Baylor looks to compete this season

By By Daniel Berk

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Editor’s Note: This is the first of 11 articles, by Daniel Berk, previewing Kansas’ competition in the Big 12 Conference. The articles will run every day from now until Sept. 1. Tomorrow the Kansan will look at Texas Tech.

The Baylor Bears found out just how tough the Big 12 South division was last year, as the Bears were the only team in the division not to qualify for a bowl game.

Baylor managed just one win in conference play last season, beating Texas A&M; 35-34 in overtime. The team couldn’t carry the momentum from beating its rival, though, as the Bears lost their last three games by a combined score of 126-38.

Baylor could be more competitive this season under third year coach Guy Morriss, who came to Baylor after coaching at the University of Kentucky. Morriss has managed to win only six games in his two years as coach and said that in order for the Bears to succeed it starts with recruiting the right players.

“It’s imperative we keep our recruits here for five years,” Morriss said. “At Baylor we are going to have to win with fourth and fifth-year players.”

It might not be a good sign for the Bears that the team’s most heralded player is their punter. Junior Daniel Sepulveda returns as the team’s punter after winning the Ray Guy award last year as the nation’s top punter.

As a sophomore, Sepulveda averaged 46 yards per kick and had 26 punts land inside the 20-yard line. Sepulveda came to Baylor as a linebacker, but made the switch after Morriss held open auditions for a punter during practice.

“We asked if we have anybody out there that can punt a football, and this kid jumps up and down, raises his hand and I asked him when was the last time he punted, and it was something like junior high,” Morriss said. “He picks up the football, and kicks the cover off it, and the rest is history.”

Sepulveda isn’t the only standout on special teams for the Bears, as senior Willie Andrews was named to the Preseason Big 12 Media Team as a kick returner. Andrews is also a starter on defense at the safety position.

Morriss said Andrews was not only one of the top return men in the country, but also one of the best safeties in the conference.

The Bears will get a lift on offense this season from Tulane transfer Will Blaylock. Blaylock, a Texas native, returns to his home state after Tulane encountered a coaching change a year ago. Blaylock is expected to be the team’s starting center and have an immediate impact on the offensive line.

“He is a kid that is very sharp mentally, and he is our traffic cop,” Morriss said. “You never see the guy on the ground. He uses his hands well. I think it starts from there.”

Baylor will open its 2005 season with a road game at Southern Methodist University on Sept. 3 and open its conference season Oct. 1 at Texas A&M.; The Bears will close out their season Nov. 19 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

—Edited by Anne Burgard

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