Football Preview: Oklahoma at Baylor

Nov. 11, 2002

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BAYLOR (3-7, 1-5) vs. No. 4 OKLAHOMA (8-1, 4-1)
Floyd Casey Stadium (50,000)
Waco, Texas
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 * 1:00 p.m. CST

Baylor concludes its home schedule by hosting No. 4 Oklahoma Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff at Floyd Casey Stadium is set for 1 p.m. CST.

The Bears (3-7, 1-5) have dropped five straight, most recently a 41-0 setback at Texas last week. Oklahoma (8-1, 4-1) suffered its only loss of the season Saturday, a 30-26 decision at Texas A&M.

SENIORS HONORED
Saturday marks the final home game for 23 Bear seniors. The seniors will be honored at Floyd Casey Stadium in a pregame ceremony with their families. Baylor's senior class includes: Daniel Andino, Matt Bickel, Kelvin Chaisson, Greg Cicero, A.C. Collier, Randy Davis, Chris DeLeenheer, Bobby Darnell, Jason Haddock, Charles Hall, Ray Harrington, T.J. Helmcamp, Travis Hicks, Ethan Kelley, Charles Mann, Antoine Murphy, Reggie Newhouse, Derrick Pearcy, Jarod Quinn, Chedrick Ricks, Kevin Stevenson, Greg Wade and James Whiteland.

BU FACES CONSECUTIVE TOP 5
For the second-straight year, Baylor will play back-to-back games against teams ranked in the AP top five.

Last week, the Bears faced then-No. 4 ranked Texas. This week, Baylor hosts current No. 4 Oklahoma. A year ago, Baylor played No. 4 Nebraska and No. 2 Oklahoma in consecutive weeks.

Prior to last season, the last time Baylor played consecutive top-five foes was in 1959, when the Bears lost to third-ranked Texas (13-12) and fourth-ranked Southern Cal (17-8).

SERIES
Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 11-0, since winning its first meeting against Baylor in Waco in 1901, 17-6.

Nine of the 10 series meetings have occured since 1973. Oklahoma won last year's meeting in Norman, 33-17.

COACHES
Kevin Steele (Tennessee, 1981) is 9-34 in his fourth season at Baylor. He is 0-3 against Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (Iowa, 1983) owns a 39-8 career record in four seasons, all at OU.

STEELE TO CONCLUDE TENURE AT SEASON'S END
Baylor athletic director Tom Stanton announced Nov. 3 that fourth-year head football coach Kevin Steele had been relieved of his duties and had agreed to finish the 2002 season.

Steele was hired at Baylor in December 1998 and has posted a 9-34 record, including a 3-7 mark this season. In accordance with its policy, Baylor, a private institution, did not release contract information.

NEWHOUSE REWRITING RECORD BOOK
Senior WR Reggie Newhouse became Baylor's all-time receptions leader with his seven-catch performance at Texas Tech Nov. 2. Newhouse has 170 career receptions and has surpassed Gerald McNeil's mark of 163 set in 1983.

Newhouse has recorded 100 yards receiving in five of the Bears' 10 games and is among the top four all-time in the Big 12's receptions and receiving yardage lists.

Newhouse owns a consecutive-games streak with at least one catch in 32 contests. He is currently second at Baylor in career receiving yards (2,355) and fourth in TD receptions (14). He needs 296 receiving yards and six touchdowns to become Baylor's career leaders in those categories.

All-time among Big 12 players, the Dallas-native is fourth in both receptions and receiving yardage. He is just the second player in Baylor history, and one of only eight in Big 12 history, to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark for a career.

On the season, he is currently fourth in the Big 12 in receptions per game (6.2, 20th nationally) and second in receiving yardage per game (94.3, 18th nationally).

Big 12 Career ReceivingRank    Rec.    Player/School/Big 12 Tenure1.  191 Justin Gage, MU, 1999-022.  181 Rashaun Woods, OSU, 2000-023.  174 Kwame Cavil, UT, 1997-994.  170 Reggie Newhouse, BU, 1999-025.  165 Ricky Williams, TT, 1997-01
Big 12 Career Receiving YardsRank    Yards   Player/School/Big 12 Tenure1.  2,525   Justin Gage, MU, 1999-022.  2,389   Aaron Lockett, KSU, 1998-013.  2,375   Roy Williams, UT, 2000-024.  2,355   Reggie Newhouse, BU, 1999-025.  2,352   Rashaun Woods, OSU, 2000-02

RECORDS & MILESTONES WATCH
* Reggie Newhouse's 62 catches ranks second on Baylor's single-season list, eight behind the school record (70 - Lawrence Elkins 1963).

* Reggie Newhouse's 943 receiving yards is the second-highest single-season total in school history, it stands 91 shy of the school record (1,034 - Gerald McNeil 1983).

* Aaron Karas' .589 completion percentage (123-of-209) is on target to be the highest such single-season percentage in school history, surpassing the Baylor record of .576 set by Adrian Burk in 1949.

* Reggie Newhouse is fourth on Baylor's career receiving TDs list (14), three shy of moving into third (17 - Gerald McNeil 1980-83).

* Reggie Newhouse's 2,355 career receiving yards are 296 shy of moving into first place on Baylor's career yards list (2,651 - Gerald McNeil 1980-83).

* Aaron Karas owns a career completion percentage of .607 (159-of-262), which tops Baylor's career chart (ahead of second place Don Trull .557).

* With three more catches, Robert Quiroga (37 rec.) will team with Reggie Newhouse to become Baylor's first duo in 19 years to record 40-plus receptions in a season (62 Gerald McNeil & 42 Bruce Davis, 1983).

* Aaron Karas currently ranks second on the school's career yards-per-attempt listing with a 7.679 mark, trailing only J.J. Joe's 9.015 set from 1990 to 1993.

* Randy Davis has 604 kickoff return yards, currently second on the school's single-season list, 65 yards shy of the Baylor record (669 - Gordon Utgard, 1969).

* Randy Davis' 32 kickoff returns is five shy of the school's single-season record (37 - Gordon Utgard 1969).

* Randy Davis is third on Baylor's career kickoff returns list at 60, three shy of second place (63 - Kalief Muhammad) and six shy of first (66 - Martin Dossett).

* Randy Davis ranks third on the school's career kickoff return yards listing (1,205) and lacks 127 yards to reach second (1,332 - Martin Dossett 1997-2000).

* Derrick Cash is No. 5 on Baylor's career interception return yardage list with 189 yards, 5 yards shy of fourth place (194 - Thomas Everett) and 28 yards out of third (217 - Del Shofner).

* Bobby Hart is sixth on Baylor's career punt return chart with 50 returns and needs 12 more returns to move into fourth (62 - Bobby Jack Goforth 1987-88).

* Bobby Hart is seventh on the school's career punt return yards listing and lacks 63 yards to move up to sixth (561 - Bobby Jack Goforth 1987-88).

KARAS THE MOST ACCURATE BEAR IN HISTORY
Aaron Karas has proven himself as arguably the most accurate passer in Baylor history. Karas is completing passes at a 58.9 percent rate (123-of-209), which ranks first on the school's single-season listing. He also owns a career completion percentage of 60.7, which tops Baylor's career percentage list.

The sophomore, who has started nine games in his young career, has compiled five 200-yard passing games this season and six in his career.

QUIROGA GIVES BEARS ANOTHER TARGET
WR Robert Quiroga has solidified his position as the team's secondary receiver target, after All-Big 12 senior Reggie Newhouse. Quiroga, a junior from San Antonio, caught a career-best eight passes against nationally-ranked foes Colorado and Kansas State.

Quiroga is currently second on the team with 37 receptions for 401 yards and a touchdown.

KELLEY LEADS BAYLOR DEFENSE
Senior DT Ethan Kelley, who began his Baylor career as a starter on the offensive line, currently leads the Bear defense with 64 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hurries.

Kelley's tackle totals have increased in recent games. Since averaging 4.8 tackles in the Bears' first five contests, Kelley has made 7.4 tackles a game in Baylor's last five outings. He had a season-high 11 stops against Texas A&M and followed with consecutive eight-tackle performances versus Colorado and Kansas State.

BEAR TIDBITS
? When facing third down and six-yards-or-less, Baylor is converting 51 percent of the time (27-of-53). When having to go seven-yards-or-more, the Bears have only been successful 22 percent of time (21-of-94). Overall, Baylor is converting 33 percent of the third down conversions (48-of-147).

? Two Bears - Reggie Newhouse and Robert Quiroga - have caught at least one pass in each game this season.

? Eight different receivers have caught Baylor's nine touchdown passes this season.

? K Daniel Andino is 2-of-2 in his career on game-winning field goal opportunities. Andino's 33-yard field goal with :01 left against Kansas gave Baylor a 35-32 win, just as his 29-yarder in 2001 gave the Bears a 16-13 overtime win over New Mexico. Earlier in the KU game he connected on a career-long 46-yarder.

TURNOVERS FRUSTRATE BEARS
How does a team that stands 85th nationally in total defense rank 109th in scoring defense? One word: turnovers.

Baylor ranks next-to-last in the nation with a minus-17 turnover margin (16 takeaways, 33 giveaways). Those mistakes have turned into opponent points, in some cases instantaneously. Opponents are averaging 12.2 points off turnovers, while the Bears are scoring just 1.6 points a game off takeaways.

Bear quarterbacks have thrown 16 interceptions in Baylor's last 26 quarters.

BU LEADS BIG 12 IN GRADUATION RATES
According to the latest NCAA graduation rates, Baylor's football team has posted a 76 percent success rate in this category, the best figure in the Big 12 and far above the NCAA division I average (52 percent).

Texas Tech was second among Big 12 football programs with a 73 percent graduation rate, followed by Nebraska (67), Texas A&M (59), Iowa State (50), Missouri (50), Texas (50), Oklahoma State (48), Kansas State (44), Kansas (43), Colorado (38) and Oklahoma (6).

BEARS FACE TOUGH SCHEDULE
Half of Baylor's 12 2002 opponents (Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech) participated in bowl games last season.

Baylor's 2002 opponents went a combined 73-67 (.521) in 2001 and are 67-52 (.563) this season. Four of the Bears' 12 opponents are currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

BEAR CAPTAINS
Four seniors, DT Ethan Kelley, DE Charles Mann, WR Reggie Newhouse and DT Kevin Stevenson, were selected by their teammates as captains for the 2002 season.

GARRETT OUT FOR SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY
Junior LB John Garrett, one of 11 Big 12 players on the 67-man, preseason Butkus Award 'watch list,' is out for the season after injuring his knee (ACL) in Baylor's win over Kansas Oct. 5.

Garrett had accumulated 33 tackles and five tackles for loss before his season was cut short. One series before his injury, Garrett had set up a Bear field goal with his first career interception.

Garrett was named honorable mention All-Big 12 last year after finishing third on the team in tackles with 89. He has started 20 of his first 25 games as a Bear.

FAMILY TIES
A number of Bears have noteworthy family connections:
- WR Reggie Newhouse is the son of former Dallas Cowboy RB Robert Newhouse.

- The father of FB Jonathan Evans, Dr. Tony Evans, is the host of a nationally syndicated daily radio program which can be heard on 250 stations in the U.S. and in 40 countries. He is founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national organization seeking spiritual renewal in urban America through the church. He also serves as chaplain for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

- WR John Martin is the son of Dave Martin, current associate AD at Oklahoma State and one-time interim commissioner of the Big 12.

- QB Josh Zachry is the son of Pat Zachry, a 10-year major league pitcher who as a member of the 1976 World Champion Cincinnati Reds won the National League's Rookie of the Year award.

- CB Michael Boyd is the cousin of former Baylor standout Thomas Everett, a two-time All-SWC performer and winner of the inaugural Thorpe Award in 1986.

- DL Lorenzo Davis is the cousin of 14-year NBA veteran Derrick McKey.

- LB Jamaal Harper is a cousin of Kenyon Martin, who plays for the NBA's New Jersey Nets.

- Freshman TE Iris Williams has a pair of notable family members. Uncle Elvis Patterson won a pair of Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, while cousin and former Baylor standout Fred Miller is a starting offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans.

- Freshman WR Trent Shelton is the nephew of San Francisco 49er receivers coach George Stewart.

BAYLOR INJURY UPDATE
Here's an updated list at Baylor's injuries heading into the Oklahoma game:

Player, Pos.        Injury  StatusAnthony Arline, DB  Knee (l)    Out for seasonJohn Garrett, LB  Knee (l)    Out for seasonMichael Gary, DB    Knee (r)    Out for seasonT.J. Helmcamp, OL    Hand (r)    Out for seasonRyan Jeffrey, WR  Shoulder (r)    Out for seasonDerek Long, OL      Shoulder (l)    QuestionableKhari Long, DL      Head        ProbableJosh Zachry, QB        Concussion  Out for season

SINGLETARY UP FOR 10 GREATEST COLLEGIANS
CBS Sports will televise a one-hour special this fall on 'College Football's Ten Greatest Players.' Baylor great Mike Singletary is one of approximately 200 candidates that will be voted on by coaches, media, former Heisman Trophy winners, members of the College Football Hall of Fame and Division I athletic directors. Additionally, fans can vote for their favorite players at cbs.sportsline.com. The program will air Nov. 29, at 1:30 p.m., ET.

OVER THE AIR
Bear football games can be heard live on the Baylor Radio Network. The network includes 18 affiliates across Texas, including flagship stations KRZI-AM (1660/1580) and KLRK-FM (92.9) in Waco. All Baylor games are broadcast by the "Voice of the Bears" John Morris, a veteran broadcaster in his eighth season. Former Baylor football standouts Walter Abercrombie and Ricky Thompson are in their third season providing analysis.

BAYLOR GAMES ON THE INTERNET
The radio call from all of Baylor's games can be heard live on the internet on Baylor's official online website, www.BaylorBears.com, or at www.yahoo.broadcast.com.

BAYLORBEARS.COM
Baylor's official athletic web site can be found at www.BaylorBears.com. The comprehensive site, which includes releases, photos, biographical sketches and audio broadcasts, is part of the Official College Sports Network. OCSN currently hosts sites for more than 100 universities, including eight Big 12 schools.

INSIDE BAYLOR SPORTS TV SHOW
Inside Baylor Sports, a half-hour look at the world of Baylor athletics, will air weekly throughout Central Texas and other outlets. The program, co-hosted by John Morris and Lori Scott-Fogleman, airs on KCEN-TV Channel 6, Fox Sports Southwest and the College Channel (Waco cable 18).

BEARS CLOSE IN ON WIN NO. 500
Baylor needs two more wins to join the 500-win club all-time. The Bears are 498-472-44 since beginning football play in 1899. Entering the 2002 season, 50 schools had reached the 500-win plateau.

NEXT UP...
Baylor concludes its 2002 season by traveling to Stillwater, Okla., for a Nov. 23 contest against Oklahoma State. Kickoff time at Lewis Field has yet to be announced.

Football Preview: Oklahoma at Baylor

Players Mentioned

Jamaal Harper

Trent Shelton

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Football Preview: Oklahoma at Baylor

Players Mentioned

Jamaal Harper

Trent Shelton

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