Aug. 9, 2007
Seven players missed Thursday evening's full-pad practice as the Baylor football team ran through its eighth workout of fall camp on the Floyd Casey Stadium grass fields.
Senior defensive end Geoff Nelson (left ankle sprain), junior wide receiver Mikail Baker (hamstring), sophomore offensive tackle Thad Boatner (right knee strain), freshman linebacker Chris Francis (left knee strain), senior offensive guard Ricky Hasoon, sophomore quarterback Blake Szymanski (right ankle sprain) and freshman wide receiver Krys Buerck (hamstring), all missed Thursday's practice. Buerck came into fall camp with the injury he sustained in the Oil Bowl and has seen limited action thus far, while the others were injured in practice this week.
"I don't think it's anything real major with any of them (the injured players)," Baylor head coach Guy Morriss said. "I think that's kind of why we looked a little ragged tonight. We are missing some key folks on both sides."
Szymanski, who started the fall as the Bears' No. 3 quarterback, had been making a bid to become the Bears' starter until rolling his ankle during Wednesday evening's practice.
"It's really too early to tell (how long Szymanski will be out)," Morriss said. "He's still in ice and he's got a brace. He is supposed to be walking on crutches, but I think he's about ready to toss them. I saw him walking around today without them, so I don't think it will be too long. We don't want to rush him, but he needs every rep he can get.
"But, at the same time, with Blake down, you look at Michael and John David, and give them some reps and experience so that if we have to later on down the line, they have had a rep or two," he added.
In Szymanski's absence, senior Michael Machen and junior John David Week took all the snaps under center.
"Michael did a good job last night," Morriss said. "He took all of the reps Wednesday. I don't know if it was just throwing him in there and he didn't time to think about it much, but he did a great job last night. He really moved the club up and down the field. He made some good decisions and some good throws.
"I think we all struggled as an offense a little bit today," he added. "Every day is something new and for a young linemen that's tough. To some degree, it's tough on the quarterbacks, especially with Michael and John David being in the system only a short time. They are thinking hard and it's showing right now."
Baylor returns to the practice field Friday at 6 p.m.
Notes: FSN Southwest will telecast a 30-minute special previewing the 2007 Baylor football season on Sunday, Aug. 19 at 1:30 p.m. CT as part of the network's preseason series that includes season outlook shows for every Big 12 Conference school ... Two members of the Bears' 2007 team, senior offensive guard Chad Smith and senior center Mike Miller, are scheduled to graduate during Baylor's summer graduation ceremony on Saturday ... All-told 14 Baylor student-athletes will graduate this weekend, including 10 football players--Anthony Arline, Lequalan McDonald, Avery Sneed, Clay Ritchey, Julian Hill, Shawn Bell (master's degree), Matt Lott, Bryan Bays, Smith and Miller ... Baylor's annual Meet the Bears day is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18, at 4 p.m. inside Floyd Casey Stadium.
