Director of Sports Journalism Jerry Hill gives his three takeaways from Monday's weekly press conference with head coach Dave Aranda talking about the Bears' 48-45, 2-OT road win at No. 17/16 SMU and Saturday's 11 a.m. matchup against the FCS Samford Bulldogs (0-2) at McLane Stadium, which will be streamed by ESPN+: 

1. COMMAND OF THE HUDDLE: Named the AP National Player of the Week after throwing for 440 yards and four touchdowns in the win over SMU, Sawyer Robertson "was communicating up and down the sideline, was positive," Aranda said. "Towards the end, I would walk in the offensive huddle, and there's just a command with him. And it's just so cool to see. It is crazy what confidence can do to somebody. He's got that going right now, and we're thankful for it."
2. RESPECT EVERYONE: Aranda has a "lot of respect for" Samford head coach Chris Hatcher, who comes from the Hal Mumme coaching tree that also included Mike Leach and former Baylor coach Guy Morriss. Hatcher has 182 wins in 25 years as a college head coach, winning the Division II national championship with Valdosta State in 2004. "They've played some bigger schools really well in the past," Aranda said of the Bulldogs, who were up on Florida at halftime in 2021. "They come out all guns firing. There are gadgets and tricks and reverses and fakes, so there's a lot to prepare for. . . . Just a couple years ago, we played (Texas State) in the first game, and I don't know if we respected them as well as we should have (in a 42-31 loss). And there have been a couple examples in college football this year. You have to respect everybody you play."
3. UNDER PRESSURE: Redshirt freshman kicker Connor Hawkins, who hit the game-winning 27-yard field goal to beat SMU, was named the Big 12 Freshman and Special Teams Player of the Week. Hawkins won a fall-camp battle with true freshman Rhett Armstrong. "His kicks during practice and when we've manufactured when it matters most were kind of the separator," Aranda said. "Any type of adversity we could create, he walked right through all that and with some amazing long-distance kicks. Him having that opportunity, I think everyone on the sideline was really confident about what he was about to do. I'm so happy for him."