How did Baylor turn their program around?

Big John Stud

All-American
Jan 14, 2003
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They have similar recruiting classes, similar history, and similar facilities. What can we copy from their success?
 

seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
14,013
21,805
113
The state of Texas and the most high powered offense in America. We OTOH look like a monkey humping a football.
 
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Shavers48

All-Conference
Sep 2, 2011
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Ian McCaw's a helluva AD. Been there since '03. Hmm, who's that sound like? total focus top down, regents, prez, boosters, AD & Ath dept. Look what they did. Got the right coach and built the right facilities.
 

buster3.0

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2009
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They fired Guy Morris for one. Then they hired a coach that put in a system and gave them an identity. Then he started recruiting at a level never seen at Baylor.
 

Big John Stud

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Jan 14, 2003
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are you joking or serious? Texas has like over 25 million people! thats a LOT of high school football players to choose from in a football crazy state
Despite being in a state with 25 million people, Baylor has similar recruiting classes to ours. Is a 5.7 3 star player from Texas better than a 5.7 3 star player from Ohio or Kentucky?
 
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numberonedad

Heisman
Sep 16, 2009
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Despite being in a state with 25 million people, Baylor has similar recruiting classes to ours. Is a 5.7 3 star player from Texas better than a 5.7 3 star player from Ohio or Kentucky?
good question. i've often said would a 5 star player from eastern ky be considered the same in florida? texas? etc.
 

jnewc2_rivals30628

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Nov 22, 2006
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They have an athletics director that went out and hired an innovative offensive mind because he realized he wasn't going to out-muscle Texas and Oklahoma. They also have an AD that wants to win at all costs and realizes that football is what pays the bills.
 
Feb 21, 2006
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they went to a football first agenda...brought in a HC with experience and who knew the the region and culture well...born in texas, played in texas, never coached outside the state of texas...

...and he broke away from traditional B12 football in terms of offense anyway...

If there ever was proof that an innovative offensive mind and system can change a program its Baylor...Kind of like what the Ole Ball coach did at UF with the fun and gun...Chip Kelly at Oregon etc...

Baylor and TCU both were never going to beat Oklahoma and Texas trying to play Oklahoma and Texas football...never going to out recruit them consistently...there's about a hundred years worth of history to prove that...

"system" football, especially a passing up tempo system, can even the playing field...

I mean watching Baylor is fun...on top of airing it out they're running wildcat, handing the ball off to a 6'8 410lb TE, calling flea flickers...they don't hold back...

I mean Oklahoma had to bring in Rielly so they could keep up...running the ball and defense doesn't cut it any more...you got to be able to score a lot...

Neal Brown and Dawson both run Pass Happy new aged systems but their play calling is conservative...its the oddest thing...I mean at some point you got to let it rip and really open up the play book...especially when you don't have a lot to play for...

Dawson needs to get the TEs involved...need to find a dual threat QB and run more from that position...should implement some wildcat...

If Stoops is getting in the way of Dawson fully unleashing the O, then he needs to stop and get out of the way...how will we know if its going to work...let Dawson have the O and back off...if we're no better for it fire him, then at least we know...
 
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Saguaro Cat

All-American
Apr 27, 2008
15,749
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4-8
4-8
7-6

Art Briles first three years at Baylor. Not much better than Stoops. Replace Louisville with Sam Houston state, and we could have had that record this year.

Oh, and as far as football business A.D. He waited five years with guy Morris before letting him go.
3-9
3-9
5-6
4-8
3-9

So maybe football schools give coaches time before making moves.
 

WildcatofNati

Heisman
Mar 31, 2009
8,183
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good question. i've often said would a 5 star player from eastern ky be considered the same in florida? texas? etc.
The scouts already know about the pathetic competition in Kentucky, and, if they STILL rate the guy with 5 stars, he's probably pretty good. They already take the level of competition into account, and that's why there are so few 5 star players from places like Eastern Ky. If someone from there gets 5 stars (e.g, Tim Couch), he is probably a true phenom.
 

Shavers48

All-Conference
Sep 2, 2011
2,919
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4-8
4-8
7-6

Art Briles first three years at Baylor. Not much better than Stoops. Replace Louisville with Sam Houston state, and we could have had that record this year.

Oh, and as far as football business A.D. He waited five years with guy Morris before letting him go.
3-9
3-9
5-6
4-8
3-9

So maybe football schools give coaches time before making moves.
when you know your guy had a winning HC record at his previous school, you can cut him some slack. And Baylor had so much money trouble during Morris' time they had no choice but keep him thru his contract.
 

KendallCat

Heisman
Sep 14, 2002
40,949
11,727
93
good question. i've often said would a 5 star player from eastern ky be considered the same in florida? texas? etc.

I think that is the biggest difference. We have 5 stars like Dennis Johnson and Damien Harris who are excellent players from the state of Kentucky. Difference is the type of talent they face week in and out. Kids here who are talented don't see the same type of player going against them which does not help them grow as a player. If Harris played in Florida he would see linebackers that could run with him, but here in KY once he got to the next level he was gone - big difference in stats and how a player is perceived.
 
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kb22stang

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2005
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when you know your guy had a winning HC record at his previous school, you can cut him some slack. And Baylor had so much money trouble during Morris' time they had no choice but keep him thru his contract.


OH, ********. You'd the same way.
 

dallasg23

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Aug 15, 2013
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Yes without a doubt a 5.7 3 star is way better than a 5.7 star from Kentucky and much of Ohio? Look at the pure competition they play. Look at the amount of d1 talent in Texas. And then look at all the d1 schools in Texas. Look at all the pit of Texas schools goin to Texas to find talent. When was the last time a Texas school came to Kentucky to find a player??? Go ahead. I'll wait lol
 
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WildcatofNati

Heisman
Mar 31, 2009
8,183
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Yes without a doubt a 5.7 3 star is way better than a 5.7 star from Kentucky and much of Ohio? Look at the pure competition they play. Look at the amount of d1 talent in Texas. And then look at all the d1 schools in Texas. Look at all the pit of Texas schools goin to Texas to find talent. When was the last time a Texas school came to Kentucky to find a player??? Go ahead. I'll wait lol
The level of competition is already taken into account; otherwise, there would be a lot of Ky. high school stars with higher rankings already.
 
A

anon_q409idbs5m40a

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Same goes for TCU, who used to be the doormat of the old Southwest Conference. Baylor hired Art Briles, who had a lot of connections with high school coaches in the state helping recruiting immensely. Draughton McClane helped finance the upgrades to the program and was instrumental in getting the new stadium built. Additionally, the move to the Big 12 actually helped Baylor as they got more national exposure. It all comes down to coaching and recruiting quality players, which they've done.
 

Big John Stud

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Jan 14, 2003
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Yes without a doubt a 5.7 3 star is way better than a 5.7 star from Kentucky and much of Ohio? Look at the pure competition they play. Look at the amount of d1 talent in Texas. And then look at all the d1 schools in Texas. Look at all the pit of Texas schools goin to Texas to find talent. When was the last time a Texas school came to Kentucky to find a player??? Go ahead. I'll wait lol

So the exact same rated player in Texas is better? Gotta love the logic of the Kentucky football fan.
 

Longtrip

Junior
May 12, 2003
372
240
0
Guy Morris also had the State of Texas and what did he do with that "advantage"? Not much.
On the other hand once they hired a great coach good things began to happen.
 

Free_Salato_Blue

All-Conference
Aug 31, 2014
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So the exact same rated player in Texas is better? Gotta love the logic of the Kentucky football fan.

How many nationally ranked high school teams are in KY compared to TX or FL? While a kid here maybe playing baseball in the Spring, they are putting on the pads in TX and FL.
 

NavyCat88

All-Conference
Nov 22, 2011
3,739
4,598
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4-8
4-8
7-6

Art Briles first three years at Baylor. Not much better than Stoops. Replace Louisville with Sam Houston state, and we could have had that record this year.

Oh, and as far as football business A.D. He waited five years with guy Morris before letting him go.
3-9
3-9
5-6
4-8
3-9

So maybe football schools give coaches time before making moves.
So in year three, which for most new hires is considered the "show me" year, 7-6 is "not much better" than 5-7? I would have taken 7-6 every day of the week and twice on Sunday, and I would be singing high praises for our man Stoops. As it stands, our Staff & teams have notched three straight losing seasons and shown consistency only in late season swoons. Sadly, 7 wins was attainable for us this year with the weakness in the SEC East. Opportunities lost. OBTW, as far as Sam Houston St, they're #10 in the FCS....still playing in the playoffs and would absolutely wear Stoops' UK team out.
 

KendallCat

Heisman
Sep 14, 2002
40,949
11,727
93
A three star in Texas is a five star in Kentucky.

Yep. When Joker was here the first time he told me a kid in South Florida who was all county was like an All State player here in Kentucky. Kentucky does not have the population centers to develop talent on par with the big boy states like Texas, California, Florida, Georgia... We produce on average 3-5 very good prospects a year in this state that can play high D1 level ball - those other states produce 300-500.
 

Free_Salato_Blue

All-Conference
Aug 31, 2014
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2,485
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They have similar recruiting classes, similar history, and similar facilities. What can we copy from their success?

Rather riddle you this. How does Iowa with Rivals recruiting ranking 2015 59th, 2014 59th and 2013 53rd in the hunt for a playoff spot and UK can't make a bowl.
 

hmt5000

Heisman
Aug 29, 2009
26,976
82,650
0
Half the 5.7s will excel and half will fail or under achieve. Ky has so few 5.7s that we'd take them all if we could. Texas probably has 150 kids rated a 5.7. If you can identify talent you have a bigger pool to choose from.
 

WildcatofNati

Heisman
Mar 31, 2009
8,183
12,420
0
Yep. When Joker was here the first time he told me a kid in South Florida who was all county was like an All State player here in Kentucky. Kentucky does not have the population centers to develop talent on par with the big boy states like Texas, California, Florida, Georgia... We produce on average 3-5 very good prospects a year in this state that can play high D1 level ball - those other states produce 300-500.
That's true, but the scouting services already take that into account. That's why Texas and California have dozens of 4 and 5 star guys a year and Kentucky has 2 or 3 a year. Since they are already graded according to competition, if Kentucky does have a 4 star player, he's probably comparable in talent to a Texas 4 star. That's why a guy like Tim Couch is the real deal when he is ranked high. He's not just getting the accolades for his stats; he has to have legit talent of no one cares about the stats.
 

Rhavic

Heisman
Dec 15, 2014
33,213
23,073
68
That's true, but the scouting services already take that into account. That's why Texas and California have dozens of 4 and 5 star guys a year and Kentucky has 2 or 3 a year. Since they are already graded according to competition, if Kentucky does have a 4 star player, he's probably comparable in talent to a Texas 4 star. That's why a guy like Tim Couch is the real deal when he is ranked high. He's not just getting the accolades for his stats; he has to have legit talent of no one cares about the stats.

I agree with this. I have to think that Rivals, Scout, 247sports, and ESPN consider the talent of the state overall when ranking players individually.
 

G_Money

Redshirt
Nov 13, 2009
25
5
0
Oh, most of gridiron success starts with coaching. Stoops is a young guy and has a lot to learn, just like the kids he's coaching. Whether or not he makes it here depends on him. If he learns from these experiences, we will start winning. If he doesn't, bye-bye in Dec 2017.
 

jte123

Junior
Mar 27, 2005
4,027
294
0
They have a beautiful stadium. One key thing they have is a definite identity something I have been saying is lacking at UK for a long time. What are we a running team? Air raid? Defensive team? NO one knows.
 

dallasg23

All-Conference
Aug 15, 2013
3,333
4,265
113
yes they take that into account but it still can't determine if they will be better. But like someone had said before the state of Kentucky isn't friendly to football like the state of Texas. Khsaa has to many rules that keep football down as a whole in the state. And as for the guy Morris comment. The man could barely coach his way out of a paper bag. It took briles how many years before building up the talent at Baylor? He had literally rebuild the program. And now look. He has one heisman, a ridiculous record in the last few years and players from Texas that ut, a&m, and Oklahoma used to get without question, are now looking at the Bears. When a player in the state of Kentucky like say Damien Harris has a Kentucky off and bama offer. Of course he would pick bama. I'd tell my son to go to bama. Because Kentucky just isn't good. It all comes down to you have build up a team that has enough potential to be successful. Once Kentucky does that. And keeps pounding away. And constantly makes bowls. And wins hardware they will be Baylor. Baylor is proof it can be done. But without the home grown talent. It's not gonna be easy
 

*Bleedingblue*

Heisman
Mar 5, 2009
39,430
30,104
113
Yes without a doubt a 5.7 3 star is way better than a 5.7 star from Kentucky and much of Ohio? Look at the pure competition they play. Look at the amount of d1 talent in Texas. And then look at all the d1 schools in Texas. Look at all the pit of Texas schools goin to Texas to find talent. When was the last time a Texas school came to Kentucky to find a player??? Go ahead. I'll wait lol


So when a kid camps where he is avaluated at and the same person is evaluating the kids no matter what state they are from he gives them a grade. These grades given by the same guy is different for each state the kid is from?? Is that right??

Also tv Williams ranking of a 5.5 really translates to a 5.7 or a 5.8 4 star if he was from Ky or Tn? Is that right as well?? Lol
 

reflaine

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2007
2,503
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Most of these recruiting service camps are no pads also. Use Randell Cobb, not the fastest guy without pads. His forty times will not blow you away, but put him in live game action and he is lightning in a bottle. Cobb was also a two star recruit who very few people wanted untill late in the process.
 

Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,061
21,532
113
Rather riddle you this. How does Iowa with Rivals recruiting ranking 2015 59th, 2014 59th and 2013 53rd in the hunt for a playoff spot and UK can't make a bowl.

Damn good question, you can ask the same about Wisconsin, Kansas State, Duke, et al. I guess there must be a hell of a lot of great HS football players in the Iowa cornfields. Who would have ever guessed??
 

dallasg23

All-Conference
Aug 15, 2013
3,333
4,265
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Have you been to one of these camps? They pretty much completely non contact. There are like 20 of them a year. And players don't go to all of them. They go to their most localized one. So very rarely do players from Texas ever mingle with guys from Kentucky or Ohio. But what I am telling you. Is a high three star guy from Florida or Texas would be ranked higher if he was from Kentucky. Of course you have some outliers like Harris. And looks he left the state for another school. Baylor doesn't not have a national prowess of being able to go nation wide and get the best. Not of their rosters is home grown. All I'm saying is Kentucky doesn't have such luxury