Nov. 16, 2008
Art Briles and the Baylor football team will have a bye week before closing out the 2008 season against in-state conference rival Texas Tech Saturday, Nov. 29 in Lubbock.
Here are head coach Art Briles' thoughts on Baylor's 41-21 win against Texas A&M University:
On the impact of the win...
"It helps, anytime you got more points then they do at the end of the day on the scoreboard, it's a good feeling because wins are tough to come by... Until you cross a bridge, you are never really sure if you can. And so we crossed a big one yesterday for a variety of reasons: a Big 12 south opponent at a notable university and just winning a tough game, because we have been on the other side of some of these tough ones. From that point it will create momentum for us that we need to build off of."
On the rivalry aspect of playing Texas A&M...
"As a football program, we are happy for Baylor and the people that love Baylor. As a staff for our football team we are proud of our players and what they were able to accomplish yesterday through their resiliency, belief and preparation. From that point it was a very heart-warming victory... It's a great win for Baylor and I was happy for them (the fans) because they have fought with us... That was a game were we needed to celebrate the victory and we needed to enjoy it with our fans and our student body... When you fight together, you celebrate together."
On the players being fired up to play this game...
"We had a good week of practice, a lot of energy. You could just start getting a feeling about Thursday where something special was about to happen... We were very focused, very calm, and very confident in our workout Friday on both sides of the ball. So we felt really good about our preparation going in and our execution."
On making the two field goals early...
"I thought it was huge because I think if we hadn't of made those, I think the negative results would have been pretty damaging... I think it boosted our confidence. I think we were building momentum. As long as you are moving down the field and scoring...we felt like there would be more opportunities.... It was very well executed across the board by the field goal unit."
On having a bye week so late in the year...
"The thing I like about it as a football coach is it gives us another week of working out and preparing and hanging out with our guys. That is the good thing about it because now we get to play nearly all the way up to the end of the semester to me that is a benefit. The longer you get to workout and practice and go through a regimented activity, the more carry over you will have. I look at it as a plus, honestly."
On the opening of the Highers Athletic Complex...
"[The facility will] directly involve us or associate us with Baylor University as a football program... We are no longer isolated, we are a part of Baylor University, we are on campus. Now it is just going to be much more practical for our players and coaches. I think it will help our communication avenues with the faculty and the student body, so that part really excites. Secondly I believe the structure itself is second to none. People that said let's do it, decided to do it right and that is how you should do it. From an image standpoint of being a football program that is serious about being a football program, it's unparalleled in Baylor history. It says: we are a Big 12 football program and we are serious about being in the Big 12 and being a player in the Big 12....From the recruiting advantages it brings to the table it puts us on a level playing field. That is critical, that is huge. It is a necessary part of today's recruiting world.... It changes the whole way people view Baylor."
