WACO, Texas – Baylor tight end Ben Sims and the ninth-placed Bears will be keen to see what happens north of the Red River on Saturday night as they go about their business on the banks of the Brazos earlier in the day.
The Bears (9-2, 6-2 Big 12, CFP No. 8) still have a chance to reach the Big 12 championship game for the second time in three seasons when they make their home final against inconsistent Texas Tech (6-5 .) win, 3-5). But they would need seventh-placed Oklahoma State to win their Bedlam game at home against the number 10 Oklahoma.
“If we control the things that we can control this week, we may find ourselves in a new situation next week,” said Sims. “That sure makes things more interesting.”
“They are a good team,” said Red Raiders running back SaRodorick Thompson. “Our job is to just be us and to show our abilities.
Oklahoma State secured their first spot in the Big 12 title game with their 23-0 road win last Saturday night against the Red Raiders, held at 108 yards and ending a streak of goals in 302 consecutive games since 1997. They beat Iowa State 41-38 the previous week to qualify for the Bowl.
Sonny Cumbie will remain Texas Tech’s interim head coach until after the bowl game. He will then remain as offensive coordinator for Joey McGuire, the former Baylor coach and linebackers trainer named Nov. 8 to replace the sacked manager Matt Wells.
McGuire went straight to work at Texas Tech earlier this month after 4 1/2 seasons with Baylor but is not taking on any duties on the field and is unlikely to be in Waco for Saturday’s game. His presence could still be felt.
“I think defensively there is reason to be careful with our signals,” said Baylor coach Dave Aranda. “Besides, it’s the opponent that’s right in front of us, it’s the things that we tape. I think tech has aggressively shown that they are interested in opposing films. If there is weakness, they attack it. If there are things in the past that have hurt you, they will notice. “
HAMSTRUNG QB
Baylor’s starting quarterback Gerry Bohanon injured his right thigh in a 20-10 win at Kansas State late in the first half last week. Redshirt freshman Blake Shapen finished the game with a 16-of-21 pass for 137 yards.
“I just know when I talk to him there probably won’t be anyone more determined to come back than him,” said Aranda, describing Bohanon as day after day. “If I bet I would bet Gerry.”
RUNNING BEAR
Abram Smith, a starting linebacker for Baylor late last season, is the Big 12 rushing leader with 1,249 yards. He’s 299 yards from the single season school record, with at least two and maybe three games. His seven 100-yard rushing games are less than Walter Abercrombie’s school record of eight, set in 1980.
SONNY THE CUSTOMER WITH THE GA
When Aranda was a research assistant at Texas Tech from 2000 to 2002, responsible for directing the Scout Team Offensive in preparation for the defense, Cumbie was the quarterback for the Scout Team.
“The biggest memory I have of him are all the stories he told us in our Scout team meetings,” said Cumbie, who only became a Red Raiders quarterback in his 2004 senior season. Those stories, the wisdom that he shared with us every day. … As a player, I remember how detailed, how intense and how sharp coach Aranda is. “
Aranda recalls how Cumbie reacted with no expression on her face to some of the weird things the trainer said.
“After a while he’d heard her before. Sonny is one of my all time favorite guys, “said Aranda. “After leaving to see him succeed, after finally getting his chance, it’s crazy that I’ll see him on the other side like this. But excited for him. “
EVERYTHING Bound
Texas Tech and Baylor meet in the Southwest Conference before the Big 12’s game began in 1996, their 80th 24-23 win. Baylor won 33-30 in double overtime when the series was last played in Waco two years ago.
More Baylor coverage from The Dallas Morning News can be found here.
[ad_1]
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/baylor-bears/2021/11/26/no-9-baylor-needs-win-over-texas-tech-help-for-big-12-title-shot/
