THE BAYLOR LARIAT MONDAY | AUGUST 23, 2010 Sports Section B Offense vs. Defense Veterans return healed, while new New speed and strength bolster a receivers and offensive linemen Page 4 & 6 defensive unit aiming to pull Baylor keep the Bears’ options wide open. up from low 2009 ranks. Vol. 111 No. 1 © 2010, Baylor University And Then There Were 10 ANIEL ERNERO HOTO DITOR D C | P E REALIGNMENT REWIND President Ken Starr talks with students during the President’s Picnic Thursday, August 19, 2010, in the Burleson Quadrangle. After almost seeing the Big 12 disinte- How Baylor’s conference nearly perished grate this summer, Starr has encouraged support of the athletic program through public speaking and e-mails to the Baylor family. Mid-May: Sources believe the Big Ten will invite Nebraska and Missouri. Starr narrowly avoids Big 12 fall Nebraska, Colorado remaining teams for any peri- June 3: Orangebloods.com reports od of time. But once Texas, the Pac10 is ready to invite Texas leave conference while whom many believed would and a “number of Big 12 schools.” Baylor remains be the catalyst for the Big 12’s extinction, decided to stay, By Chris Derrett Starr and much of the Baylor June 4: President Ken Starr e-mails Sports editor community took a collective “members of the Baylor family,” sigh of relief. What started as specula- voicing Big 12 support. Rumors, which includ- tion and found its way to Bay- ed a May 10 Kansas City lor students and staff through Star article, began swirling June 6: The Baylor Proud team cites numerous e-mails finally about Nebraska and Mis- came to a resting point in souri receiving offers from the Dallas Morning News, saying mid-June. Though Colorado Baylor’s “stock is rapidly rising” as the Big Ten, who was seeking and Nebraska will leave the financial opportunity and at Pac 10 talk continues. Big 12 within the next one to least a 12th team to meet the two years, the 10 remaining NCAA’s requirement for a Big 12 teams have agreed to June 10: Colorado joins the Pac 10. football conference champi- stay together as a conference, onship game. much to the content of Baylor Adding to the plot was the administration. June 10: The Baylor Proud team Pac 10, as numerous media “The factors that we can outlets like ESPN.com and e-mails faculty and students with control have to do with our Orangebloods.com specu- ways to help promote Baylor’s culture, our culture support- lated the conference would reputation. ing all of our athletic teams. invite six Big 12 teams follow- We have a tremendously suc- ing Nebraska’s departure. DANIEL CERNERO | PHOTO EDITOR cessful athletic program and The day after Orange- No. 10 quarterback Robert Griffin and No. 11 quarterback Nick Florence talk between plays at the June 10: Chet Edwards publishes our student athletes at every bloods.com published that Allison Indoor Facility. It appears both will finish their careers playing in a major conference. his advising of Texas Legislature turn fill us with great pride,” report, Starr e-mailed “Mem- hearings regarding the Big 12’s president Ken Starr said in an bers of the Baylor Family” for a Pac 10 invitation that from outside the state of Texas and Missouri - being left to possible end. interview with the Lariat. regarding the situation. included a new website dedi- to replace one of our schools find other conferences as the Until Texas’ decision, an “(Baylor athletics direc- cated to highlighting Baylor’s in the Big 12 South?” said Big 12 permanently split and exodus of six Big 12 teams to tor Ian McCaw) and I have strengths. an unnamed, high-ranking the other six aforementioned June 12: Nebraska signs on with the the Pac 10 seemed imminent, made our case clear: Baylor The Texas Legislature Texas Legislature member to teams bound for the Pac 10. Big Ten. enough so for ESPN.com’s Joe emphatically supports the also involved itself in Baylor’s Orangebloods.com. That same day Starr Schad to report that statement Big 12 Conference and wants attempts to earn a Pac 10 invi- Colorado officially joined responded via another e-mail in an article backed by four to see it prosper,” the e-mail tation. the Pac 10 on June 10. Among to faculty and students, not- June 15: Texas elects to remain a anonymous sources. read. “If you’re going to have the Big 12 teams left, all ing some Texas Legislature No formal, written agree- an exported commodity rumors and analysis pointed members were still fight- Big 12 member, as do the other But at the time, the Big 12 ment has been drafted or looked all but finished, and involved in this, do you think to five teams - Baylor, Iowa ing to keep the Big 12 alive. suspected Pac 10 invitees. signed to legally bind the we’re going to allow a school State, Kansas, Kansas State Baylor began its campaign SEE BIG 12, page B7 Rejuvenated backfield runs around, through opponents Finley, Salubi, successful,” coach Art Briles the Bears have another option in be making sure those six yards Ganaway as well as a demon- I’m working like I’m a starter,” said. sophomore Jarred Salubi. The result in the Bears moving the stration of his ability to pick up Ganaway said. “I think that’s the Ganaway give Briles Briles added that the running Waco native picked up 298 yards chains. first downs on “third-and-short” biggest thing, to be confident in options on every down game is not a cause for concern. off 50 carries as a redshirt fresh- With the return of Griffin as situations. who you are.” Eyes look first in the direc- man last year and has an elusive a second threat in the backfield Though overshadowed by tion of Corsicana senior Jay running style similar to Finley. to scramble for first downs, Salu- the loss of Griffin, Finley’s ankle By Matt Larsen Sports editor Finley, who two years ago led Currently listed as No. 1 on bi and Griffin could pose a nice “I’m not working like injury had a significant impact the team with 865 yards rushing the depth chart at halfback, the tag-team effort on the ground. I’m fourth string or on the Bears running game in off 149 carries and seven touch- Bears will need Salubi to develop However, that would be for- 2009 as it put a question mark Three backs, two running third string. I’m work- styles, one goal: move the chains downs. into a consistent threat to help getting BU’s third force at tail- at a position that had previously or find the end zone, whichever The 5-foot-11,205-pound keep opposing defenses from back, Dekalb junior Terrance ing like I’m a starter.” seemed locked up. tailback looks to run past and locking in on quarterback Rob- Ganaway. In the long run, though, it comes first. Rounding out the bottom around tacklers more than over ert Griffin. The short-yardage specialist Terrance Ganaway| Running back opened the door for younger of the conference in total first them in his search for the end “Being my first year, I was loves to run people over, and he backs to have a go against Big 12 downs last season and scoring zone, but last season he found his kind of nervous in some games. did so to find the score five times defenses for the first time. only eight times amongst three ability limited by a high ankle I was just trying to see where my in 2009. The only fine print on If Sept. 4 finds Finley ready to backs, Baylor looks for a more sprain that he thinks is buried in comfort level was. Hopefully this those five TDs was three of them Baylor was second to last in run, the fifth-year back will have productive ground attack from the past. year I’ll show a lot more poise,” coming on Ganaway’s career the Big 12 in total third down the support of his coach. its three running backs this sea- “It’s a little frustrating Salubi said. high, three-touchdown perfor- conversions, succeeding only 60 Now he must lead the trio of son. because I’d like to do more, but Salubi does have the ability to mance against Northwestern times out of 167 attempts for a tailbacks to provide a ground “We’ve got guys that can play. it’s healing. It’s on time,” Finley pick up yards, especially on the State. 35.9 percentage. attack that finds orange first What we have to do is make sure said. outside, as he averaged 6.0 yards The Bears will be looking for “I’m not working like I’m down markers and orange we put them in a position to be If Finley can’t find his groove, per carry last year. The trick will more consistent numbers out of fourth string or third string. pylons almost at will. Newspaper of the Year | Texas APME TheLariat Best Student Newspaper | Houston Press Club MONDAY | AUGUST 23, 2010 | the B2 Baylor Lariat www.baylorlariat.com MONDAY | AUGUST 23, 2010 www.baylorlariat.com Sports the Baylor Lariat |B3 Offense welcomes back Griffin, Finley; revived unit ready for 2010 By Chris Derrett string offense in fall camp and could see He says the ankle pain has subsided, Sports Editor playing time this season. and among other things, conditioning the ankle has taken priority.