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11.14.2013 Daily Bears Report: Briles Extension, Stadium Update, and More

Contrary to what you probably believe, there's not that much news out there this morning related to Baylor Football. Sure, there's the ONE MEGAHUGE THING, but other than that...

By Aqua
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

We'll start with this.  Yesterday, Baylor officials welcome local media members to the site of the new Baylor Stadium for a tour of the facilities as they stand today.  The construction is reportedly 46% done as of this moment, with 90% of the concrete needed having been poured.  I assume that doesn't include parking lots and speaks only to the stadium itself.  The field will take 3 months to put in once the stadium bowl is finished.

Of course, the big news from yesterday heading into today was the extension announced between Art Briles and Baylor.  The details are still somewhat fuzzy, as they are likely to be for some time, but I think it's safe to say that Briles received a big pay increase into the $4+ million per year range, his assistants will also receive raises, and the buyout on his contract will go up considerably.  The last part is what most people are talking about, since it represents the biggest obstacle to anyone looking to sign him away.  I can't say exactly how much it is because I don't know.  But I can say that the $5 million number bandied about is completely false and would represent a decrease in the buyout from his old deal to the new.  Baylor wouldn't do that because it doesn't make sense.

Before I get to the news and tweets, I wanted to say a few things about what I think this means for Baylor.  I started to last night, couldn't get it together like I wanted, and then just threw down a short comment.  I'll expound a bit here.

What this means is commitment, and not just between the coach and school we love.  It means a commitment from our school to its fanbase that we have seen the dark times of the past, learned the lessons of program neglect, and won't allow that to happen again.  Having been so close to relegation in Realignment, we know now what we should have learned two decades ago: you earn what you get in CFB and we have to be better than we've been.  It means Baylor has tasted this year what it feels like to be successful, to be one of the elite programs in the country, and doesn't want to let that go.  We found a coach that can bring us to the mountaintop, so we plan to keep him.  It sends a message to the rest of the country that Baylor doesn't have to fit into the box you've got planned for us.  That although there are things about our situation that we can't really change -- we are a small private school that will never have the alumni base of a UT or an A&M, for example -- we can dictate what happens on the field.  I said it on twitter last night and I'll say it again -- as much as I love this move for football reasons, I love it even more for the signal it sends to Baylor's fans: We're not going anywhere.  To everyone else: We're not going anywhere. Old Baylor is dead. Long live New Baylor.

Also, because of the Briles news last night, people probably missed all of the content that went up yesterday on ODB.  That's a shame.  Here's a short list:
-- Texas Tech Stats Preview
-- Baseball Early Signing Period Update (Miles)
-- Injury Report on Lache and Glasco
-- Film Study on Baylor vs. South Carolina in MBB (Ted)
-- OU Tailgate Report (Colby)
-- Weekly Big 12 Stats

Didn't want those things to get lost in the shuffle.

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS:

Like I said, not all that much out there today, but I'll update the thread as things come up.

Baylor extends football coach Art Briles’ contract 2023; pay raise to make him one of country’s 10-highest paid coaches, source says | Dallas Morning News
Art Briles improbably built Baylor into a BCS contender and played a major role in the school’s new football stadium, which is taking shape alongside the Brazos River.

Baylor gives Briles 10-year extension - WacoTrib.com: Baylor Bears Football
With Baylor University in the midst of a historic football season, head coach Art Briles was given a 10-year contract extension.

Baylor Bears, Art Briles agree on new 10-year deal - ESPN
Baylor football coach Art Briles has agreed to a new 10-year contract with the Bears, the team he has taken from perennial Big 12 loser to the conference's lone remaining undefeated team.

Art Briles signs contract extension with Baylor through 2023 - SBNation.com
Baylor's doing what it can to keep its star of a head coach off the market.

BU officials looking to blend old, new at Baylor Stadium - WacoTrib.com: The Bear Blog
With each passing day, it becomes easier to see passes being thrown in Baylor Stadium.

What we know right now on the Jameis Winston TMZ Story - Tomahawk Nation
Here's what we know right now on the Jameis Winston/TMZ story.

Gosselin: How Baylor went from 119th in defense in 2012 to 9th this season | Dallas Morning News
Phil Bennett can coach defense. He never doubted himself.

AT&T Stadium's New Bag Policy in Effect Saturday - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site - BaylorBears.com
Fans attending the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout between Baylor and Texas Tech on Saturday, November 16 at AT&T Stadium are reminded that the stadium's new bag policy will be in effect.

Big 12 Week 12 picks, topped by Baylor Bears-Texas Tech Red Raiders - ESPN
How close I was last weekend. Close to perfection.

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