The Daily Texan Double Coverage 2020-10-23 by The Daily Texan

T H E D A I LY TEXAN PRESENTS

Double Coverage VOL. 15 ISSUE 5 | OCT. 23, 2020

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

CARVE OUT TIME WITH SOME CREATURES OF THE NIGHT.

r ipe you e w s t s u J rid T ID to U d li a v . for free n Hai Sam

Pumpkin spice season is upon us, so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better month to discover all the spooky specters skulking around your favorite haunts. Jump on a bus (and out of your skin), as you explore the creepiest locales Austin has to offer.

Visit CapMetroblog.com to learn more.

GE T AN CAP METR O

E DUCAT ION A face covering is required to use CapMetro services, so please Ride with CARE (a costume mask is not a substitute for a medical or cloth mask).

DOUBLE COVERAGE

TEXAN

overall standings

STAFF PICKS

Myah Taylor

Stephen Wagner

Nathan Han

Carter Yates

Brittany Archer

Matthew Boncosky

Daniela Perez

Brett Hintz

Jack Myer

Baylor @ Texas

Texas

No. 18 Michigan @ No. 21 Minnesota

Michigan

Minnesota

Michigan

Minnesota

Michigan

No. 9 Cincinatti @ No. 16 SMU

Cincinatti

SMU

Cincinatti

SMU

Auburn @ Ole Miss

Auburn

Ole Miss

Auburn

No. 17 Iowa State @ No. 6 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

No. 23 NC State @ No. 14 North Carolina

North Carolina

NC State

North Carolina

Oklahoma @ TCU

Oklahoma

TCU

Oklahoma

West Virginia @ Texas Tech

West Virginia

Texas Tech

West Virginia

Texas Tech

Iowa @ Purdue

Iowa

Purdue

Iowa

No. 19 Virginia Tech @ Wake Forest

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Virginia Tech

Week 6 Results Overall Record

5-5 22-16

6-4 21-17

8-2 23-15

4-6 21-17

3-7 20-18

6-4 24-14

7-3 22-16

5-5 21-17

Daniela Perez

Carter Yates

T-3. Myah Taylor, T-4. Stephen Wagner, T-4. Brett Hintz T-6. Nathan Han, T-4. Brittany Archer, T-4. Jack Myer 9.

Matthew Boncosky

BUSINESS & ADVERTISING (512) 471-8590 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director Gerald Johnson Business/ Operations Manager Frank Serpas III Advertising Manager Emily Cohen Assistant Advertising Manager

Grant Daniels

Production Michael Gammon Account Executives Diane Byram, Pam Garner, Julianne Phillipp Design Tillie Policastro

THE DAILY TEXAN MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Semester (Fall/Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall & Spring) $120.00 Summer Session $40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer)

$150.00

To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904.

ADVERTISING DEADLINES

DOUBLE COVERAGE Double Coverage Editors Myah Taylor, Stephen Wagner Design Editor

Christina Peebles

Photo Editor

Jack Myer

Copy Editor

Brittany Miller

Writers Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Carter Yates

EDITOR’S NOTE Fresh off maybe the most interesting bye week in recent history, the Texas football team will try to improve to 3–2 Saturday over a Baylor team that has struggled with COVID-19 issues. The Longhorns’ desperation for a win coupled with the ongoing conversations about “The Eyes of Texas” should make for an eventful afternoon.

Myah Taylor & Stephen Wagner

Daniela Perez

Brittany Archer

Brett Hintz

Issue Designers Minka Atkinson Associate Managing Editors Trinady Joslin, Jason Lihuang

Isabella Waltz

RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE of RECYCLE your your copy copyof of

Ad space is reserved by noon at least two business days before regular publications. For special editions and other advertising opportunities please speak with a TSM account executive for deadlines and additional details. The Fall 2020 publication schedule is Tuesday and Friday. Contact advertise@texasstudentmedia.com.

COPYRIGHT Copyright 2020 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission. The Daily Texan, a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712. Our work is made possible by support from our advertising partners and donors. To provide individual support, please visit The Daily Texan page at supportstudentvoices.org. To highlight your business, please email advertise@texasstudentmedia.com. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591), or at the editorial office (HSM 2.120). Entire contents copyright 2020 Texas Student Media.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

By Brittany Archer

@brittanyarcher_

nebraska at No. 5 Ohio state

iowa at purdue

Oct. 24, 11 a.m. CT, FOX

Oct. 24, 2:30 p.m. CT, Big Ten Network

When the Big Ten announced they were postponing the 2020 football season in August, Nebraska and No. 5 Ohio State were two of the first to fight for a season. It was initially rumored that Nebraska would look to play football outside of the Big Ten, and Ohio State junior quarterback Justin Fields started a petition to play the season, which has received over 300,000 signatures. While most of the Power Five conferences have played already, Ohio State has hovered near the top five of the AP Top 25 without playing a down of football. Fields is still in consideration for the Heisman Trophy after a breakout season in 2019. Can Fields and Ohio State capitalize on the extra practice time and make it back to the College Football Playoff?

After a wild offseason, the Purdue Boilermakers are finally gearing up for a showdown with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Purdue star sophomore wide receiver Rondale Moore opted out of the season to focus on the NFL Draft right before the Big Ten initially canceled the 2020 season. However, with the announcement that the Big Ten would play, the Big Ten’s first true freshman consensus All-American ultimately returned for the 2020 campaign. But the Boilermakers will still have their share of obstacles Saturday. On Sunday, Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm announced that he had contracted COVID-19 and will not be coaching the game. Will the Hawkeyes be able to capitalize on Brohm’s absence?

No. 9 Cincinnati at No. 16 SMU Oct. 24, 8 p.m. CT, ESPN2 The No. 9 Cincinnati Bearcats continue their dark horse run into the College Football Playoff with a matchup against former Texas quarterback Shane Buechele and the No. 16 SMU Mustangs. While COVID-19 concerns canceled Cincinnati’s last game against Tulsa, the Bearcats are ready for the fast-paced Mustang offense. The Mustangs sit at 5–0, but the Bearcats enter the game with three impressive wins over Austin Peay, Army and South Florida.

No. 2 alabama at tennessee Oct. 24, 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS After a brief scare with COVID-19, Alabama head coach Nick Saban coached last weekend in a statement win over No. 4 Georgia. Saban improved his record against former assistants to 22–0. Now, the Crimson Tide will head to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers, which means the two schools’ “Third Saturday in October” rivalry will actually be played on the fourth Saturday. Alabama has won the last four games by at least 15 points, but maybe the Volunteers can avenge their loss last weekend against Kentucky.

kentucky at missouri Oct. 24, 3 p.m. CT, SEC Network The Tigers showed up when Hurricane Delta moved the LSU-Missouri game to Colombia, where Missouri was able to knock off the defending national champions two weeks ago. Missouri was set to face the Vanderbilt Commodores last weekend, but a COVID-19 outbreak in the Florida Gators program forced the SEC to make massive schedule changes. Instead of playing Missouri on Halloween, the Wildcats will make the trip to Columbia on Saturday. Kentucky is coming off a major win over Tennessee which knocked the Volunteers out of the AP Top 25.

Begin Your Journey Whether you are a star on the field or a star in the classroom, start thinking about your future and stay an additional year to earn your master’s degree at McCombs. Choose from accounting, finance, business analytics, marketing, or information technology and management. Explore now

DOUBLE COVERAGE

Longhorns, bears are friendly foes Texas and Baylor’s off-field connections won’t prevent them from being rivals on game day. By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22

o say the Texas and Baylor football teams are familiar with each other is an understatement. The teams have played each other annually since 1945, and the Bears aggressively flash the “Horns Down” any time the Longhorns come to town. Given their annual squabbles spurred by trash talking and some occasional unnecessary roughness, it’s safe to say there isn’t much love lost between the two programs — on the field, at least. Off the field, the schools’ coaches and players have relationships that, in some cases, span more than two decades. Texas head coach Tom

Herman and Baylor head coach Dave Aranda’s relationship dates back to the mid-late ‘90s when the two were at California Lutheran University. Herman was a Division III wide receiver and Aranda was emerging as a standout student assistant coach. “I remember (Herman) knowing everybody. He’s talking to everyone and smiling, making jokes. This guy (was) like the mayor, walking around with him,” Aranda said. “My girlfriend at the time, my wife now, was on (the) basketball team. So I would show up in the gym, and there’s Tom, he’s announcing it. Then it would get to halftime, and the lights would turn down, and they’d have these strobe lights, and Tom is on the table dancing.” The two coaches later became roommates for a semester before splitting when Herman left to coach at Texas Lutheran University in 1998, but they

“

When the game’s over, guys can go back to being friends again, but when the foot hits the ball, it’s war, it’s a battle, and we want to go win.” CHRIS ASH

texas defensive coordinator

stayed in close contact. When Herman and Aranda became graduate assistants at Texas and Texas Tech in 1999 and 2000, respectively, Aranda said

his then-girlfriend would make the trip to Austin to hang out with Tom and his now-wife, Michelle. Herman said he and Aranda still speak regularly, and Baylor’s first-year head coach calls with questions about running and maintaining a program. He also said while the two may be opponents most days, Aranda will continue to be a close friend “until one of us passes from this earth.” But the connections between the two teams go beyond the head coaches. Baylor offensive coordinator Larry Fedora spent the 2019 season as an offensive analyst for the Longhorns, and Baylor senior quarterback Charlie Brewer is Texas senior tight end Cade Brewer’s former Lake Travis teammate. Texas senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger played against Charlie and Cade in high school while he was at

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

joshua guenther

Westlake High School. Ehlinger said he and Charlie spoke on the phone a few days ago, and they’re constantly keeping in contact. “(He) obviously has had a tremendous amount of success in his career, and competing against him has been awesome because of the competition

that he always brings and then also the friendship that we have off the field,” Ehlinger said. “I think that he’s a really, really good dude and also a great football player on top of that.” However, the two schools’ off-field connections might not give either opponent a leg up on Saturday. In 2016,

Texas defensive coordinator Chris Ash left his position as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator to become the head coach at Rutgers. Ash failed to beat his former team and said it comes down to players executing the game plan. Ash said he has plenty of friends in his profession, including Aranda, but when

/ the daily texan file

toe meets leather on Saturday, there won’t be any friendships on the field. “We’re all getting paid to do a job, and it’s to win,” Ash said. “When the game’s over, guys can go back to being friends again, but when the foot hits the ball, it’s war, it’s a battle, and we want to go win.”

DOUBLE COVERAGE

DANIELA’S

DIGS joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

Texas student-athletes should be ‘expected’ to stand for what they believe in. By Daniela Perez @danielap3rez

Last week, University of Texas President Jay Hartzell invited students to celebrate Free Speech Week from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25. He encouraged them to attend various online events about the importance of voting intertwined with conversations on the role a university plays during social unrest. “Our hope for the future does not come from shutting down voices, but by embracing the responsibilities of respecting others, listening and learning that come with being a free and vibrant intellectual community,” Hartzell said in an email to the student body.

A day before Hartzell addressed the student body, Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said in his Forty Acres Insider newsletter that players are expected to stand “unified” during “The Eyes of Texas” after games. Head coach Tom Herman reiterated this in his Monday press conference. Even though players won’t be mandated to participate, they should still honor the fans and University, Herman said. Hartzell’s email now seems ironic. The future of our world does not come from shutting down voices — unless you are a Texas football player representing one of the most valuable

brands in sports. The athletic department should understand that players taking a stand against “The Eyes of Texas” is not disrespectful; it should be proud that the young men on their roster will unequivocally stand for the issues important to them. The University’s slogan is “What Starts Here Changes The World,” yet some of the most important voices in the student body are expected to “honor” a song performed in minstrelsy. Take a look at the change student-athletes brought this summer. They ran a brilliant social media campaign seen and supported by thousands. They catalyzed the renaming

of a campus building and Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium’s field and dared the University to reevaluate one of its most beloved traditions. Now, Texas is back in a funnel of outside noise. The stubbornness of the athletic department and a refusal from many Longhorn Band members to play “The Eyes of Texas” catapulted the University back into the spotlight. The nation is listening. But the athletic department and University administration are prioritizing the wrong voices. Their push-and-pull has left Texas football players in a never-ending limbo. First, it was

OK to leave the field before or while the song played. Now, it isn’t. Senior defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham said it best Tuesday; he thought this issue was behind them. Texas football players have been deeply understanding of one another’s views on “The Eyes of Texas.” But even though it is not mandated, the department’s expectation undermines “What Starts Here Changes The World.” It undermines the importance of the Free Speech Week Hartzell so adamantly pushed. Long conversations during team meetings don’t matter when administrators “expect” players

to stand for a tradition rooted in blackface. When will the athletic department understand its expectation blatantly contrasts with the University’s core philosophy? The role of a university during social unrest is exactly what Texas athletes accomplished this summer. They brought palpable and important change to the community. Personal choice during the game does not exist. Players are all expected to follow the same playbook. But once those 60 minutes are up, Texas players should be expected to stand for what feels right — whether that is “The Eyes of Texas” or not.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

By Nathan Han

The Texas football team will play Baylor this week, a squad it has dominated historically yet struggled to beat in the past decade. The Longhorns are 78–27–4 against Baylor, but only 5–5 against the Bears in the teams’ past 10 matchups. It’s been a theme over the past decade: Texas simply can’t put away its Big 12 rivals. The team is 3–7 against TCU, 3–7 against Oklahoma and 3–7 against Oklahoma State in each of the teams’ past 10 meetings. But the Longhorns have won four out of the last five matchups against a middling Bears program. Baylor wasn’t a problem for head coach Tom Herman until last year, when Matt Rhule’s Baylor team handed a 24-10 loss to a 6–4 Texas team that was reeling from upset losses to Iowa State and TCU. Now, Rhule has gone to greener pastures in the

@NathanHan13

NFL, and last year’s Baylor team that went on to go 11–3 and end No. 13 is an unranked 1–1 team that has struggled to play its scheduled games because of COVID-19-related cancellations and postponements. Herman has a chance to improve to 3–2 against Baylor this weekend. If there was ever a game for the coach to prove that he can win regularly against Big 12 competition, this is it. GAMEGAME TO REMEMBER: TO REMEMBER: This week’s game to remember is Texas’ 35-34 upset win over then-No. 8 Baylor in 2016. With head coach Charlie Strong’s job security on the line after a 24-21 loss to K-State dropped the Longhorns to 3–4, Texas faced an undefeated Bears squad with senior Seth Russell at quarterback.

In the first six minutes of the game, Texas and Baylor traded touchdown after touchdown with both teams scoring twice and the Longhorns relying on junior running back D’Onta Foreman to carry the load. But then both teams entered an almost 20-minute scoring drought before Texas capitalized after the opening shootout with a safety and another Foreman touchdown to go up 23-14 and secure a 9-point lead. The lead wouldn’t last long, however. Baylor stormed back in the third quarter and put up 13 unanswered points to take an 8-point lead with 8:54 left to go in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Shane Buechele gave Foreman some help and led the Texas offense down the field in just under two minutes with a 61-yard pass to junior wide receiver Lorenzo Joe. Buechele, just a freshman then, finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Andrew Beck, but the Longhorns’ 2-point conversion fell short. At 34-32, the defense would hold strong. With the ball back and 3:10 left on the clock, Buechele again came in clutch with a 38-yard pass to junior wide receiver Armanti Foreman, bringing the Longhorns into Baylor territory. Texas settled for a 39-yard field goal and put the game in the leg of senior kicker Trent Domingue. Domingue had transferred to Texas from LSU that season but missed several extra-point

attempts and a critical field goal against Kansas State the Saturday before. “He was walking the sidelines saying, ‘Give me one chance, give me one chance,’” Strong said. “You just knew he was going to hit that.” And Domingue did, hitting a 39-yard field goal to give Texas the huge 35-34 upset win over Baylor and bring the team back up to .500 at 4–4.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Nov. 23, 2019 University of Texas at Austin @ Baylor University, McLane Stadium, 10-24

Oct. 13, 2018 University of Texas at Austin vs. Baylor University, Darrell K Royal-Texas Stadium, 23-17

Oct. 28, 2017 University of Texas at Austin @ Baylor University, McLane Stadium, 38-7

Oct. 29, 2016 University of Texas at Austin vs. Baylor University, Darrell K Royal-Texas Stadium, 35-34

Dec. 5, 2015 University of Texas at Austin @ Baylor University, McLane Stadium, 23-17

@mboncosky

POWER RANKINGS

lillian michel

BIG 12

By Matthew Boncosky

/ the daily texan file

DOUBLE COVERAGE

1. Oklahoma state cowboys The Cowboys remain atop the AP and power rankings as the only Big 12 team without a loss, but a big matchup looms this week against Iowa State at home. The Cowboys, led by redshirt junior running back Chuba Hubbard, are averaging over 200 rushing yards a game.

2. Iowa state cyclones

3. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Iowa State has started to look more like the team many expected over the last few weeks. The Cyclones are 3–0 in conference play, including an impressive win over Oklahoma three weeks ago. Sophomore running back Breece Hall has been one of the most productive backs in the country with over 500 yards and eight touchdowns in four games.

The Wildcats have also won three straight Big 12 games and will likely make it four against Kansas this week. Senior quarterback Skylar Thompson is out for the rest of the year due to injury, but freshman Will Howard stepped in to lead the Wildcats to a win over TCU two weeks ago.

4. Oklahoma Sooners

5. TCU HORNED FROGS

Oklahoma won a wild and sloppy Red River Showdown in quadruple overtime two weeks ago. Although redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler struggled at times, he was ultimately able to lead his Sooners to victory. Oklahoma will look to keep building momentum with a matchup at TCU.

Sophomore quarterback Max Duggan poses a tough matchup for any team to defend against. The dual-threat quarterback has as many touchdowns on the ground as he does through the air. The Horned Frogs most recently lost to Kansas State by one score and sit at 1–2 in Big 12 play. TCU hosts a reenergized Oklahoma squad this week.

6. TEXAS LONGHORNS

7. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Texas lost two straight games before heading into its bye week. Only time will tell if the necessary fixes were made. Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger has played exceptionally well this season, accounting for 16 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards of offense. With its back against the wall, it’s time to see what this Texas team is made of.

Redshirt junior quarterback Jarret Doege threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in West Virginia’s win over Kansas last week. In addition, the Mountaineer defense has allowed just 240 yards per game through four games. West Virginia has only played one ranked opponent so far this season, but is in a nice position to move to 4–1 with a matchup against Texas Tech this week.

8. baylor bears

9. texas tech red raiders

Several of Baylor’s games have already been postponed, and there’s some doubt about its ability to suit up this week against Texas. Here’s to hoping for good health and a safe football game this Saturday.

Texas Tech is turning to redshirt junior quarterback Henry Colombi to replace redshirt sophomore Alan Bowman after a 1–3 start to its season. The Red Raiders are giving up a yard shy of 500 yards of offense per game this season. A tough matchup against a solid West Virginia defense looms this week for Texas Tech.

RECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE

RECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE your copy of your your copy of your copy of your copy of yourcopy copyof of

10. kansas jayhawks The winless Jayhawks have an in-state matchup against Kansas State this week that ESPN gives Kansas just a 5% chance of winning. The Jayhawks offense as a whole has only been able to muster about 260 yards per game. That’s not enough for a team whose defense is giving up just over 450 yards per game.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

NOTES FROM THE OPPONENT By Myah Taylor @t_myah

The Daily Texan spoke with DJ Ramirez, sports editor of The Baylor Lariat, ahead of the Texas football team’s game against Baylor on Saturday. Baylor went 11–3 last year, and then (head coach) Matt Rhule and several other players left for the NFL. Before the pandemic hit, what were the expectations for the Bears this season? The

Daily

Texan :

DJ Ramirez :

We were excited because Dave Aranda obviously had just come off winning a championship at LSU as a defensive coordinator. … People kind of expected us to be in maybe kind of a rebuild mode because we lost so many players, specifically on defense. But we had a lot of people coming back that had experience; they just hadn’t had starting experience. DT :

Baylor has had a lot of COVID issues — three postponements, and then the team had to suspend football activities a couple of weeks ago. To your knowledge, what are some reasons outbreaks have been such an issue for this team? DJR :

As far as Houston went, … they were just being extra cautious because I don’t think any of the players had tested positive that week. It was just that they had come in contact with it, and nobody wanted to take any risks. ...This (most recent) postponement kind of came more as a shock. DT :

How has the inconsistency of this season impacted the players’ morale and the momentum of the team? DJR :

According to coach Aranda, they’re keeping the energy up during practice. … For the players … having to go to practice and then not having practice because somebody got COVID and not getting to play, I guess it would maybe derail some of the morale.

DT :

It’s been a pretty small sample size of course given all the cancellations, but what have you seen from Dave Aranda in his lone two games as the Bears new head coach? DJR :

I don’t think anybody expected him to come in his first year and automatically take the team to the championship or even to a playoff. … He brought in some really good coaches and some really good coordinators. … It’s just trying to figure out where the pieces are falling out of place. DT : (Texas head coach) Tom Herman

mentioned Monday that because Baylor hasn’t played much, the staff doesn’t really know what to expect. Do you have any idea of what this team’s identity is? DJR :

They play the hardest that they can. … Last year, you could tell that they were a bit more of a fourth-quarter team even if they started out slow in the first half … I still think they had that potential going into this season. DT :

It sounds like the COVID-19 situation at Baylor has improved. Is the team ready to play Texas? Are they excited? DJR :

I think they are. I mean, it’s always exciting when you play The University of Texas. It doesn’t matter what sport it is. It’s a lot of history behind it. For us, Baylor, being smaller, more private, Texas is the big titan you want to take down every year, outside of Oklahoma. Whether they’re doing well or not throughout the season, I think people still just recognize the impact that winning against the Longhorns has on a program like Baylor, so it’s going to be exciting, especially when the game is in Austin.

DOUBLE COVERAGE

NOTES ON THE

COACH

By Brett Hintz @BHintzUT

Baylor’s first-year head coach Dave Aranda offers a different dynamic from the Longhorns’ prior head coaching matchups this season. Aranda, who is widely revered for his calm and welcoming demeanor toward anyone in the film room and his suggestions on how to improve, is the only new head coach in the Big 12 this season and is serving as a head coach for the first time in his 24-year coaching career. He is also the sole head coach on the Longhorns’ schedule that didn’t play college football in any capacity. The differences don’t end there. To add on to the unique unfamiliarity that Aranda presents the Longhorns, his Bears have played just two games this season, as repeated COVID-19 outbreaks have prevented Baylor from fulfilling Big 12 roster thresholds twice. The Bears’ season opener on Sept. 12 against Louisiana Tech was postponed because of COVID-19 issues with the Bulldogs. The pandemic has left Aranda with limited opportunities to practice in both the spring and fall, meaning the Big 12’s lone new coach has had far less time than any of his peers to instill a brand new culture and scheme in his inaugural year with the program.

Aranda’s status as a defensive-oriented head coach has almost assuredly made his adjustment as Baylor’s new head coach more difficult compared to newly hired head coaches with offensive backgrounds. Head coaches who have previously served as defensive coordinators often present fresh tackling techniques to players who have spent the majority of their college careers playing under a different philosophy.

Anyone who has spent time watching the Texas football team this season would certainly subscribe to the argument that consistent tackling often takes time to develop under a new defensive scheme. Baylor’s lack of both practice and game reps has undoubtedly made Aranda’s job as a firstyear coach much more difficult, but failing to point out the advantages that come with his situation wouldn’t paint

the whole picture for Saturday’s matchup. The Bears have played just two games, meaning Texas has limited film to draw up a game plan against them. Factor that in with Aranda’s unique newness to the Big 12, and the Longhorns are coming into their matchup against Baylor with weakened intel on what their opponents weaknesses are on both sides of the ball. It certainly shouldn’t be implied that the

Longhorns are total strangers to Aranda. Along with rooming with Texas head coach Tom Herman back in college, he was the defensive coordinator for an LSU team that allowed 38 points in a thrilling win against the Longhorns last year in Austin. In an effort that came close to knocking off LSU during its National Championship run, Texas showed that it is capable of putting up points against an Aranda-led defensive unit.

But things are different now. Texas no longer has receivers such as Collin Johnson or Devin Duvernay to present a vertical threat, and Aranda doesn’t have a K’Lavon Chaisson or a Kristian Fulton to anchor his defense either. As a result, Saturday’s tilt will be intertwined with mystique and unfamiliarity for both sides and at the very least, should provide a solid source of entertainment for fans.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

By Carter Yates

OPPONENTS TO WATCH

@Carter_Yates16

Baylor’s 2020 season has been characterized by disorder. The Bears are sitting at 1–1 having played the lowest total number of games in the Big 12. That figure is thanks to the cancellation of their lone nonconference matchup and the

postponement of their Oklahoma State game, both due to COVID-19 concerns. It has been hard for new head coach Dave Aranda and the college football world to gauge the potential of a team that finished second in the Big 12 last season, but the Bears still have a few key contributors from their 2019 team. Here are four Bears to watch for Saturday:

No. 0 R.J. Sneed — Wide receiver Baylor needed a relatively unproven prospect to fill the massive hole left by 2020 second-round NFL Draft pick Denzel Mims, and the Bears might have found that person in junior R.J. Sneed. Through two games, the Cypress, Texas, product is leading the Bears in catches at 11 and receiving yards with 99. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver is turning into Brewer’s go-to target after flying under the radar in his first three seasons behind Mims. On Saturday, Sneed will have a chance for a big game as he goes up against a Texas secondary that is giving up 253.25 receiving yards a game. Look for the Longhorns to try to minimize Sneed by putting their best cornerback on him.

No. 2 Terrel Bernard — Linebacker

You often won’t see a ball carrier picking themself off the turf without Terrel Bernard being in on the play. A junior out of La Porte, Texas, Bernard is currently leading the Bears defense in tackles at 21, sacks at 2.5 and interceptions with one. Bernard is building off a breakout sophomore season in 2019 in which he compiled 112 total tackles. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound linebacker makes up for his average frame with an unmatched nose for the football. The Longhorns will need to dedicate at least one blocker to Bernard on every play if they plan on improving a rushing attack that has stalled in recent weeks. Look for Bernard to make a big impact Saturday, both as a run stuffer and dropping into pass coverage.

No. 3 Raleigh Texada — Cornerback A redshirt senior out of Frisco, Texas, Raleigh Texada is a third-year starter and a huge factor in Baylor’s three-year turnaround from 1–11 in 2017 to 11–3 in 2019. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound cornerback gives up some size compared to most Big 12 receivers, but he makes up for it with sound technique. A preseason All-Big 12 second team pick, Texada has been quiet on the stat sheet with only six tackles so far, but this can be attributed to the lack of targets that opposing quarterbacks have sent his way. Texada also has yet to give up a touchdown in coverage this season. Look for Texada to be matched up on an island with bigger Texas receivers such as senior Tarik Black and junior Brennan Eagles. The game could be decided on whether Texada has the technique to keep these weapons out of the end zone.

No. 5 Charlie Brewer — Quarterback

The Texas game always adds a little extra motivation for Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer. A former All-State quarterback for Austin powerhouse Lake Travis High School, Brewer did not receive a scholarship offer from the University of Texas despite having a grandfather, uncle and father who played for the school. The gunslinger is a four-year starter with 32 career starts, and the media has described him as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 since he suited up as a true freshman in 2017. In Baylor’s first two games this season, Brewer has put up pedestrian numbers by his standards, throwing for 371 total yards and a 4-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But he will have a chance to put up an impressive statline Saturday against a Texas defense that ranks 40th in the nation in total defense.

M O R E I N F O : T E XA S S P O RTS . C O M / G O M O B I L E