Aug. 24, 2005

The Baylor football team, minus 17 players who missed the practice with strep throat infections, practiced for two hours in the Central Texas heat Wednesday afternoon on the grass practice fields at Floyd Casey Stadium.

"Step throat got us," said Baylor coach Guy Morriss following his team's workout in half-pads. "We had a few who had it, but it didn't really manifest itself to the full extent until last night and today. We send them home when we get something contagious like that because we don't want them around the rest of the healthy ones.

"It takes about 48 hours to run its course, so we'll probably have a few more missing tomorrow, too," he added. "But, better this week than next. It's just something you have to deal with."

Among the players who missed the workout due to strep throat were four projected starters and seven others who were running No. 2 at their respective positions.

"We are just going to coach whoever shows up," Morriss cracked after practice. "If you are not here, you don't get coached. I can't worry about all that."

Baylor will return to practice Thursday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. on the grass practice fields.

All workouts are open to the public and the media. Baylor opens its 2005 season Sept. 3 at SMU.

Notes: True freshman wide receiver David Gettis continues to wait on a decision on his eligibility status from the NCAA Clearinghouse, Morriss said ... Senior wide receivers Ryan Jeffrey (broken left hand) and J Fields (hamstring) missed Wednesday's workout as did freshman linebacker Justin Osinde (knee), senior offensive tackle Hunter Herring (knee) and junior offensive tackle Travis Farst (kneecap) ... Both season and single-game tickets for Baylor's five-game home schedule are on sale through the school's Athletic Ticket Office (1-800-BAYLOR-U).