March 23, 2004
WACO, Texas - Year two of the Guy Morriss era at Baylor began today as he put the Bears through a two-hour and 20-minute practice in helmets and shorts on the Floyd Casey Stadium grass practice fields. It was the first of 15 spring workouts BU is allowed under NCAA rules this spring.
"It was a good workout," Morriss said. "We are a lot further along than we were at this time last year obviously, and I thought the enthusiasm and tempo were good. We moved through the schedule really well, and I think the key is we challenged the kids today that for the next four weeks they've got to get off their feet in between practices and rest.
"Then, we can come back each day over the next four weeks and practice with the same type of tempo and enthusiasm we had today," he added. "That will be helpful if they can do that. We've also challenged them to come back now on Thursday, give us a great effort and focus on the details of their schemes. We know the big stuff, now it's a matter of executing the small things and that will make us a better football team if we can do that."
Morriss and his staff are hoping that the Bears' No. 1 signal caller for next fall will emerge from a group of players that includes sophomore Shawn Bell (China Spring, Texas), who entered spring ball as BU's top quarterback; senior and two-year starter Aaron Karas (Spring, Texas); redshirt freshman Terrance Parks (Lufkin, Texas) and heralded junior college transfer Dane King (Gonzales, Texas). Karas, Parks and King are ranked two through four behind Bell on the depth chart entering spring ball.
"I thought Dane (King) was impressive," Morriss said. "But, I think he was pressing a little bit. He was really trying hard to impress the coaches. Once he settles down and gets into a rhythm, there is no doubt that he's going to be a great quarterback.
"He's got a good arm, really good feet, and it seems like he's picked up the system really well in a short time," Morriss remarked. "It is just a matter of him getting in there and competing for the starting job."
The Bears will return to work this Thursday at 2:30 p.m. with another helmets and shorts practice before donning pads for Saturday's workout. Remaining Baylor spring practices are scheduled for March 25 (2:30 p.m.), 27 (9 a.m.), 30 (2:30 p.m.), April 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 with the annual Green-Gold Spring Game set for April 17 at Floyd Casey Stadium. All practices are open to the public.
BU returns 44 lettermen, including 16 starters, from last year's team which finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12 Conference.
