BACK TO WORK
12/15/2019 8:41:00 PM | Football
Bears Start Bowl Prep, Finishing Off Recruiting Class
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Sweat dripping off his face following a conditioning run with the Baylor players, Matt Rhule had to laugh when asked if he remembered ever sweating at an outside practice in December while he was at Temple University in Philadelphia.
"It must be global warming or something," Rhule said Sunday after the Bears' second workout in preparation for the New Year's Day Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia, "because I was in New York at the National Football Foundation, and it felt like it was hot there, too. But, the weather is unreal, absolutely unreal. To think that this is December, it's beautiful."
While Saturday's practice was the players' first time back on the field since the 30-23 overtime loss to fourth-ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game seven days earlier, "it wasn't much of a break for the coaches," Rhule said. Some of the coaches had in-home visits the night after the game and didn't get back off the recruiting trail until the end of the week.
"I think for our players, the chance to concentrate on finals," Rhule said. "it was a long, hard, tough year. I thought we had renewed energy (Saturday) and today on the practice field. When you're away for a week, you're excited to see the players. And hopefully, they're excited to see you. I think (the break) has been a good thing."
After using the last couple practices for team development, Rhule said the Bears (11-2) will start actual game preparation for Georgia (11-2) on Wednesday. They will take some time off for Christmas next week before heading to the bowl site in New Orleans on Dec. 27.
"They're a great team, as good a defense as we've ever seen,"Rhule said of Georgia, which lost to LSU, 37-10, in the SEC Championship game. "It's the best offensive line in college football, at least what we've faced. It will be quite a challenge. They're really, really good. I think it's really good for our team. I think our guys are really invested in that. Our seniors see it as a great chance.
"If you want to go to the pros, play well against Georgia. For our younger players, if you want to build a great team next year, let's end this on a positive note."
With the early national signing day coming up on Wednesday, the coaches were on the road last week trying to finish up a class that "will really allow us to be targeted in January," Rhule said.
"We love the class so far. There's a couple guys out there we'd like to add," he said. "I think we have something behind us now, some proof that, 'Hey, we're going to be good.' We're not changing who we're going after, just how excited they are about who they see. I think our team believes, and I think it's great to see the recruits and their families believe."
Tickets for the Sugar Bowl are available at the Baylor Athletics Ticket Office at the Ferrell Center or by going online at www.baylorbears.com/tickets.
Baylor Bear Insider
Sweat dripping off his face following a conditioning run with the Baylor players, Matt Rhule had to laugh when asked if he remembered ever sweating at an outside practice in December while he was at Temple University in Philadelphia.
"It must be global warming or something," Rhule said Sunday after the Bears' second workout in preparation for the New Year's Day Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia, "because I was in New York at the National Football Foundation, and it felt like it was hot there, too. But, the weather is unreal, absolutely unreal. To think that this is December, it's beautiful."
While Saturday's practice was the players' first time back on the field since the 30-23 overtime loss to fourth-ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game seven days earlier, "it wasn't much of a break for the coaches," Rhule said. Some of the coaches had in-home visits the night after the game and didn't get back off the recruiting trail until the end of the week.
"I think for our players, the chance to concentrate on finals," Rhule said. "it was a long, hard, tough year. I thought we had renewed energy (Saturday) and today on the practice field. When you're away for a week, you're excited to see the players. And hopefully, they're excited to see you. I think (the break) has been a good thing."
After using the last couple practices for team development, Rhule said the Bears (11-2) will start actual game preparation for Georgia (11-2) on Wednesday. They will take some time off for Christmas next week before heading to the bowl site in New Orleans on Dec. 27.
"They're a great team, as good a defense as we've ever seen,"Rhule said of Georgia, which lost to LSU, 37-10, in the SEC Championship game. "It's the best offensive line in college football, at least what we've faced. It will be quite a challenge. They're really, really good. I think it's really good for our team. I think our guys are really invested in that. Our seniors see it as a great chance.
"If you want to go to the pros, play well against Georgia. For our younger players, if you want to build a great team next year, let's end this on a positive note."
With the early national signing day coming up on Wednesday, the coaches were on the road last week trying to finish up a class that "will really allow us to be targeted in January," Rhule said.
"We love the class so far. There's a couple guys out there we'd like to add," he said. "I think we have something behind us now, some proof that, 'Hey, we're going to be good.' We're not changing who we're going after, just how excited they are about who they see. I think our team believes, and I think it's great to see the recruits and their families believe."
Tickets for the Sugar Bowl are available at the Baylor Athletics Ticket Office at the Ferrell Center or by going online at www.baylorbears.com/tickets.
Candy Salad 2026 Schedule 🍬😋
Wednesday, January 21
Baylor Football 2026 Schedule went down in the DMs 📲
Wednesday, January 21
Baylor Football Transfer QB DJ Lagway Highlights
Sunday, January 18
Baylor Football: Palmer Williams 2025 Season Highlights
Monday, January 05
