee (l)    Out for seasonMichael Gary, DB    Knee (r)    Out for seasonRyan Jeffrey, WR  Shoulder (r)    Out for seasonAnthony Kreig, RB   Ankle (l)   QuestionableAaron Lard, DL      Knee (r)    Questionable

SINGLETARY UP FOR 10 GREATEST COLLEGIANS
CBS Sports will televise a one-hour special this fall on 'College Football's Ten Greatest Players.' Baylor great Mike Singletary is one of approximately 200 candidates that will be voted on by coaches, media, former Heisman Trophy winners, members of the College Football Hall of Fame and Division I athletic directors. Additionally, fans can vote for their favorite players at cbs.sportsline.com. The program will air Nov. 29, at 1:30pm, ET.

OVER THE AIR
Bear football games can be heard live on the Baylor Radio Network. The network includes 18 affiliates across Texas, including flagship stations KRZI-AM (1660/1580) and KLRK-FM (92.9) in Waco. All Baylor games are broadcast by the "Voice of the Bears" John Morris, a veteran broadcaster in his eighth season. Former Baylor football standouts Walter Abercrombie and Ricky Thompson are in their third season providing analysis.

BAYLOR GAMES ON THE INTERNET
The radio call from all of Baylor's games can be heard live on the internet on Baylor's official online website, www.BaylorBears.com, or at www.yahoo.broadcast.com.

BAYLORBEARS.COM
Baylor's official athletic web site can be found at www.BaylorBears.com. The comprehensive site, which includes releases, photos, biographical sketches and audio broadcasts, is part of the Official College Sports Network. OCSN currently hosts sites for more than 100 universities, including eight Big 12 schools.

INSIDE BAYLOR SPORTS TV SHOW
Inside Baylor Sports, a half-hour look at the world of Baylor athletics, will air weekly throughout Central Texas and other outlets. The program, co-hosted by John Morris and Lori Scott-Fogleman, airs on KCEN-TV Channel 6, Fox Sports Southwest and the College Channel (Waco cable 18).

BEARS CLOSE IN ON WIN NO. 500
Baylor needs three more wins to join the 500-win club all-time. The Bears are 497-465-44 since beginning football play in 1899.

Entering the 2002 season, 50 schools had reached the 500-win plateau.

NEXT UP...
Baylor takes to the road for an Oct. 19 game at Colorado. It is the Bears' first trip to Boulder since 1998. Kickoff time at Folsom Field has yet to be determined.

Football Preview: Texas A&M at Baylor

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Jamaal Harper

Trent Shelton

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Football Preview: Texas A&M at Baylor

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