Baylor Bears
2001 record: 3-8 (0-8)
Coach: Kevin Steele (4th season, 6-27)
Starters returning: 7 offense, 10 defense, 1 kicker

Outlook: For a quick taste of the atmosphere surrounding Baylor football, here's senior wide receiver Reggie Newhouse's early impression of first-year offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin: "He's so excited to be at Baylor. You're like, 'Why is he so excited to be here?'"

Newhouse went on to say Baldwin, who comes to the Bears after recent stops at San Jose State and Cincinnati, sees the potential in the Bears. "Coming out the first day (in the spring) and actually moving the ball up and down the field against our defense was great,'' he said.

	Around The Big 12
	Baylor Bears
	Colorado Buffaloes
	Iowa State Cyclones
	Kansas Jayhawks
	Kansas State Wildcats
	Missouri Tigers
	Nebraska Cornhuskers
	Oklahoma Sooners
	Oklahoma State Cowboys
	Texas Longhorns
	Texas A&M Aggies
	Texas Tech Red Raiders

Not that the Bear defense is any great benchmark (11th in the conference, 88th overall), but Steele is excited that he has defensive playmakers in end A.C. Collier and linebacker John Garrett, who was moved from the middle to the weakside to take advantage of his speed.

Offensively, the Bears must settle a four-way QB battle led by senior Greg Cicero to allow the receivers to take advantage of a new scheme that uses option routes. If not, take the over this fall on the 22 INTs thrown in 2001 by the Bears.

Key game: After 29 straight conference losses, the Bears -- Steele, in particular -- pray that this is the year it ends. Circle Oct. 5, when Kansas, rebuilding under first-year head coach Mark Mangino, comes to visit. The Jayhawks are familiar with the role. On their last trip to Waco, on Oct. 10, 1998, they lost 31-21, the Bears' last conference win.

Keep an eye on: The Bears' pass defense, which ranked last in the Big 12 and 90th overall among major colleges. Three starters return, but the defensive coordinator and secondary coach, Bob Trott, has only been on the job since May. He replaced Paul Jette, who left abruptly after spring drills because of personal reasons.

It's a good year if . . . The Bears have a Big 12 winning streak. Any winning streak. Steele is pumping up the Bears chances to go to a bowl, and even with .500 teams now eligible, the Bears would have to sweep their non-league foes and beat two Big 12 foes. No wonder that Collier said he expects to see Steele "standing at the 50-yard-line with a jock on his head" if the Bears go bowling. Says Steele, "I don't think that (the jock, not the bowl) would go over too well at Baylor."

Mark Wangrin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News.