Aug. 5, 2008
Read official "View From The Hill" blog about fall practice
Overcast skies and a light rain gave Baylor a respite from the blazing heat during Tuesday's practice, its fourth of the fall camp. The Bears practiced two-and-a-half hours in half pads and left the field under a steady rain.
The squad will put on full pads for the first time Wednesday when they take the practice fields at 3:30 p.m. The Bears won't hit the practice fields Thursday, but will resume practice Friday. [Briles quotes below]
NOTES: Baylor's annual fan day, Meet the Bears, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, at approximately 12:45 p.m. following a morning practice and 11:45 a.m. scrimmage... Season and single-game tickets for Baylor's seven home football games -Wake Forest (Aug. 28), Northwestern State (Sept. 6), Washington State (Sept. 13), Oklahoma (Oct. 4), Iowa State (Oct. 11), Missouri (Nov. 1) and Texas A&M (Nov. 15)- are available for purchase online at BaylorBears.com, via phone at 254-710-1000 and at Floyd Casey Stadium... Several season ticket options are offered with prices at $145 per ticket for the Bears' seven-game home schedule... Baylor opens its 2008 season Aug. 28 when it hosts 23rd-ranked Wake Forest at Floyd Casey Stadium in front of a national television audience on FSN.
BAYLOR HEAD COACH Art Briles - Aug. 5, 2008
On the cooler weather:
"Heck, we didn't know how to act because it wasn't 104 degrees. It was nice. Guys had a lot of energy. I've learned that if the weather is hot, I'm hot. If it's cold, I'm cold."
On the offensive line depth:
"We have some guys that are really playing well. I'm really proud of those guys in the two-deep that are challenging each other. So, that's very encouraging."
On the position battles taking place:
"Competition is healthy in everything. That's what makes the world go `round. I would like to think, if I was the only person standing there, that I would do the best I could do every second that I'm doing it. I think to a true competitor, it doesn't make any difference."
On practicing with pads Wednesday:
"I think it's a chance to be a little safer with the pads on the legs. It's not like we're all of a sudden going to try and destroy each other. We're going to play smart. We're going to take care of each other."
On the depth at linebacker:
"The linebacker crew, I think, is going to be the strength of our football team because we've got a bunch of guys there that can play. They really do a great job of complementing each other because they're all really good football players. It's a great advantage for us, because we have six or seven that can play, so we're in good shape as far as that goes with our depth issue."
On defensive linemen Vincent Rhodes and Trey Bryant:
"Vinnie (Rhodes) has got to be a war-daddy. When he walks, people need to ask if they can talk to him. He's got to be the man. Trey (Bryant) needs to try and mimic everything Vinnie does because Vinnie understands the level that it takes for us to have a great football team."
