Inside the Huddle with Shawn Bell - Oct. 31
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2006
Hello Baylor fans,
Well this is definitely the hardest "Inside the Huddle" I have had to write thus far. Let me start off by saying that this past weekend was incredible. Despite the loss, it was amazing to see a record crowd and to experience the environment in Floyd Casey Stadium. I have been waiting on an atmosphere like that since I have been at Baylor and feel very fortunate for having the opportunity to experience it. You do not know how much it meant to my teammates and I to have Floyd Casey Stadium rocking like it was this past weekend.
As far as the game goes I felt as though we played very hard and gave tons of effort. However, when the game was on the line, we just didn't make the plays down the stretch. Texas A&M obviously has a great team and it just came down to the simple fact that they made the plays and we didn't.
So now we are 4-5 (3-2 in the Big 12) with three games left. We have three more opportunities to get two wins and become bowl eligible. I feel like all three of the last games are winnable, but we really are going to have to focus and execute down the stretch. It all starts this weekend against Texas Tech. They obviously have a great offense, but I feel confident in Coach Bradley in setting up a scheme to stop these guys. Our defense played great against them last year and I expect nothing else this Saturday. I definitely feel like we can move the ball against these guys and our playmakers will have some really good match-ups. All in all, our bowl hopes are still alive and I still believe we can pull this off starting with Tech this weekend.
Now here is the hard part! As most of you know, I hurt my knee and will be missing the remainder of the season. I tore my ACL, medial meniscus, and have two bad bone contusions in my right knee. I have had many opinions, all of which saying that there is no possible way for me to return by the end of the season. If it was just my ACL I could maybe brace up and play, but the other injuries have caused a ton of swelling that will not allow me to try and tough it out. Believe me, if there was any possible way for me to play I would, but every doctor/trainer I have talked to have said it's virtually impossible. It absolutely kills me knowing that my hope and dreams for my teammates and myself are right out there in front of us with three games left and I will have not be able to get under center. I cannot express to you the emotional pain I have been going through along with the physical. However, I am a strong believer and know that God has plan for my life and this is just a small road block. I have been blessed with so much that I can only thank God for all he has given me. I have an amazing family, great friends, and great teammates. It is really hard to complain about a small thing like a torn ACL. Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for myself, I have decided to be at every practice and meeting possible to continue and try to help lead this team to a bowl game. As one of the captains, I think it is the right thing to do for our team and it will be a great experience for me as I plan to be a coach in the future.
If I could ask anything from you, it would be not only for your prayers to a speedy recovery, but more importantly to keep believing in my teammates, coaches and Baylor football. The season is far from over and I feel it is definitely possible for us to go bowling. Also, I ask that you support Blake as he is put in a very tough situation and you do not know how much a fan's positive support means to a quarterback. He is a great athlete and has prepared himself to be in the situation he is now in and I have full faith with him under center. I will try and help him out in any way possible, but with a coach like Coach Phillips, it is hard to figure out things that he hasn't already been taught.
This is not my final "Inside the Huddle," as I will continue to update you week to week. I just want to thank you for all the support you have shown me and my teammates throughout the year and hope it continues for the next three games and hopefully into December. I will always be a Baylor Bear and have enjoyed putting on that green and gold every week. Thank you so much for the e-mails, messages, and phone calls that I have received. They really mean more to me than you will ever imagine as I go through this difficult test. I hope to see a lot of you in Lubbock this weekend, or hopefully you will be catching the game on TV.
Thanks again for all your support and God Bless!
Sic'em Bears, Shawn Bell
