Bears Welcome Texas Tech for Homecoming

10/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football

Oct. 24, 2005

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

No. 17 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (6-1, 3-1) at BAYLOR BEARS (4-3, 1-3)

OCT. 29, 2005 • FLOYD CASEY STADIUM • WACO, TEXAS • 11:30 A.M. CDT

FOX SPORTS NET

BAYLOR HOSTS TEXAS TECH FOR HOMECOMING

Needing two wins in its last four games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 1995, Baylor hosts 17th-ranked Texas Tech as a part of Homecoming Weekend on the Baylor campus Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CDT at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Both teams enter Saturday's game coming off hard-to-swallow losses. The Bears (4-3, 1-3) dropped a 37-30, double-overtime game at Oklahoma last Saturday and have lost two straight for the first time this season. The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1) suffered their first loss of the 2005 campaign last Saturday, falling 52-17 at second-ranked Texas.

Saturday's game will be televised regionally on Fox Sports Net. Bill Land handles play-by-play duties, while Gary Reasons provides color analysis and John Rhadigan reports from the sideline.

BAYLOR-TEXAS TECH SERIES

This is the 64th meeting between Baylor and Texas Tech. The Bears lead the all-time series 32-30-1, but the Red Raiders have won the last nine meetings. Baylor's last victory over Tech was a 9-7 win at home in 1995 when the Raiders were ranked 24th nationally. That was the last time Baylor faced a ranked Tech team; the Bears are 2-3 all-time against Tech when the Raiders are ranked with wins in 1995 and 1974 and losses in 1973, 1976 and 1977. The Raiders were 42-17 winners last year at Lubbock. The series dates back to Nov. 2, 1929, a 34-0 Baylor victory at Waco. The teams have met every season since 1956.

SERIES NOTES: Tech's current nine-game series winning streak is the Raiders' longest against the Bears. Baylor enjoyed an 11-game winning streak from 1947 to 1960. ... Baylor scored 21 fourth-quarter points in its 42-28 victory in 1968. It was the most points a Baylor team had ever scored in the fourth quarter, a mark which has been matched four times since. ... Last year, Baylor and Tech combined for 35 first-quarter points, tied for the sixth-highest scoring quarter in Baylor football history. ... In 1980, the Bears held the Red Raiders to minus-36 yards rushing on 47 attempts, the second-best defensive performance by a Baylor squad and the school modern record (since 1950). ... In 2003, Maurice Lane registered 23 tackles against Tech, tied for the fifth-best single-game performance in school history and the most since Mike Singletary had 23 stops against the Raiders in 1979. ... Two of the six longest kick returns in Baylor history have come against Texas Tech. Robert Quiroga tied the school record with a 100-yard kickoff return in 2003, and Bill Coleman's 91-yard punt return in 1942 remains tied for third in school history. ... Of Baylor's 28 all-time 300-yard passing games, four came against Tech: 377 in 1986 (fourth), 347 in 1989 (seventh), 315 in 1983 (tied-16th) and 304 in 1998 (26th). ... When Bob Trout snagged 10 receptions for 119 yards against Tech in 1951, he became the first Bear to reach double figures in catches in a single game. ... Greg Hawthorne's 80-yard run in 1977 remains tied for the second-longest rush in school history. ... Gary Blair rushed for 199 yards on 30 carries against the Raiders in 1976, the third-best single-game total at Baylor. ... Trent Shelton's 71-yard TD run last season at Texas Tech tied for the 14th-longest in school history.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR ...

• Baylor looks to post two conference wins in a season for the first time since 1995 when the Bears were 5-2 in the final season of the Southwest Conference.

• The Bears look for their first five-win season since going 7-4 in 1995.

• 2005 Thorpe Award candidate FS Maurice Lane has 344 career tackles (238 solos and 106 assists), fourth all-time at Baylor. He needs seven tackles to match Kris Micheaux, who tallied 351 tackles from 1997 to 2000, for third on Baylor's all-time list.

• Lane should make his 42nd career start against Texas Tech; he has started every game of his collegiate career in which he has played, a streak that is tied for the 12th-longest in Division I-A).

• Senior LG Lequalan McDonald should draw his 31st straight start along the offensive line against Texas Tech, while senior OS Willie Andrews should make his 31st straight start in the secondary.

• WR Trent Shelton has at least one reception in 29 consecutive games, tied for the 13th-longest active streak in Division I-A and the longest at Baylor since Reggie Newhouse's school-record 34-game streak.

• Shelton ranks ninth all-time at Baylor with 90 career receptions. He needs one catch to move into a tie for eighth place and two catches to move into a tie for seventh place.

• Shelton ranks 17th all-time at Baylor with 1,047 career receiving yards. He needs 18 yards to move into 16th place, 42 yards to move into 15th place, 56 yards to move into 14th place and 60 yards to move into 13th place.

• Junior WR Dominique Zeigler is sixth on Baylor's career receptions list with 96. Zeigler needs two reception to tie fifth-place Kalief Muhammad (1993-96).

• Zeigler is tied for 20th all-time at Baylor with 1,033 career receiving yards. He needs two yards to move into 19th place and four yards to move into 18th place.

• Zeigler has nine career TD receptions, tied for 10th all-time at Baylor. He needs one TD reception to move into a ninth-place tie and two TD receptions to move into a four-way tie for eighth.

• Zeigler has caught at least two passes in each of his last 17 appearances.

• QB Shawn Bell has completed at least one TD pass in six straight games, the first Baylor signal caller to accomplish that feat since Brad Goebel did so in seven straight games as a redshirt freshman to open the 1987 season.

• Bell ranks 13th all-time at Baylor with 2,479 career passing yards. He needs 171 yards to move into a 12th-place tie and 260 yards to move into an 11th-place tie. With 521 yards, he would become Baylor's 11th 3,000-yard passer.

• Bell's 59.42 career completion percentage ranks 16th among active Division I-A quarterbacks, first all-time at Baylor.

• Bell ranks seventh all-time at Baylor with 137 completions this season. He needs six to move into a sixth-place tie, 13 to move into a fifth-place tie, 20 to move into a fourth-place tie, 21 to move into a third-place tie, 36 to move into a second-place tie and 38 to break Don Trull's 1963 record of 174 completions.

• Bell has thrown 145 consecutive passes without an interception; his last was in the third quarter at Army.

• Junior RB Paul Mosley and sophomore RB Brandon Whitaker have combined for 209 touches this season without a fumble.

• Baylor's average starting field position has been its own 30 or better in six of seven games this season, including a season-best of its own 43 against Iowa State.

• The Bears have scored 49 points off their opponents 17 turnovers while holding opponents to 16 points of their own 16 turnovers.

• Baylor is 7-3 under Morriss when scoring at least 24 points and 7-1 when holding the opponent under 20 points.

• Baylor's defense has allowed 23 or fewer points in six of seven games this season.

• Baylor has held six consecutive opponents to 10 or fewer second-half points. Only Nebraska (10) scored more than seven points in that stretch.

• The Bears have forced 13 fumbles this season, the most by a Baylor team since the 2001 squad forced 22 fumbles.

• Baylor's defense has nine interceptions on the season, the most by a Baylor team since the 2001 Bears had 11 picks.

BAYLOR IN TELEVISED GAMES

Saturday's game is the 100th televised game in Baylor football history; the Bears are 37-60-2 all-time in televised games. Baylor is 1-3 in televised games this season and 2-7 in televised games under head coach Guy Morriss.

Saturday also is the Bears' fourth game this season on Fox Sports Net and their fifth televised game this season, the most at Baylor since playing five televised games in 1998. Next week's Texas game is assured to be televised, giving Baylor six televised games in one season for the first time since the 1991 season, which included a televised bowl game. It will be Baylor's first season with at least six regular-season televised games since 1986.

This is the ninth consecutive season in which Baylor has played on Fox Sports Net. The Bears are 2-16 all-time on FSN with wins over North Carolina State (9/19/98) and Colorado (10/4/03).

BAYLOR AGAINST NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS

Baylor is 38-145-5 all-time against ranked opponents, 22-125-1 when unranked and playing a ranked opponent. The Bears are 2-28 against ranked opponents since the inception of the Big 12 Conference (33-30 against 20th-ranked North Carolina State in 1998 and 35-34 in overtime against 16th-ranked Texas A&M last season).

Since the Associated Press began conducting weekly polls in 1936, Baylor has played at least one ranked opponent every season except 1987. This is the latest in the season Baylor has played its first ranked opponent since 1988 when the Bears faced 11th-ranked Arkansas, their lone ranked opponent of the season, Nov. 5. In 2003, the Bears' first ranked opponent was Texas in the eighth game of the season (Oct. 25).

BEARS IN HOMECOMING GAMES

Baylor plays its 73rd homecoming game today. The Bears are 33-35-4 all-time in homecoming games and have lost seven consecutive such games since a 23-21 victory over Texas in 1997. Baylor's first homecoming game was in 1930, a 14-0 loss to Texas.

Baylor, which first recognized homecoming in 1909, is among five universities that were the first to hold homecoing festivities -- Illinois, Northern Illinois, Indiana and Michigan being the others.

Texas Tech makes its third appearance as Baylor's homecoming opponent; the Red Raiders were the Bears' homecoming opponent in each of their last two visits to Floyd Casey Stadium (2001 and 2003).

Baylor has faced TCU (31 meetings) the most on homecoming, followed by Texas A&M (20), Arkansas (eight), Texas Tech (three), Iowa State (two), Kansas State (two), Texas (two), and five other teams once.

INJURY REPORT

Junior C Will Blaylock, who sustained a left knee strain against Texas A&M, is expected to dress for Saturday's game against Texas Tech. Senior WR J Fields suffered a left knee injury during an Oct. 18 practice and is out indefinitely. Sophomore CB Alton Widemon is questionable with a hamstring pull sustained in the Nebraska game. Junior DT Corey Ford (right knee) is out due to a knee injury sustained against Samford.

OVERTIME TIDBIT

Last Saturday's double-overtime loss at Oklahoma was Baylor's second overtime game of the season. The Bears join Clemson (0-2), Louisiana State (1-1), Michigan (2-0) and TCU (2-0) as the only Division I-A teams to have played more than one overtime game this season. Only Baylor and Clemson out of that group played a multiple-overtime game; Clemson lost to Miami, Fla., in two overtimes.

BEARS AIM FOR FIRST FIVE-WIN SEASON IN A DECADE

Baylor enters Saturday's game at 4-3 on the season, the first four-win season at Baylor since the 1996 team finished 4-7. A win against Texas Tech would give the Bears their first five-win season since going 7-4 in 1995. Since 1996, Baylor has finished with three wins four times, two wins three times and one win once.

TEXAS GAME TIME STILL ON HOLD

Game time for Baylor's Nov. 5 game at home against Texas has not yet been determined as the Big 12 Conference's television partners will make their selections off a six-day pick. The available windows are 11:30 a.m. CST (FSN), 2:30 p.m. (ABC) and 6 p.m. (FSN).

ROCHON FINDS WAYS TO SCORE

With his 98-yard kickoff return for a TD last Saturday at Oklahoma, WR/KR Shaun Rochon became the first player in Baylor history to score on a punt return and a kickoff return in the same season. He also is the first player in school history to score on a punt return, a kickoff return, a rush and a reception in the same season.

FROM THE OKLAHOMA GAME ...

• Baylor fell to 2-4 all-time in overtime games, 1-2 under head coach Guy Morriss, 1-3 in Big 12 play and 0-2 in multiple-overtime games.

• Baylor scored first for the sixth consecutive game.

• Most points Baylor has scored in a road game since a 37-35 victory at Fresno State in 1997.

• Most points Baylor has ever scored in a Big 12 road game.

• Most points Baylor has ever scored against Oklahoma. The previous high was 24 points in 1996.

• Baylor allowed season highs in total yards allowed and points allowed.

• Oklahoma's 37 points were the most allowed by the Bears this season. Baylor had held its first six consecutive opponents to 23 or fewer points, the longest streak by a Baylor team since the 1991 team also enjoyed a six-game streak.

• Baylor allowed season highs in first-half yards allowed and points allowed.

• Bell's fourth-quarter, 55-yard TD pass to WR Dominique Zeigler was the longest career pass play for both players.

• Bell moved into 13th place on Baylor's career passing yardage list; he now has 2,479 career passing yards.

• Bell increased his career TD-to-INT ratio to 16-to-5 (3.2)

• WR Trent Shelton has caught at least one pass in 29 consecutive games.

• WR Dominique Zeigler has caught at least two passes in each of his last 17 games played.

• Zeigler established a career high for reception yardage. His previous high was 121 against Texas A&M in 2004.

• Zeigler's receiving yardage tied for the 26th-best single-game total in school history. It is the most by a Bear since Reggie Newhouse had 164 yards at California in 2002.

• Season high receptions (nine) and receiving yards (141) for Zeigler.

• Season high receptions (six) for Shelton.

• WR/KR Shaun Rochon's second-quarter, 98-yard kickoff return for a TD was the first of Rochon's career and the first by a Baylor player since Robert Quiroga's 100-yarder against Texas Tech in 2003.

• Rochon's third-quarter TD reception was the first of his career.

• CB C.J. Wilson's first-quarter interception was his third of the season. That is the most interceptions in a season by a Baylor player since Bobby Hart had three in 2002.

• TE Jason Smith's first-quarter TD reception was the first of his career.

• LB Colin Allred established a career high with 12 tackles. His previous high was nine tackles on two occasions. He also posted his first career multiple-sack game.

• DE Marcus Foreman (8) and CB James Todd (7) both established career highs for tackles.

• OS Tyler Lindstrom (7) and DT M.T. Robinson (5) both tied career highs.

• CB Anthony Arline's interception on the last play of regulation was his third career pick, his second of the season.

BELL ENTERS SEVERAL CAREER CHARTS

QB Shawn Bell cracked several Baylor career passing lists during last Saturday's game against Nebraska. He now ranks 13th in passing yardage (2,479), 10th in attempts (446), 10th in completions (265), first in completion percentage (.594) and first in touchdown-to-interception ratio (16-5, 3.200).

DEFENSE BEARS DOWN IN SECOND HALF

Baylor's defense has shown a trend of improving as the game progresses through seven contests this season. The Bears have allowed just 46 second-half points (not including overtime) this season for an average of 6.6 points per game. In fact, the Bears have allowed only two second-half touchdowns in the last five games, one of which was in the waning moments of the Army game against mostly second- and third-team defenders.

The Bears have not allowed more than 10 second-half points since the season opener when SMU scored 16 second-half points. Since then, the Bears have held five of six opponents to fewer than 10 points, two of six opponents to a field goal and one opponent (Iowa State) scoreless.

Baylor has out-scored its opponents 94-46 in the second half this season, including a 56-25 mark in the fourth quarter. The Bears have allowed only two fourth-quarter touchdowns (at SMU and at Army) and four fourth-quarter field goals.

Through seven games, Baylor's defense has allowed just 150.3 second-half yards per game on 37.3 plays per second half for an average of 4.0 yards per play. Compare that with the 2004 Baylor defensive unit, which allowed 206.8 second-half yards per game on 32.8 plays per game for an average of 6.3 yards per play. In fact, subtract the numbers from the North Texas game in which the Bears held the Mean Green to 30 second-half yards on 24 plays and Baylor's 2004 defensive unit allowed 224.5 second-half yards per game on 6.7 yards per play.

DIFFICULT STRETCH CONTINUES FOR BEARS

Saturday's game against Texas Tech is the fifth of seven consecutive games for the Bears against teams who have at least received votes in at least one of the two major polls at some point this season -- Texas A&M, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas and Missouri.

In fact, of those six opponents, only Nebraska and Missouri have not been ranked at some point this season. The Tigers are the 29th team in this week's Associated Press Top 25 and the 32nd team in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The Huskers are 37th in this week's ESPN/USA Today's Coaches Poll.

AS FIRST DOWN GOES, SO GO THE BEARS

Much of Baylor's success this year can be directly connected to the team's success on first down. The Bears enter Saturday's game against Texas Tech averaging 4.3 yards per first down play with a completion percentage of 60.2 on such downs. QB Shawn Bell is 48-of-78 (61.5 percent) on first down for 362 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.

However, the telling numbers are the vast differences between Baylor's first-down statistics in its four wins and its three losses. In the four wins, the Bears averaged 5.5 yards per first-down play, including 4.5 yards per first-down rush and a 76.6 completion percentage (32-of-42) with four touchdown passes and only one interception. In the three losses, the Bears averaged 2.6 yards per first-down play, including 2.5 yards per first-down rush and a 43.9 completion percentage (16-of-41) with one touchdowns and two interceptions.

ZEIGLER, SHELTON CLIMB BAYLOR CAREER RECEPTIONS LIST

Junior WRs Trent Shelton and Dominique Zeigler enter Saturday's game against Texas Tech steadily climbing Baylor's career receptions chart. Zeigler is sixth with 96 receptions, while Shelton is ninth with 90. Shelton and Zeigler both joined Baylor's career 1,000-yard receivers list last Saturday against Oklahoma. Shelton is 17th all-time at Baylor with 1,047 career receiving yards, while Zeigler is tied for 20th with 1,033.

Last season, Shelton (38) and Zeigler (55) joined Marques Roberts (40) as only the fifth Baylor trio with at least 30 receptions each. This season, Zeigler (32), Shelton (27) and WR Shaun Rochon (27) appear poised to become the sixth Baylor trio to accomplish the feat.

LANE CLIMBS CAREER TACKLES CHART

Senior FS Maurice Lane enters Saturday's game against Texas Tech with 344 career tackles, fourth all-time at Baylor. He needs seven tackles to match Kris Micheaux (1997-00) for third on Baylor's all-time list. Lane has 18 career double-digit tackle outings.

Here is a look at Baylor's career tackles chart:

Player Seasons Solo Asst TT

1. Mike Singletary 1977-80 351 311 662

2. Ray Berry 1983-86 231 149 380

3. Kris Micheaux 1997-00 214 137 351

4. Maurice Lane 2002-05 238 106 344

5. James Francis 1986-89 198 136 334

6. Doak Field 1977-80 164 166 330

7. Thomas Everett 1983-86 204 121 325

8. Gary Joe Kinne 1986-89 179 144 323

9. Mike Welch 1986-90 190 129 319

10. Joe Campbell 1977-80 170 146 316

BAYLOR SECONDARY AMONG NATION'S BEST

Through games of Oct. 22, Baylor ranks second in the Big 12 Conference and seventh nationally with a pass efficiency defense rating of 98.98. The Bears have allowed only six passing touchdowns with nine interceptions; opposing quarterbacks have completed just 50.4 percent of their passes for 194.6 yards per game.

Baylor intercepted only four passes in 11 games last season; the Bears have more than doubled that total through seven games this fall. Six different players have interceptions this season, including five different defensive backs. CB C.J. Wilson has three picks, tied for first in the Big 12 and tied for 21st nationally. and CB Anthony Arline has two picks, 10th in the Big 12. DT M.T. Robinson has the ninth interception.

The Bears rank fourth in the Big 12 and 33rd nationally in pass defense yardage (194.6 ypg).

DEFENSE AS A WHOLE STACKS UP WELL NATIONALLY

Entering the Texas Tech game, Baylor ranks sixth in the Big 12 and 26th nationally with 327.9 yards allowed per game. The Bears have allowed 19.4 points per game, fifth in the conference and 25th nationally. Baylor's rush defense ranks 46th nationally, allowing 133.3 yards per game.

Prior to yielding 37 points to Oklahoma last Saturday, Baylor held six consecutive opponents to 23 or fewer points, the longest such run since the 1991 team had a six-game streak to open the season.

Baylor is 7-1 under head coach Guy Morriss when holding the opponent under 20 points.

BAYLOR IN BIG 12 CONFERENCE STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Through games of Oct. 22, Baylor ranks eighth (88th nationally) in total offense (329.4 ypg), eighth (82nd) in rushing offense (121.9 ypg), ninth (77th) in passing offense (207.6 ypg), eighth (78th) in passing efficiency (115.9) and eighth (t-71st) in scoring offense (25.1 ppg).

In special teams, the Bears are fifth (22nd) in net punting (37.4 ypp), fourth (23rd) in punt returns (13.0 ypr) and third (10th) in kickoff returns (26.1 ypr). Baylor ranks fifth (t-50th) in turnover margin (plus-0.14 per game).

Individually, several Bears appear in this week's rankings. RB Paul Mosley is ninth in rushing (71.3 ypg), while RB Brandon Whitaker is 18th (42.3 ypg). QB Shawn Bell is seventh in passing efficiency (116.11), eighth in passing yardage (194.1 ypg) and eighth in total offense (189.1 ypg). WR Dominique Zeigler ranks seventh in receptions per game (4.4), while WRs Shaun Rochon and Trent Shelton (3.9) are tied for 10th. Zeigler (59.1) and Shelton (46.0) are ninth and 13th, respectively, in receiving yards per game.

Defensively, CB C.J. Wilson is tied for the conference lead (t-21st nationally) with 0.43 interceptions per game; CB Anthony Arline (0.29) is 10th in interceptions per game. FS Maurice Lane is third with 9.0 tackles per game, best in the conference among defensive backs. Elsewhere in tackles per game, LB Jamaal Harper (7.6) is tied for 13th and LB Colin Allred (7.1) is 20th. OS Willie Andrews (5.1) and DE Marcus Foreman (5.1) are tied for 39th in tackles; Foreman is tied for the league lead among defensive lineman. LB Colin Allred is tied for seventh in total sacks (4.5) and tied for sixth in fumbles forced (2) along with DT Michael Gary. Wilson and CB James Todd are tied for sixth with 1.0 passes defended per game each.

P Daniel Sepulveda ranks second (fifth) with 45.6 yards per punt. Rochon would rank third nationally and tops in the Big 12 in kickoff return yardage (34.1 ypr), but he does not have enough returns (seven in seven games) to qualify for the rankings (1.2 per game needed). Andrews rank fourth (28th) in punt return yardage (11.6 ypr). PK Ryan Havens is tied for the league lead (t-10th) with 1.7 field goals made per game; he is 11th with 7.4 points per game, eighth among place kickers. In all-purpose yardage, Rochon ranks 11th (90.3 ypg) and Mosley ranks 14th (83.9 ypg).

MORRISS REACHES 10-WIN PLATEAU

Baylor's 23-13 victory at Iowa State was the 10th in head coach Guy Morriss' tenure at Baylor. Morriss reached the 10-win plateau in 28 games with the Bears. He is the first Baylor coach to reach 10 wins with the Bears since Chuck Reedy, who amassed 23 wins in four seasons at Baylor.

SHELTON KEEPS STREAK ALIVE

WR Trent Shelton heads into the Texas Tech game having caught at least one pass in 29 consecutive games, the longest such string for a Bear since Reggie Newhouse ended his career with a 34-game streak (2000-2002). Shelton's streak is the 13th-longest active streak nationally and the second-longest in the Big 12. Here is a look at the longest active streaks nationally:

44 - Jovon Bouknight, WR, Wyoming

44 - Charles Sharon, WR, Bowling Green State

37 - Chris Francies, WR, UTEP

36 - Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona State

35 - Bill Sampy, WR, Louisiana-Lafayette

35 - Garrett Mills, TE, Tulsa

35 - Mark Philmore, WR, Northwestern

33 - Nichiren Flowers, WR, Nevada

32 - Steve Odom, WR, Toledo

31 - Vincent Marshall, WR, Houston

31 - Johnny Quinn, WR, North Texas

31 - Mark Simmons, WR, Kansas

29 - Trent Shelton, WR, BAYLOR

29 - Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers

29 - Tres Moses, WR, Rutgers

29 - Jeff Webb, WR, San Diego State

27 - Antwon Courington, WR, Southern Mississippi

26 - Martin Nance, WR, Miami (Ohio)

26 - Jared Ellerson, WR, Minnesota

ANDREWS, BELL, SEPULVEDA AMONG CAREER ACTIVE LEADERS

OS Willie Andrews, QB Shawn Bell and P Daniel Sepulveda all rank among the NCAA's top career active leaders in sundry statistical categories.

Andrews is tied for third in career punt returns (85), fifth in punt return yardage (849), 14th in punt returns per game (2.0), 20th in punt return yardage per game (20.2), eighth in kickoff returns (64), 10th in kickoff return yardage (1,561) and 12th in yards per kickoff return (24.4).

Bell ranks 16th in career completion percentage (59.42).

Sepulveda ranks ninth in total punts (182), ninth in punt yardage (8,106), fifth in punts per game (6.1) and third in yards per punt (44.54).

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Shaun Rochon's 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last Saturday at Oklahoma was Baylor's 12th non-offensive score in 30 games under head coach Guy Morriss. It also was Rochon's second non-offensive score this season; he also had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against Samford, Baylor's first punt return for a touchdown in 20 years. Here is a look at the 12 non-offensive scores under Morriss:

• 2003 vs. UAB -- James Todd blocked punt for safety

• 2003 vs. Colorado -- Jamaal Harper 7-yard fumble return (forced by Derrick Cash)

• 2003 at Kansas -- James Todd blocked punt recovery in end zone (blocked by Michael Boyd)

• 2003 at Kansas State -- Robert Quiroga 98-yard kickoff return

• 2003 vs. Texas Tech -- Robert Quiroga 100-yard kickoff return

• 2003 vs. Oklahoma State -- Willie Andrews 30-yard fumble return (forced by John Garrett)

• 2004 vs. Texas State -- Justin Crooks 9-yard fumble return (forced by Montez Murphy)

• 2004 vs. North Texas -- Braelon Davis blocked punt recovery in end zone (blocked by Davis)

• 2004 vs. Iowa State -- Braelon Davis defensive PAT (interception return)

• 2005 vs. Samford -- Jamaal Harper 29-yard fumble return (forced by Colin Allred)

• 2005 vs. Samford -- Shaun Rochon 85-yard punt return

• 2005 at Oklahoma -- Shaun Rochon 98-yard kickoff return

SEPULVEDA NAMED TO RAY GUY WATCH LIST

Junior P Daniel Sepulveda was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List, the Greater Augusta [Ga.] Sports Council announced recently. Sepulveda, a product of Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, became the first sophomore to win the award given to the nation's top punter last season. Through seven games this year, Sepulveda ranks fifth nationally with 45.6 yards per punt.

The Guy Award Watch List will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November. The national voting body then will vote for the three finalists to be announced in early December. The winner will be announced Dec. 8 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

BELL NAMED TO AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM

Junior QB Shawn Bell was among 12 student-athletes named to the American Football Coaches Association's 2005 Good Works Team, the AFCA announced recently. Bell, the first Baylor student-athlete ever so honored, is one of three signal-callers on the team, joining D.J. Shockley of Georgia and Vince Young of Texas. Four Big 12 Conference student-athletes were so honored as Nebraska WR Mark LeFlore and Kansas State FB Victor Mann also were honored.

The two teams, a Division I-A team and a combined team from Divisions I-AA, II, III and the NAIA, honor players for their dedication and commitment to community service. From 1992-1996, the Good Works Team was selected by the College Football Association. When the CFA disbanded in 1997, the AFCA began selecting the teams.

BEARS GROWING UP

After fielding the nation's second-youngest team a year ago (only SMU at 76.1 percent had a higher percentage of underclassmen on its 2004 roster than Baylor, whose roster was 71.1 percent underclassmen) third-year coach Guy Morriss' 2005 Baylor squad will arguably be the most-seasoned of his tenure in Waco.

Baylor's 132-man 2005 roster includes 19 seniors, 34 juniors, 25 sophomores and 54 freshmen. The Bears' 2004 roster, by comparison, included some 96 underclassmen among the 135 players listed.

SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS

The strongest facet of Baylor's squad in Guy Morriss' two seasons on the sideline has arguably been its special teams play. After recording four scores in 2003, the Bears' 2004 special team units tallied two more scores and featured the 2004 Ray Guy Award winner in Daniel Sepulveda and consensus first-team All-Big 12 return specialist Willie Andrews.

The 2004 Bears, who ranked No. 5 nationally in net punting (40.6 ypp), No. 35 in kickoff returns (21.7 ypr) and No. 36 in punt returns (11.1 ypr), were the only Big 12 team to rank among the nation's top 36 in all three of those statistical categories a year ago. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that in the year prior to Mark Nelson's arrival as Baylor's special teams coordinator the program ranked 91st nationally in punt returns, 115th in kickoff returns and 117th in net punting.

Sepulveda captured the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top collegiate punter after ranking No. 3 nationally with his 46.0 yard average and Andrews led the league and ranked 24th nationally in kickoff returns with his 24.7 yard mark.

A senior outside safety who will again contend for All-Big 12 and All-America honors, Andrews ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 and No. 65 nationally in 2004 with 107.6 all-purpose yards per game despite not taking a snap on the offensive side of the ball. He also led the Big 12 and ranked 24th nationally in kickoff returns (24.7 ypr) while standing No. 3 in the league and No. 43 nationally in punt returns (10.8 ypr).

2005 BEARS FACE SIX 2004 BOWL TEAMS

After playing eight of 11 games a year ago against teams that went on to earn bowl invitations, Baylor will tackle six 2004 bowl squads in 2005. However, that's really nothing new for coach Guy Morriss' program: 15 times in Morriss' first two seasons (including 13 of 16 Big 12 contests), Baylor faced an opponent which wound up with a bowl bid at season's end.

The Bears' 2005 opponents combined for a 70-58 (.545) record a year ago and six earned bowl invites -- Texas A&M, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma State.

All-told, six of BU's eight 2005 Big 12 games will be against teams that earned bowl bids last year. The Bears' eight Big 12 foes went 61-34 (.642) last year and accounted for six of the league's seven 2004 bowl bids.

Two of Baylor's three wins a year ago and six of its eight losses were at the hands of eventual bowl-bound teams. The Bears knocked off Cotton Bowl participant Texas A&M (35-34 in overtime) and New Orleans Bowl entrant North Texas (37-14) but dropped games to bowl-bound programs Texas (Rose champion), Iowa State (Independence champion), Texas Tech (Holiday champ), Oklahoma State (Alamo), Oklahoma (Orange) and UAB (Hawai'i).

Baylor and Syracuse were the only programs to play eight eventual bowl teams in 2004 and the Bears' slate ranked as the nation's sixth-toughest according to the NCAA's annual strength of schedule survey.

BAND OF BROTHERS

Baylor's 2005 roster features three sets of brothers: the Boatners (junior Yancy and true freshman Thad), Jenkins (junior Quincy and redshirt freshman Desmond) and McDonalds (senior Lequalan and true freshman LeQuantum).

BAYLOR AGAIN LEADS BIG 12 IN GRADUATION RATES

For the fifth time in the Big 12 Conference's nine-year history, Baylor University posted the highest student-athlete graduation rate of any league institution, according to figures released by the NCAA last fall.

The Bears' most-recent graduation rates, for the freshman class of 1997-98, is 78 percent, a school record by four points over the previous high of 74 percent in 2000. That figure is also 8 points higher than Baylor's general student population and 16 points better than the NCAA Division I national average of 62 percent.

Baylor also graduated a Big 12-best 76 percent of its male student-athletes and a league-high 82 percent of its female student-athletes. The Baylor football program produced a Big 12-leading 88 percent graduation rate, marking the fifth time in the league's history it set the standard for classroom excellence.

Among Division I-A institutions, Baylor's overall student-athlete graduation rate ranked as the nation's 10th-highest mark according to the most-recent NCAA figures.

In addition to leading the Big 12 in graduation rates five times, Baylor ranked second on three other occasions. All-told, 88 percent of Baylor student-athletes who exhausted their eligibility and entered school from 1988-89 through 1997-98 left with degree in hand according to the NCAA study.

LONE STAR TIES

The Bears' 132-man roster features 120 players who played their high school football in the Lone Star state. The other 12 players on Baylor's roster hail from Louisiana (2), Oklahoma (2), California (2), Arizona (1), Nebraska (1), Missouri (1), Mississippi (1), Illinois (1) and Virginia (1).

Of the 70 players listed on Baylor's 2005 depth chart for the Oklahoma game, 63 are Texans, including 22 of the 24 projected starters (includes No. 1 place-kicker and punter) for the Bears.

COACHING STAFF BOASTS 198 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

The 2005 Baylor football coaching staff boasts a combined 198 years of sideline experience in the professional, collegiate and high school ranks. Six members of this year's staff -- Larry Hoefer (safeties), Harold Jackson (wide receivers), Chris Lancaster (offensive line), Wesley McGriff (cornerbacks/recruiting coordinator), Mark Nelson (linebackers/special teams coordinator and Brent Pease (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) -- have been with Guy Morriss since he first became a Division I-A head coach in 2001 at Kentucky. Entering his fifth season as a head coach, Morriss was recently rated as one of the nation's eight most underrated coaches by SportsIllustrated.com.

The newest member of the Baylor staff is 26-year coaching veteran Don Wnek who replaced Tom Adams as the Bears' defensive line coach on Aug. 7, 2005. Wnek, a specialist in pass rush and defensive line techniques, spent the 2004 season as the director of football operations at the University of Indiana and worked as a federal law officer for the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Prior to his stint with the U.S. Government, he worked in the CFL, XFL and in the college ranks at his alma mater, Northern Illinois, and Nevada.

Not only is the Baylor staff steeped in sideline experience, but it features three men, Morriss (one), defensive coordinator Bill Bradley (three) and Jackson (five), who combined to earn nine NFL All-Pro awards between them. Two others, Nelson and Pease, also enjoyed successful professional football playing careers.

TRANSFERS FIND HOME AT BAYLOR

Baylor's 2005 depth chart features seven players who began their collegiate careers at other Division I-A programs but have since found their way to Waco. All seven are former Texas high school preps.

Tulane transfer Will Blaylock missed nearly all of Baylor's spring drills with an ankle injury, but the junior is listed as the Bears' top center. Sophomore Jordan Adams stands No. 3 at tight end after joining the program from New Mexico. Junior RB Mario Price, who lettered as a true freshman at Army in 2002 before sitting out the 2003 season in Waco, is No. 4 on the depth chart at running back.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Nick Moore, who lettered at Georgia Tech as a true freshman in 2003, is No. 2 at linebacker behind senior Jamaal Harper and another Tulane transfer, sophomore Alton Widemon, is No. 2 at cornerback.

Junior Paul Howard, the Bears' No. 2 defensive end, began his collegiate career at Texas Tech and played there as a redshirt freshman, and DT Klayton Shoals redshirted as a true freshman at Iowa State before joining the Baylor program.

Howard, Price and Shoals both lettered for the Bears in 2004 while the other four were in the program but sat out due to NCAA transfer rules.

OVER THE AIR

Bear football games can be heard live on the Baylor/ISP Sports Radio Network. The network includes 11 affiliates across Texas, including flagship stations ESPN KRZI-AM (1660) in Waco. All Baylor games are broadcast by the "Voice of the Bears" John Morris, a veteran broadcaster in his 11th season as the signature voice of Baylor Athletics. Former Baylor football standouts J.J. Joe (color analyst) and Ricky Thompson (sideline reporter) complete the broadcast team.

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 College Sports TV network. CSTV currently hosts sites for more than 100 universities, including four Big 12 schools and the conference office.

BAYLOR GAMES ON THE INTERNET

The radio call from all of Baylor's games can be heard free of charge live on the Internet at www.BaylorBears.com.

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 (Sunday, 10:30 p.m. CT), Fox Sports Southwest (Wednesday, 1 p.m. CT), College Sports Television (Friday, 3:30 p.m. CT) and the College Channel (Waco cable 18).

NEXT UP...

Baylor remains at home Nov. 5, hosting second-ranked Texas in a Big 12 Conference South Division game. Kickoff time has not yet been determined; however, the game will be televised. Possible game times are 11:30 a.m. CST, 2:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.