Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, FL

Baylor entered the season with high hopes of a National Championship, but things did not go as planned. After starting strong our first two QB's were injured and unable to finish the season. Ultimately we missed out on the National Title as well as a third straight Big XII title. The Bears still fought hard and were rewarded with an invitation to the Russel Athletic Bowl in Orlando, FL. Going into the game we were not picked to win because of our quarterback situation, plus our top receiver and running back were injured. Still I did not want to miss the action so Stacy for Christmas let me go to the game while she graciously watched the kids and managed the house. So I flew out on Dec. 28th and joined up with other letterman in Orlando for some dinner before heading to the hotel. Then on the 29th I got to watch the bands play and prepare for the game before I headed to the game around 3:00pm. I wanted to get there in plenty of time to experience everything there was to offer. Despite not being picked to win and the obstacles the Bears had to overcome the Bears prevailed and it was an amazing experience. The cherry on top was being able to go down on the sideline before the game, half-time, and for the trophy presentation thanks to a gift by my mother-in- law.   

 Even without All-Big 12 running back Shock Linwood, the 17th-ranked Bears set a record for any bowl game, anywhere, ever, with 645 yards rushing, and rode that success to a 49-38 win over No. 10 North Carolina Tuesday night in the Russell Athletic Bowl. With the team’s top running back, the nation’s best wide receiver, and the team’s top two quarterbacks all out with injuries, head coach Art Briles took advantage of the three weeks leading up to the bowl to draw up a completely new offense. And so it was that the Bears relied almost exclusively on their offensive line and running backs, led by sophomore Johnny Jefferson — the Bears’ No. 3 back most of the season — who rushed for a school-record 299 yards and three touchdowns. The win improves Baylor to 10-3 on the season — the Bears’ fourth 10-win season in five years after accomplishing the feat just once before Briles’ arrival. And so a roller-coaster of a season that saw the Bears start out 8-0 and reach as high as No. 2 in the country before injuries starting piling up ends on a high note.