Nov. 30, 2008

Following a heartbreaking 35-28 loss to No. 7 Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, Art Briles spoke with members of the media about his first season as head football coach.

Below are Briles' comments about this season and the future of Baylor football:

On the season as a whole:
"As you look through the season, we certainly feel like we did things that gave us an opportunity to win games; and that is to play with passion, effort and a lot of energy. Those are the things that you have to do if you have a chance to win any football game. Our guys did that throughout the entire season so we are very indebted and grateful for that. What we have to do as football team now is be more situational intelligent as coaches, as a team, and then we just have to cross some more bridges. I think we earned respect and I think we earned credibility. Now we have to earn fear. I want teams to be fearful when they play us... that is the level we have to get to, and that is the level that we will get to."

On the senior leadership and the role of the freshman for the future:
"We had a lot of seniors this year that did a great job of leading for us and fighting to give us opportunities to be a respectable program. We are indebted to them for the directions that they helped take us. We have a bunch of young guys that are very fierce competitors, very athletic. The future is bright for Baylor. We can't just sit around and talk about how it's going to be, what we have to do is get out and make it be. There is a big difference in that and that is what we have to get in the direction as coaches."

On Baylor's ability to protect the football and create turnovers this season:
"Our guys did a great job of protecting the football. That is something that we have to do. In a league as tough as ours, the (Big 12) south, you don't have to say anything else, that is all you have to say is `the south', it has to have mistake free games if you want to have opportunities to win. Everybody is really good on the other side that you are playing. Our people did a good job of recognizing that and protecting that and giving us opportunities. We have to limit more and create more."

On the Texas Tech game:
"I think we did finish. I thought they did a good job of fighting all the way through 60 minutes. I think we had some unfortunate circumstances happen in the game; two turnovers nullified by penalties and miscommunication on 4th down on the offensive side. Some of those were self inflicted and some of those were caused by the nature of the game. I was really proud with the way that our guys fought all the way to the end in an environment that is pretty good up there in Lubbock. What we have to do is match environments in Waco. A home field environment is critical to victories."

"On the importance of this season's effort in the recruiting field:
It is going to help a bunch. Baylor is a place where guys can come and get a great education and play top caliber football nationally. That is the thing that we had to do this year, we had to be a respectable program and a program that is on the rise so recruits can see that you don't have to travel 9 to 11 hours away to get what you need. You can get what you need right here in Central Texas and Waco, Texas. What we have to do is make that a reality and keep that a reality by having great venues when we are at home as well as having excitement and energy at the field. We have the ingredients here that we need to take care of business."

On the impact of having a player like Robert Griffin as a recruiting tool:
"(Robert Griffin) has brought national recognition to Baylor and that is going to make recruits what to come here and want to play with alongside him. Those are huge benefits that he brings to the table for us. On top of that he is great person, a great student and a great teammate."