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GLORIOUS NEWS:
#TheCase is full. No more tix sales in South Endzone, final 1,500 tix being held for students (who have picked up 8,200 in 3 days). #SicOU
— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) November 5, 2013
The end of the Tarp Era signals the completion of the rise of Baylor football ($) from the grave of irrelevancy, or something, though the true test of that starts this Thursday, when the Bears play Oklahoma in front of a sold-out crowd. There is no one better to lead Baylor in high-energy conditions than the calm and collected Bryce Petty, who in this first season has shown himself to be a worthy successor to both RGIII and Nick Florence. Petty, a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, leads the nation in passing efficiency and yards per completion.
After decades of being underdogs to the perpetually high-ranked Sooners, the Bears find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having to defend their higher ranking. The Thursday game kicks off a week of potential BCS turmoil with five of the top 10 teams playing for the top two spots in the poll. Baylor and Oregon could each make their case for having the top offense in the country (Insider). Baylor's speed isn't limited to just offense, though, as speedy linebackers Bryce Hager and Eddie Lackey have 110 tackles combined and are an integral part to an ever-improving Baylor defense.
The Lady Bears will host Oklahoma City in their final exhibition game tonight at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center, before starting the first regular season in at least four years where they won't be the clear favorite to win the Big 12.
#IsitThursdayYet? No, but we're closer!
— OurDailyBears (@OurDailyBears) November 5, 2013