Waco, Texas ? The young man speaking Saturday happened to be Baylor University quarterback Shawn Bell. The way Kansas University’s football season full of near misses has gone, it just as easily could have been any opposing quarterback on any given Saturday.
The words were pretty much the same. Here’s what Bell said after leading Baylor to a 36-35 victory, back from an 18-point, fourth-quarter deficit:
“The offensive line did a great job,” Bell said.
Heard that one before? Here’s another familiar quote: “What a great finish.”
And another: “I feel fine throwing as many times as possible, just as long as we win.”
Bell threw 55 times and completed 33 of those passes for 394 yards and five touchdowns, terrific numbers, except when compared to those of Oklahoma State’s Bobby Reid (23 for 35, 411 yards, five touchdowns) the previous week against KU. That’s 10 touchdown passes in two weeks allowed by the Jayhawks.
Bell set career highs for completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdowns, one week after Reid passed and ran his coach, Mike Gundy, out of the Cowboys’ record book. Bell’s set school records for completions and touchdown passes.
A fifth-year senior from China Spring, Texas, Bell graduated from Baylor with an education degree last May and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management. His 190 completions last season set a school record. With four games remaining, Bell already has 227 completions this season.
After pulling off such a remarkable comeback, the Bears weren’t worried about what role KU played in it.
Baylor safety Maurice Linguist said it best: “This is the biggest game since I’ve been here because we were out of the game, and we found a way. I am so proud of our team, and I’m proud to be a Baylor Bear.”
Baylor improved to 3-1 in the Big 12 and has won four of its past five conference games, bringing a lot of attention to the steady rebuilding job done by coach Guy Morriss.
