Heating Up

FOOTBALL

COACH: Art Briles (second year at BU, 4-8; and seventh overall, 38-36)

LAST YEAR: 4-8 (2-6, fifth in Big 12 South)

OUTLOOK: With freshman All-America quarterback Robert Griffin heading a potentially explosive offense and all-Big 12 linebacker Joe Pawelek leading the defense, the Bears believe they have a great shot at making a bowl game for the first time since 1994. Baylor finished 4-8 last season, but came within a touchdown or less of winning three more games. However, road games at Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas A&M will be tough.

TOP RETURNEES: Robert Griffin, so., quarterback; Jay Finley, jr., running back; Kendall Wright, so., receiver; J. D. Walton, sr., center; David Gettis, sr., receiver; Joe Pawelek, sr., linebacker; Jordan Lake, sr., safety; Trey Bryant, sr., noseguard; Antonio Jones, sr., linebacker; Antonio Johnson, jr., linebacker; Derek Epperson, jr., punter.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Phil Taylor, jr., defensive tackle; Danny Watkins, jr., offensive tackle; Byron Lander, jr., safety; Darius Jones, fr., receiver; Terrance Williams, fr., receiver; Terrance Ganaway, so., running back.

STRENGTHS: Griffin is one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the country after exploding for 843 yards rushing and thirteen touchdowns and passing for 2,091 yards and fifteen scores as a freshman. He has some weapons around him with running back Finley, who rushed for 865 yards and seven scores, and receiver Wright, who caught fifty passes for 649 yards and five scores. Linebacker Pawelek is coming off a tremendous junior year in which he led the Big 12 with 10.7 tackles per game and finished second with six interceptions. Safety Lake is a big hitter who made all-Big 12 after collecting ninety-seven tackles and three interceptions. Penn State transfer Taylor should anchor the defensive line after redshirting last year.

SOCCER

COACH: Marci Jobson (second year at BU, 5-10-3; and fifth year overall, 28-35-12)

LAST YEAR: 5-10-3 (1-6-2, tenth in Big 12)

OUTLOOK: With seven seniors returning and some talented newcomers, Jobson is looking for considerable improvement in her second season. The biggest key for Baylor will be improving the scoring after averaging just 1.06 goals per game.

TOP RETURNEES: Lotto Smith, jr., forward; Christine Clark, so., forward; Lindsey Johnson, jr., midfielder; Katie White, sr., midfielder; Staz Salinas, so., defender; Megan Humke, sr., defender-midfielder; Gianna Quintana, sr., goalkeeper.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Caitlin Fennegan, fr., midfielder; Amanda Mauk, fr., forward; Andrea Mauk, fr., midfielder; Carlie Davis, fr., defender; Michelle Hagen, fr., forward; Hanna Gilmore, fr., forward; Chelsea Geller, fr., midfielder.

STRENGTHS: Led by goalkeeper Quintana, Baylor was a strong defensive team that allowed just 1.22 goals per game last season. But the Bears must get more scoring punch. Smith and Clark are the top returning scorers after collecting three goals apiece last season. Among Baylor’s eleven new players, midfielder Fennegan, forward Amanda Mauk, and midfielder Andrea Mauk will need to make an immediate impact.

VOLLEYBALL

COACH: Jim Barnes (sixth year at Baylor and fourteenth overall)

LAST YEAR: 18-13 overall and 9-11 in Big 12 play, sixth in the league

OUTLOOK: After winning four of its first five Big 12 matches, Baylor struggled the rest of the way in 2008 and missed out on reaching the NCAA tournament for the third time in school history. But the Bears were without Anna Breyfogle much of that time due to injury.

TOP RETURNEES: Anna Breyfogle, sr., middle blocker; Taylor Barnes, sr., setter; Katie Sanders, sr., outside hitter; Briana Tolbert, so., middle blocker.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Torri Campbell, fr., middle blocker; Zoe Adom, fr., outside hitter.

STRENGTHS: In Breyfogle and Barnes, Baylor has a pair of all-Big 12 and all-region performers to build around. Several sophomores received ample playing time as rookies last year, and Coach Barnes has high hopes for the six-foot-two Campbell.