Baylor Football Media and Photo Day -- 8/9/02
8/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 9, 2002
WACO, Texas - After spending the morning rounding up players for the annual Photo Day, head football coach Kevin Steele sat down with the media for the first press luncheon of the year to discuss the upcoming season.
Head Football Coach Kevin Steele:
On the team's quarterbacks:
"Greg Cicero is a sixth-year player and a very smart guy. He understands this game. At this point, he is listed as the No. 1 guy. He'd had some very good summer work in the weight room. We'll go through practice, and Dave [Baldwin, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach] will make a suggestion as to who will be quarterback."
"Aaron Karas is a young man who had some good snaps last year. He's a good leader, and highly competitive... Davon Vinson has all the talent we're looking for, and will only get better in two-a-days... Josh Zachry is the guy that is there everyday and can get the job done."
"Right now, Greg Cicero is the No. 1 quarterback... We have a lot of snaps before we play a game for real, but I'm sure Greg has no intention of that [depth chart] changing."
On Baylor's improvement each year under Steele:
"We'd better continue [improving], but we need to jump it a little more. One game [improvement] per year -- I don't have 10 years."
On the difference in the team since Steele's first season:
"The biggest thing is the confidence we have in each other. We have more good players now. There's depth in the right places, where we need it."
"Going into our fourth year, we have handled adversity real well, collectively. We still have seven of our 10 assistants here, which is real good."
On new offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin:
"There are some things Dave has brought in that are different from what we had in the past - more multiple formations, multiple personnel groupings. He has put some other wrinkles into things, so that we're more diverse. There are some things that we had a little of, and now we have a lot of."
"Dave came in, and the philosophy was already there for the most part. He knows how to manage things well. He took it, knows exactly what he wants to do with it, and got everyone on the same page."
"He's very decisive, and very energetic ... but very laid back, too. He knows when to press and when to pull back."
On adding new defensive coordinator Bob Trott late in the spring:
"I don't think that's hurt us at all. In fact, I think it's helped... Bob's been around... Not many people can say they've coached the No. 2 defense in the country at one school, the No. 1 defense at another school, and also coached in the NFL."
On new strength coach John Williams:
"He's very loyal, very team oriented. He knows this business... He has the ability to work people harder than they think they can, and make them love it. He's a great motivator, very hands-on... Players tend to migrate to him. He's very good for our program."
