Football Accepts Bid to Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl
12/2/2018 5:51:00 PM | Football
Bears to face Vanderbilt in program’s 24th bowl game all-time.
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
During a recruiting trip to Houston last week, days before Baylor (6-6) was selected to play Vanderbilt (6-6) in the 13th annual Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl, it struck Matt Rhule what a great opportunity it would be to "go down and play in front of our family and friends."
Speculated and rumored since the Bears became bowl-eligible with a 35-24 win over Texas Tech on Nov. 24, the bid became official Sunday afternoon when Baylor accepted an invitation to play the Commodores from the SEC in the Dec. 27 game at 8 p.m. at NRG Stadium.
"It will be a tremendous opportunity for us to go into Houston and play in front of our family and friends," said Rhule, whose team has already made a five-win improvement from last year's 1-11 finish. "The older guys are excited to play one of their last games in Houston. We want to thank Academy and the Texas Bowl, and we also want to thank all of our family, friends and Baylor Nation who will travel to the game and support this team."
Baylor is making its 24th bowl appearance overall, eighth in nine years and second trip to the Texas Bowl. In 2010, when the Bears ended a 16-year bowl drought, they lost to Illinois, 38-14.
When he made his recruiting trip to Houston, Rhule said the "anticipation of Baylor coming down and spending a week in Houston was palpable" among high school coaches, recruits and "Baylor people in the high schools."
"We want to represent Baylor the right way in everything that we do," he said, "and I think that can certainly help out with recruiting."
Baylor Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades IV complimented the Baylor fan base for their "continued support of our student-athletes."
"You've showed up, cheered loud and encouraged us throughout the season. Now, they need you one more time. We'll see you in Houston, Baylor Family!"
Current Bear Foundation members and season ticket holders can request tickets now through their online ticket accounts. Tickets for the bowl will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Baylor's 110-player roster includes 87 from the state of Texas (79.1 percent), including 16 from the Greater Houston area.
"For a lot of them to go back to their hometown of Houston and play in the Texas Bowl and play their last game in a stadium that they've dreamed about being in, in a town they love," Rhule said, "it was really cool for me to see just how unbelievably excited our players are, especially our older players, about this amazing opportunity."
While Baylor had to win its last regular-season game to become bowl-eligible, Vanderbilt topped Ole Miss, 36-29, in overtime and then rolled over Tennessee, 38-13, last Saturday to pick up its fifth and sixth wins.
"This team found itself with its back against the wall, knowing that there was no margin of error. It was win or go home," said fifth-year Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason "I thought that what this football team did on the back stretch was just what this team was capable of."
The Commodores are appearing in their ninth bowl game overall and sixth in the last 10 years. They are led by quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who has thrown for 2,844 yards and 23 touchdowns' and running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, an Illinois transfer who has piled up 1,001 yards and 10 TDs on the ground.
In Mason's head coaching debut at Vanderbilt in 2014, Matt Rhule's Temple team defeated the Commodores, 37-7.
"His team is going to fight, they're resilient," Mason said of Rhule and the Bears. "They're a program that's been building. Now, he's (counting on) some guys that are juniors and seniors. And when you start to do that, those guys start to understand your culture."
Baylor's offense is led by sophomore quarterback Charlie Brewer, who has thrown for 2,635 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for six TDs; a running back rotation of John Lovett, JaMycal Hasty and Trestan Ebner; and receivers Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims.
Rhule said he hasn't ruled out Hurd for the bowl game, but senior punter Drew Galitz suffered a torn ACL in pregame warm-ups against Texas Tech and won't be available. Junior kicker Connor Martin or true freshman punter Isaac Powers will handle the punting duties for the bowl game.
"If you learn a lesson coming out of program, it's that hard work isn't punishment. If you want something in life, you earn it," Rhule said. "I'm just proud of our seniors. You can't understand everything they've been through. They did this, they earned it."
WACO, Texas – Baylor football has accepted an invitation to play in the 13th annual Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas, and will face Vanderbilt from the Southeastern Conference. The game will be played on December 27, 2018 at 8 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium. It will be broadcast by ESPN.
"On behalf of all of Baylor Football we are excited to have the chance to go play in the Texas Bowl," Baylor head coach Matt Rhule said. "It will be a tremendous opportunity for us to go into Houston and play in front of our family and friends. The older guys are excited to play one of their last games in Houston. We want to thank Academy and the Texas Bowl, and we also want to thank all of our family, friends and Baylor Nation who will travel to the game and support this team."
In his second season as Baylor's head coach, Rhule guided the Bears to a 6-6 record during the regular season, a FBS-leading increase of five victories over the previous year. It will be Baylor's 24th bowl appearance and eighth in the last nine years. The Bears have a 12-11 record all-time in bowl games.
"Baylor Family, thank you for your continued support of our student-athletes," Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades IV said. "You've showed up, cheered loud and encouraged us throughout the season. Now they need you one more time. We'll see you in Houston, Baylor Family!"
Current Bear Foundation Members and season ticket holders can request tickets now through their online ticket accounts. Tickets go on sale to the general public, Tuesday, December 4.
"We are thrilled to announce the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl Big 12 representative Baylor University, an excellent institution," remarked Board Chair June Deadrick. "The Bowl has grown into one of the largest annual events in our community and we're excited to welcome Baylor to Houston. We look forward to hosting the Bears and their passionate fan base for a festive bowl week of Texas-themed events that will culminate in a primetime showdown at NRG Stadium on December 27."
Baylor is making its second-ever appearance in the Texas Bowl after facing Illinois in 2010. The Bears have played in three other bowl games in Houston with berths in the Blue Bonnet Bowl in 1963, 1983 and 1986.
Vanderbilt is 6-6 on the year under fifth-year head coach Derek Mason. The Commodores are led by running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who has rushed for 1,001 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, and quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who has 2,844 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in 2018.
The Bears have faced Vanderbilt twice, winning a 1953 matchup in Waco 47-6, and earning a 25-19 win in Nashville in 1954.
Baylor fans interested in travel packages for Baylor's trip to Houston for the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl may sign up for information with Anthony Travel. Travel options will be sent via email from Baylor's travel partner as soon as they become available.
Baylor Bear Insider
During a recruiting trip to Houston last week, days before Baylor (6-6) was selected to play Vanderbilt (6-6) in the 13th annual Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl, it struck Matt Rhule what a great opportunity it would be to "go down and play in front of our family and friends."
Speculated and rumored since the Bears became bowl-eligible with a 35-24 win over Texas Tech on Nov. 24, the bid became official Sunday afternoon when Baylor accepted an invitation to play the Commodores from the SEC in the Dec. 27 game at 8 p.m. at NRG Stadium.
"It will be a tremendous opportunity for us to go into Houston and play in front of our family and friends," said Rhule, whose team has already made a five-win improvement from last year's 1-11 finish. "The older guys are excited to play one of their last games in Houston. We want to thank Academy and the Texas Bowl, and we also want to thank all of our family, friends and Baylor Nation who will travel to the game and support this team."
Baylor is making its 24th bowl appearance overall, eighth in nine years and second trip to the Texas Bowl. In 2010, when the Bears ended a 16-year bowl drought, they lost to Illinois, 38-14.
When he made his recruiting trip to Houston, Rhule said the "anticipation of Baylor coming down and spending a week in Houston was palpable" among high school coaches, recruits and "Baylor people in the high schools."
"We want to represent Baylor the right way in everything that we do," he said, "and I think that can certainly help out with recruiting."
Baylor Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades IV complimented the Baylor fan base for their "continued support of our student-athletes."
"You've showed up, cheered loud and encouraged us throughout the season. Now, they need you one more time. We'll see you in Houston, Baylor Family!"
Current Bear Foundation members and season ticket holders can request tickets now through their online ticket accounts. Tickets for the bowl will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Baylor's 110-player roster includes 87 from the state of Texas (79.1 percent), including 16 from the Greater Houston area.
"For a lot of them to go back to their hometown of Houston and play in the Texas Bowl and play their last game in a stadium that they've dreamed about being in, in a town they love," Rhule said, "it was really cool for me to see just how unbelievably excited our players are, especially our older players, about this amazing opportunity."
While Baylor had to win its last regular-season game to become bowl-eligible, Vanderbilt topped Ole Miss, 36-29, in overtime and then rolled over Tennessee, 38-13, last Saturday to pick up its fifth and sixth wins.
"This team found itself with its back against the wall, knowing that there was no margin of error. It was win or go home," said fifth-year Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason "I thought that what this football team did on the back stretch was just what this team was capable of."
The Commodores are appearing in their ninth bowl game overall and sixth in the last 10 years. They are led by quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who has thrown for 2,844 yards and 23 touchdowns' and running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, an Illinois transfer who has piled up 1,001 yards and 10 TDs on the ground.
In Mason's head coaching debut at Vanderbilt in 2014, Matt Rhule's Temple team defeated the Commodores, 37-7.
"His team is going to fight, they're resilient," Mason said of Rhule and the Bears. "They're a program that's been building. Now, he's (counting on) some guys that are juniors and seniors. And when you start to do that, those guys start to understand your culture."
Baylor's offense is led by sophomore quarterback Charlie Brewer, who has thrown for 2,635 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for six TDs; a running back rotation of John Lovett, JaMycal Hasty and Trestan Ebner; and receivers Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims.
Rhule said he hasn't ruled out Hurd for the bowl game, but senior punter Drew Galitz suffered a torn ACL in pregame warm-ups against Texas Tech and won't be available. Junior kicker Connor Martin or true freshman punter Isaac Powers will handle the punting duties for the bowl game.
"If you learn a lesson coming out of program, it's that hard work isn't punishment. If you want something in life, you earn it," Rhule said. "I'm just proud of our seniors. You can't understand everything they've been through. They did this, they earned it."
WACO, Texas – Baylor football has accepted an invitation to play in the 13th annual Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas, and will face Vanderbilt from the Southeastern Conference. The game will be played on December 27, 2018 at 8 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium. It will be broadcast by ESPN.
"On behalf of all of Baylor Football we are excited to have the chance to go play in the Texas Bowl," Baylor head coach Matt Rhule said. "It will be a tremendous opportunity for us to go into Houston and play in front of our family and friends. The older guys are excited to play one of their last games in Houston. We want to thank Academy and the Texas Bowl, and we also want to thank all of our family, friends and Baylor Nation who will travel to the game and support this team."
In his second season as Baylor's head coach, Rhule guided the Bears to a 6-6 record during the regular season, a FBS-leading increase of five victories over the previous year. It will be Baylor's 24th bowl appearance and eighth in the last nine years. The Bears have a 12-11 record all-time in bowl games.
"Baylor Family, thank you for your continued support of our student-athletes," Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades IV said. "You've showed up, cheered loud and encouraged us throughout the season. Now they need you one more time. We'll see you in Houston, Baylor Family!"
Current Bear Foundation Members and season ticket holders can request tickets now through their online ticket accounts. Tickets go on sale to the general public, Tuesday, December 4.
"We are thrilled to announce the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl Big 12 representative Baylor University, an excellent institution," remarked Board Chair June Deadrick. "The Bowl has grown into one of the largest annual events in our community and we're excited to welcome Baylor to Houston. We look forward to hosting the Bears and their passionate fan base for a festive bowl week of Texas-themed events that will culminate in a primetime showdown at NRG Stadium on December 27."
Baylor is making its second-ever appearance in the Texas Bowl after facing Illinois in 2010. The Bears have played in three other bowl games in Houston with berths in the Blue Bonnet Bowl in 1963, 1983 and 1986.
Vanderbilt is 6-6 on the year under fifth-year head coach Derek Mason. The Commodores are led by running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who has rushed for 1,001 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, and quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who has 2,844 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in 2018.
The Bears have faced Vanderbilt twice, winning a 1953 matchup in Waco 47-6, and earning a 25-19 win in Nashville in 1954.
Baylor fans interested in travel packages for Baylor's trip to Houston for the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl may sign up for information with Anthony Travel. Travel options will be sent via email from Baylor's travel partner as soon as they become available.
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