Oct. 26, 2000

Each week, GoBaylorBears.com features a different guest in "Ask the Bears." This week's guest was head football coach Kevin Steele.

As to Baylor's future football schedules, is there any chance of Louisiana Tech being included? I thought at one time they were on upcoming schedules.The current tentative schedules don't list them.What happened?
Bob Bozeman, Monroe, LA

Thanks for your question on scheduling. We had a scheduled home-and-home game with Louisiana Tech, but they had to adjust their schedule due to their upcoming membership in the WAC. They asked to get out of both of those games for conference scheduling purposes, so that's why those aren't on the schedule any more.

Coach Steele,I would like to encourage you to keep your head high. We knew going into this that it would be a five- to six-year rebuilding process. I've been to four Baylor games this year and plan to go to three more. I support the Bears and the coaching staff all the way. I was particulary impressed by the defensive performance during the Aggie game. I'm very impressed with the freshmen starters. I'm also impressed with your starting true freshmen. I believe this sends a STRONG message to potential recruits, because if a recruit wants to play they know they can come to Baylor and play whereas at OU, UT or aTm they'll probably spend their college days warming the bench. My question is, with recruiting season right around the corner, what positions will we be focusing on? Thanks Coach Steele, Keep up the good work. Sic'em!
Jason Gray, Mesquite, Texas

As far as recruiting, I think it's very important to address all positions so that there's a feeder system in place so you don't get caught short on depth. Immediate help is needed on the offensive line and defensive line, in particular. The rest can be met by a feeder system that will provide depth and future starters at each position.

I was wondering, after the game this weekend, do you have any regrets leaving Nebraska?
Chris Matlock, Hastings, Nebraska

I don't have regrets about decisions I make in life. My experience at Nebraska was wonderful. Those were very formative years. That decision was not based on a heartfelt decision, it was based on a career decision and what I thought was best for my career long term. I don't have any regrets at all.

Will you consider going more to a passing game and no huddle system like Texas Tech uses?
Tom Green, Tyler, Texas

We had an extensive no-huddle system during two-a-days and spring practice. With the changes at the quarterback position, the no-huddle got put on hold. We'll always try to be a balanced team. That can be proven even by the fact that Oklahoma was a pure passing team last year, and one of the things Bob Stoops said they had to correct this year is to become a better running football team and work to be a more balanced team. I think over the long haul, that's what needs to be done. As you get better defensively, you can do a lot more things offensively.

Kevin, since we have been bagled, offensively, for 3 weeks straight, is it maybe possible that you could institute a no-huddle offense to possibly score some quick points? At least the element of surprise may have allowed us to get within field goal range at Tech, A&M, and maybe even Nebraska. We are getting killed out there with what appears to be minimum preparation for the Big 12 schools we've played thus far.The defense deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor after spending an average of 3/4 the time on the field in each quarter of every game. A little continued offense would at least give the defense the breather they deserve!
John C. Fielder, North Brunswick, New Jersey

A no-huddle offense is something we want to do. It's much better and more effective with an experienced quarterback. Greg Cicero was very good at it and we practiced it extensively before his injury.

I agree the defense deserves a medal of honor. We do ask them to spend a lot of time on the field. Being an old defensive coach, I might add one thing about the defense getting off the field. They have the opportunity in three downs to get off the field, so we can do a better job there, too.

I have been following Baylor sports for my lifetime, and spent many a year as a youngster listening to the Enco/Exxon football broadcast at home in Monahans with my dad, only to be a member of that "wait until next year" club, going throught that 50-year drought, until the 1974 team came along, and then next year was this year. Chuck Reedy recruited two to four lineman a year, and it wasn't until Dave Roberts' second year that Roberts realized that he had a shortage of linemen, signing some 16-18 that year. For a recruiting class, for the last two years, your number of linemen have been thin, too. Roberts recruits are now your sophomores and juniors who are the ones that are finding it tough in the trenches. Because your offensive and defensive lines are your glaring weaknesses in the team, would you consider setting aside 6 to 8 scholarships for JUCO linemen to bring in additional maturity and experience to help plug the holes for next year? I'd like to know your thoughts, if you are at liberty to talk about them now, of what you are going to do to make it better for us "next year?"
Joe E. Ratliff, Arlington, Texas

The reason we didn't oversign at linemen because we had 15 of 17 scholarship linemen in two classes, and to spread the numbers out across the team to keep from being shorted other places, we tried to balance up the signing so we wouldn't be overloaded at one position or another.

As far as the junior college players, we're on track. We placed about nine junior college players two years ago and about 11 last year. Junior colleges have now become a huge placement system, in that if you put them in, you have first rights to get them out. That's how junior colleges keep their talent pool, so you have to place a lot of them to get them. We're certainly on the same page with you in that regard.

Coach, first of all I'd like to say that I am excited about the outlook of the program in next few seasons, and I as well as many other students are totally behind your efforts. My question is about the quarterback situation. The last game I watched was two weeks ago against A&M. I was wondering why Tomcheck did not see more playing time. I think he moves the offense down the field better than Dixon. What are your feelings on both quarterbacks and the roles each will serve in upcoming weeks? Thanks for your time. Sic 'Em Bears!
Eric Anton, Coppell, TX

I agree with you. I think Guy Tomcheck brings some very good things to this football team, as does Kerry Dixon. Guy had missed a couple of weeks of playing time because he was not completely healthy. Guy was really trying to fight through an injury situation, and he really didn't tell us it was as bad as it was. He could not push off in his throwing motion, and that was really causing him problems, so we were trying to get Guy well. He's well now, and we'll use both quarterbacks. I think we're gonna see the Guy Tomcheck of the South Florida game soon, now that he's healthy.