Football Preview: Baylor at California
8/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 26, 2002
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BAYLOR (0-0) at CALIFORNIA (0-0)
Memorial Stadium (73,347)
Berkeley, Calif.
Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002 * 12:30 p.m. PST
THIS WEEK
Baylor opens its 101st season of football with a game in Berkeley, Calif., against Pac-10 Conference member California.
Series
Baylor is 2-0 all-time against California. BU won a pair of games in Berkeley in the 1950s. Baylor won a 25-0 contest in 1953 and returned in 1956 for a 7-6 victory.
COACHES
Kevin Steele (Tennessee, 1981) is 6-27 in his fourth season at Baylor. He has never faced California. California's Jeff Tedford (Fresno State, 1983) is in his first season as a head coach.
BAYLOR vs. THE PAC-10
Baylor is 12-9 all-time against current members of the Pac-10 Conference. The Bears are 1-0 vs. Arizona, 0-1 vs. Arizona State, 2-0 vs. California, 1-3 vs. Oregon State, 2-3 vs. Southern Cal, 3-1 vs. Washington, 3-1 vs. Washington State.
Baylor's last meeting with a Pac-10 foe was in 1998, a 27-17, season-opening loss at Oregon State.
BAYLOR IN THE GOLDEN STATE
Baylor is 6-2 all-time in the state of California. The Bears' last game in the Golden State was a thrilling, 37-35 win at Fresno State in 1997.
In 1994, Baylor played two September games in California, defeating San Jose State, 54-20, on Sept. 10 and returning two weeks later to lose at Southern California, 37-27.
GOING BACK TO CALI
Four Baylor Bears call California home - QB Greg Cicero (Anaheim), OL Randy Cornejo (North Hollywood), DB Tyson Hampton (Sacramento) and WR Ray Harrington (San Diego).
Five other Bears attended junior college in California - OL Matt Bickel (Grossmont), DB Larry Bynum (College of the Canyons), WR Vince Copeland (Reedley), WR Charles Radford (Reedley) and LB James Washington (Ventura).
Finally, offensive coordinator and Northridge-native Dave Baldwin attended Cal State Northridge and has coached at his alma mater, San Jose State, Stanford, Santa Barbara JC and Santa Rosa JC. Baldwin also has a masters' degree from St. Mary's.
AUGUST OPENERS
Baylor is 1-1 all-time in August, losing to Miami (Fla.), 45-14, on Aug. 30, 1997, and defeating North Texas, 20-7, on Aug. 31, 2000.
BAYLOR IN SEASON OPENERS
Entering its 101st season of football, Baylor is 65-30-5 in previous season openers and has won its last two. The Bears defeated Arkansas State, 24-3, at home last year in their season opener.
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.
MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
* WR Reggie Newhouse enters his senior season needing 56 receptions and eight touchdown receptions to become Baylor's career leader in both categories. He is currently 3rd in receptions (108), 5th in TDs (12) and 5th in receiving yardage (1,412).
* Junior CB Bobby Hart is 8th on Baylor's career punt return chart with 37 and 10th in punt return yardage with 363. He needs 11 more returns and five more return yards to move up a spot on those respective lists.
* QB Greg Cicero needs 557 passing yards to move into Baylor's career top 15.
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 ON BUTKUS WATCH LIST
Junior LB John Garrett is one of 11 Big 12 players on the 67-man, preseason Butkus Award 'watch list.' Since 1986, the Butkus Award has been given annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker.
Garrett was named honorable mention All-Big 12 last year after finishing third on the team in tackles with 89. He has started 15 of his first 20 games as a Bear.
TURNOVERS KEY BU WINS
The Bears are 5-1 under Kevin Steele when winning the turnover battle. Baylor's lone loss when having a turnover advantage was last season against No. 4 Nebraska, when the Bears were a +1 but lost 48-7.
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 LIST
Here's an updated list at Baylor's injuries heading into its season opener: Player, Pos. Injury Status Anthony Arline, DB Knee (l) Out Derrick Cash, DB Knee (l) Probable Ryan Jeffrey, WR Shoulder (r) Out for season Anthony Krieg, RB Ankle (r) Probable Aaron Lard, DL Knee(r) Out Derek Long, OL Ankle, Shoulder Questionable Danielle McLean, DB Ankle (r) Probable
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 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 FANSonly Network. FANSonly 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 five more wins to join the 500-win club all-time. The Bears are 495-465-44 since beginning football play in 1899. Entering the 2002 season, 50 schools have previously reached the 500-win plateau.
NEXT UP...
The Bears open their home schedule Saturday, Sept. 7, with a 6 p.m. contest against Samford at Floyd Casey Stadium.
