Big 12 Media Day: Baylor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - I've been saying for sometime that I think Baylor made a tremendous choice when they fired an all-time good guy in Guy Morriss and paid the big bucks to lure in former Stephenville High School coach and University of Houston head coach Art Briles to Baylor.

Briles is an excellent coach and for Oklahoma State it is a good thing that they don't have to face him in week two of the season when the U of H Cougars come calling. They will, however, have to deal with Briles and his customized offense when Baylor visits OSU on Oct. 20. That shouldn't hurt this year, but in future seasons the Big 12 South will likely be without it's doormat.

I think Briles's arrival is the biggest thing for Baylor football since Grant Teaff hit Waco. I'll give you a good example. Over the past few years older Baylor players suffered so much with the losing and the failed efforts that they ended up anxious to get their senior season over with.

When I asked Preseason All-Big 12 and talented offensive tackle Jason Smith if he had any regrets he said, "Yes, I wish I could be a freshman all over again. I would love to go back and be a freshman with this coaching staff because I know a lot of good things are going to happen."

Smith talked about the offseason and summer conditioning program and how competitive it is every day. He talked about the coaches and attitude. He also talked about the need to make people in the community believe. He talked about how he would not be intimidated and would not allow his teammates to be intimidated either. These Bears already have a dose of belief.

Another reason that Briles will succeed is the high school coaches in the area. Briles was one of them when he coached at Stephenville. Those high school coaches want him to have success and prove the best coaches come from the high school level in Texas. Get ready, whether you believe it is a miracle of not, Baylor is going to work hard and will make the effort to get trade numbers.

I picked Baylor last and they will be last in the Big 12 South, but the good news in Waco is that stay in the South cellar now has an expiration date and Art Briles is ready to sign off on that.