Quintin Outland: Steadfast Soldier
9/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2004
If perseverance counts for anything, Quintin Outland is at the head of Baylor football's class. For the last 37 games, fans have been able to look on the field when the Bears have the ball and see a familiar No. 74 lined up at left tackle.
Outland, a senior from LaPorte, Texas, has played in every game since he set foot on the Baylor campus, the last 28 of those as a starter. And the fact that all of them have been at the same position is a rarity among offensive linemen, who tend to switch positions as often as politicians.
"He's a four-year senior, and he's played all four years," offensive line coach Chris Lancaster said. "He brings a lot of knowledge to the table. He's been battle-tested. He knows what the defense is going to do before the snap, because he's seen just about everything a defense can throw at us."
That's particularly important this season, as the Bears try to piece together a line without their top two players from last year, center Cedric Fields, who finished his eligibility, and tackle Nick Pace, who's redshirting after back surgery. The fact Outland has seen it all and can help his mates make corrections on the fly is crucial to any offensive success Baylor will have this fall.
"It's such a young group, most of them getting a look at the game for the first time," Outland said. "I believe that we're coming together as a team. The offensive line is going through some trials, but I believe that we'll come through them successfully."
Indeed, the line has struggled through BU's 1-1 start, finding it difficult to protect the passer and to open holes for running backs, which makes it even more important to have a guy who majors in perseverance as an anchor.
"He brings a lot of leadership to the line," Lancaster said. "He's not a rah-rah guy, but there's a lot that goes on that the average fan doesn't see. We're together every day, in meetings, off the football field, in the chow hall, on campus. As one of two seniors we have, he's providing a lot of good leadership. He tries to help the younger kids on what to expect out there."
Leading others is a joy for Outland, especially when it comes to the position he plays.
"I love playing on offensive line," he said. "It's a position where if you're inside the football life, you know where the game is won and lost. I'm not the type of person who just wants attention all the time; I'm just a person who wants to do my job without the spotlight on me. It's a position where you earn your pay; every day. You go in there and you know you're going to fight, you're going to ache and you're going to have struggles. You've just got to be out front and pave the way.
"I just try to be a leader to my line. I'm not the type of person who dictates to them or tell them with authority, like `You need to this, you need to do that.' I want to be a leader when leadership is needed. If my guidance is needed, I want to be able to offer it; but, really, I just want to lead by example."
Leading by example started back when Outland was being recruited after a stellar career at LaPorte (Texas) High School. A Top 44 prospect according to Super Prep magazine and ranked Top 100 by the Dallas Morning News, Waco Tribune-Herald and Houston Chronicle, Outland was highly recruited. Outland eventually chose Baylor, even though BU wasn't originally at the top of his list.
"I saw my future here," Outland said. "I saw there was a place for me, a need for my talent. I knew I was going to do something to benefit this university. I'm happy with how my years have gone here. Yes, I wish there had been more wins, but I'm satisfied with how this university has raised me to be a man."
Outland credits former BU assistant Andrea "Brick" Haley with turning his head toward Baylor.
"I was highly recruited, and Baylor came to me kind of late," he said. "I had kind of cut my decision to a couple of programs, and Baylor wasn't one of them. I didn't know too much about Baylor. I had a long talk with Brick Haley, and he talked to me like no other recruiter had talked to me. He got personal with me, and I realized his sincerity toward me.
"He cared so much about my family. He'd call my mom and my family just to see how they were doing. I felt like Baylor was a program that really cared about the players. I didn't pay attention to the records they had in previous years, I just wanted to come in and do my part to help this program."
And he did that right away. Playing in all 11 games his freshman season, the last two as a starter, Outland was named to The Sporting News Big 12 all-freshman team. And in addition to his on-field success, the 6-5, 324-pounder adapted quickly to college academic life, making the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Since then, his career has been marked more by consistency and the aforementioned perseverance than the spectacular. He started every game, both as a sophomore and a junior, and he's started both games this season. To his coaches and teammates, he's a solid citizen.
"He's really a good kid," Lancaster said. "We have a lot of strong relationships in the (offensive line meeting) room, and he's one of the ones who makes that happen. He's a senior, and I really hope he goes out on top."
Which would be a great reward for four years of consistency and perseverance.
