Daily Bears Report 8/31/2017

Today’s Events

• Baylor Coach’s Show, at Rudy’s BBQ, 6:00 PM, Listen
• Women's Volleyball, at Washington State, 8:00 PM, Listen

Football

Link —-> Sic ‘iberty Gameday Central

Meet the Press: #Sic’iberty, Coach Rhule met with the media Tuesday morning to discuss the Bears' season opener against Liberty.

"Well, first of all, thank you to everyone for being here, everyone who may be watching at home. I appreciate you guys getting up early and coming in and adjusting to our schedule. We're grateful for that. As we're watching the devastation on the news, everything that's happening in Houston, and southern and southeast Texas, our hearts go out to all the people in the affected areas: families, friends, anyone.”

Football Hosts Liberty in Season Opener, Baylor opens the 2017 season under head coach Matt Rhule in a national TV (Sat. 6:00 PM CT, McLane Stadium, FS2 / Fox Sports Go App) game against Liberty. Baylor enters a new era in 2017 with head coach Matt Rhule taking the helm of the program. Rhule came to Baylor from Temple, where he led the Owls to consecutive 10-win seasons and a 2016 American Athletic Conference championship with two bowl berths. Rhule spent four seasons as Temple head coach picking up 28 victories in his tenure.

College Sports: Baylor prediction: Matt Rhule era begins with easy win vs Liberty | SportsDay, Liberty at Baylor. When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Records: Liberty (0-0, 0-0 Big South) Baylor (0-0, 0-0 Big-12). First ever meeting. TV: FS2. What's on the...

College Sports: 5 things Baylor fans should know about the Liberty Flames, including their former Big 12 coach | SportsDay, The college football season is upon us, as this Saturday the Baylor Bears will open the season and kick-off the Matt Rhule era. Their first opponent...

New-look Baylor trying to strike balance between pro-style, spread offenses | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, With Baylor setting a blistering pace, spread offenses have ruled the Big 12 for the last decade.

“They were lightning fast,” Rhule said. “I don’t think we’ll be at the same tempo. I think we’ll be a team that mixes its tempos, as opposed to a team that just goes ultra all the time. I think a lot of teams that were once all-fast have kind of gone to that, kind of mixing the tempos a little bit. But that will be our philosophy.”

UTSA turns attention to Baylor - San Antonio Express-News, UTSA players fully expected to be playing football on Saturday. Now they will have to be content to watch it on television.

Roadrunners coach Frank Wilson on Wednesday said coaches and athletes likely will be tuned in to Baylor’s season-opening home game against Liberty on Saturday.

“Since we don’t have a game, I’m sure they’ll be watching attentively,” Wilson said.

And perhaps feeling a little blue over not playing themselves.

UTSA starts its season Sept. 9 against Baylor in Waco after its regularly scheduled season opener against the University of Houston in the Alamodome was postponed — at the request of UH officials — due to the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey.

UH had moved its football operations to Austin in advance of what was then Hurricane Harvey in order to prepare for the Roadrunners, fueling speculation the game would be played as scheduled.

But UH officials felt playing a game — even in San Antonio — in the wake of the massive flooding in the Greater Houston area was not wise.

Last man standing: Baylor LB Jalen Pitre poised to become player to remember, Baylor freshman linebacker Jalen Pitre won the starting job and is on fast track to becoming a program legend. It has nothing to do with football.

UA grad Solomon wins Baylor QB job - Tucson News Now, The Wildcats 4th all-time leading passer will play a graduate-season for the Bears.

After lengthy QB battle, Rhule details Solomon decision
Solomon's mobility and playing experience at the University of Arizona were some of the deciding factors for him earning the starting nod as a graduate transfer.

Breaking down Baylor vs. Liberty - Houston Chronicle, The Bears jumped out to a 6-0 start under interim coach Jim Grobe in 2016 before the wheels feel off after a 35-34 loss to Texas, with the Bears posting only one more win in their final seven games. But that lone victory was over Boise State in the Cactus Bowl, giving the Bears positive momentum heading into the Rhule era.

Big XII Football

Young Blood: Transfusion brings 3 new coaches, each facing unique challenges | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley wants to keep fueling a college football giant, Texas’ Tom Herman wants to wake up a sleeping giant, and Baylor’s Matt Rhule wants to make giant steps.

USA Today predicts seven Big 12 teams will make bowl games, USA Today predicts seven Big 12 teams will see postseason action this in 2017, with one set for a College Football Playoff appearance.

Just in Time College Football Preview - Fort Worth Weekly, Praise Touchdown Jesus, college football is back. The rivalries between schools, friends, and families are blossoming in the boiling heat of August as many

Last-place Kansas boasts at least 1 winner in Armstrong | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, Kansas has been the Big 12 doormat for nearly a decade, but the emergence of junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong gives the Jayhawks hope that changes are coming.

Iowa State's Lanning going from passing to popping | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, Picture New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick asking quarterback Tom Brady to move into middle linebacker David Harris’ spot.

West Virginia, Holgorsen cast wide net in attracting players | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, About five years ago, Dana Holgorsen realized he had to swallow his pride.

Rudolph to Washington: OSU offensive duo cooking up TDs with regularity | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, When the Oklahoma State players gather for the occasional backyard barbecue, they tend to follow a certain hierarchy.

K-State's Snyder tackling cancer with trademark toughness | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, The news sent shockwaves through the Kansas State locker room, if not the entire Big 12. In February, Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder announced that he had been diagnosed

Yap all you want, but TCU’s Kenny Hill maintaining his swagger | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, Gary Patterson barks. He knows that, and won’t apologize for it. That’s who he is.

Herman aiming to reverse Texas Longhorns’ losing culture | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, When Tom Herman met his players for the first time last November, he asked how many had played on a winning team at Texas.

Texas Tech players know they have to earn right to wear logo | Baylor Bears Football | wacotrib.com, It’s kind of hard to spell Texas Tech without a pair of Ts, an idea that has become crystal clear to the Red Raider players.

Oklahoma ranked fourth 'most relevant' program by Bleacher Report, In a complex calculation from Bleacher Report, the Oklahoma Sooners rank fourth on the "most relevant" scale.

Golden: The return of the Big 12 title game is as much about money as it...
The Big 12 has brought back its conference title game to become a bigger player in national circles.

Volleyball

Baylor volleyball ventures to Pacific Northwest | Baylor Volleyball | wacotrib.com
Baylor volleyball will hit the road for the first time this season when it takes on Washington State on Thursday at the Cougar Classic in Pullman, Wash.

Preview: VB Treks To Washington For Cougar Challenge, The Baylor volleyball team will hit the road for the first time this season as it travels to Pullman, Wash. to face Washington State, Quinnipiac and College of Charleston at the Cougar Challenge Tournament at Bohler Gym.

Freiberg Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, Baylor volleyball senior Camryn Freiberg has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the conference office Monday afternoon.

Soccer

Baylor Soccer Adjusts Start Time on Sundays Ball State Match, Baylor soccer’s match with the Ball State Cardinals, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 3 at noon, will now kick off at 11:30 a.m. at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field, announced Wednesday afternoon by the respective head coaches.

World University Games

Wallace Wins World University Games Gold, Baylor women’s basketball senior Kristy Wallace earned her first international gold medal with the Emerging Opals with an 85-78 victory over Japan in the 2017 World University Games early Monday morning inside Taipei Arena.

Athletics

Back Home: Boyd Overseeing Health & Wellness, Boyd has been in Waco for less than two months, serving in his new role as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Health and Wellness.

Legends

After years abroad, Royce O'Neale ready to make Utah his new basketball home | Deseret News, Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale is only 24, but he's already done more traveling than most do in a lifetime. He's ready to make Salt Lake City his permanent basketball home.

Hurricane Harvey

Baylor will collect donated items for Hurricane Harvey relief | KCENTV.com, Baylor University’s annual Traditions Rally on Friday will serve as an opportunity to collect donation items for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts happening around Texas.

The free event, which is open to the public, will celebrate the Bears' upcoming football season under new head football coach Matt Rhule.

Coach Matt Rhule: “We're excited to play Saturday night, but we're also playing with heavy hearts as we see so many of our players on our team with their families affected. Kids on our team have water in their houses and their families have had to move. My own family, coaches on our staff's families and friends, kids that we're recruiting, their coaches, it hits close to home as I know it does with so many of you guys. Our university, our team, our athletic department has tried to step up in any way that we can. As we go out Friday night, we're happy to have a chance to host Sam Houston and Richmond here on Friday night at McLane at 6 pm with free admission. I know our team will be there for just a little bit, and I'm hoping that our community comes out and supports those teams, both Sam Houston and Richmond, . . .”

Famous OBF Quote: “Where else can you donate storm disaster relief, get food trucks, fireworks, a Traditions Pep Rally and a free admission top 25 FCS matchup all in the same location on the same night?”

SHSU exhausts all options in rescheduling game against Richmond | Sam Houston State University Bearkats | itemonline.com, The third-ranked Bearkats understand as well as any team the significance the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoff Selection Committee places on strength of schedule. Bearkats determined to keep top-10 matchup against Richmond on their schedule.

Spiders refocus on, and feel for, Sam Houston State players | Sports | richmond.com, As would be assumed, Sam Houston State’s football roster is dominated by players from Texas, a nationally known brand for quality high-school competition. Many Bearkats reside in areas, such as . . .

Baylor and SMU Football Open Doors to Families Affected by Harvey, Baylor University and Southern Methodist University have both offered free tickets for their season openers to fellow Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey.

"Fixer Upper" stars make Waco feel like home for Rice volleyball team, Chip and Joanna Gaines are making it feel a little more like home for a collegiate volleyball team stuck in Waco due to Hurricane Harvey.