Baylor’s Downward Spiral: Aranda Retained Amidst Fan Frustration
BY Craig Smoak | 365 Sports
Baylor Football finds itself in the throes of a downward spiral, with many questions remaining about the present and future. But one big blank was filled in late last week, much to the chagrin of a fanbase overflowing with frustration, concern and downright apathy.
There’s a lot to unpack and discuss, too much for one article. But I’ll give it my best, brief shot before I barrel towards the dinner table and enough turkey to cause a tryptophan coma.
ARANDA IS STAYING
Linda Livingstone’s letter to supporters last Friday, which outlined the decision to retain Dave Aranda and the steps ahead in hiring an AD, hit inboxes and certain sections of the fandom like a ton of bricks, and for others, more like a slap in the face.
I was not shocked by the decision, given the timing and money expected to be involved in hiring a new athletic director and overhauling an entire program, but I was nevertheless disappointed. As someone who has covered this program for around a decade, detailing the eras of multiple head coaches, dozens of different staffers and hundreds of players, I’ve never been less interested in watching and covering this program on a general level, much less the day-to-day minutia.
Being a non-alum, my lack of investment isn’t newsworthy, but it should be jarring that this is the lowest I’ve seen from many solid, tried-and-true degree-holding members of the fanbase who speak with their dollars, time and support. That’s far more worrisome.
Not being privy to all the finer details, I thought and stated publicly that they needed to make a change at head coach, but that I wasn’t sure it was possible.
In light of Livingstone’s letter, which outlined the tricky timing thanks to Mack Rhoades’s exit and the subsequent sudden need for a new athletic director, plus the current financial landscape facing college sports, I understand that making such a move is easier said than done.
But man oh man, sometimes you have to make the move and figure out the rest later. Time will tell whether this was the right call, but they have no room for error with their remaining fans moving forward and have lost plenty of favor with how things have been handled on and off the field, yet again.
THE ARIZONA LOSS
More of the same. Another loss, another debacle. Arizona is a good team, and Brent Brennan has things on the upswing in Tucson after taking over late last cycle for Jedd Fisch and experiencing some initial bumps in the road. They’re not top-tier like Texas Tech, Utah, BYU or a healthy Arizona State. Still, the Wildcats are among the best of the next grouping, and several rungs above the Bears on the Big 12 ladder after Saturday’s result and all that entailed.
This Baylor team just isn’t good, and it’s too late for this tiger to change its stripes. The defense is unacceptably below average, and the offense has been a disappointment despite the magic of Mackey Award finalist Michael Trigg and occasional big plays from a very talented wide receiver group that has gone to waste from a big picture perspective.
THE OKLAHOMA STATE JOB
The Pokes have been the Big 12’s worst team for two years, but they made a significant splash on Tuesday with the official hiring of North Texas head coach Eric Morris. I have it on good authority that Morris and staff were interested, if not outright preferring, the Baylor job should it open, but that door slammed shut with Livingstone’s letter last Friday. Now, just days later, excitement is abounding up north of the Red River, and Morris is bound for the orange and black once the Mean Green wrap up a season that has them in contention for an AAC title, and with that, the Group of Six CFP spot should they win out. The big question now is whether Morris will be Stillwater-bound with talents like his young offensive trio of Drew Mestemaker, Wyatt Young and Caleb Hawkins in tow.
What’s not in question is that it’s a pivotal hire, or lack thereof in the Bears’ case, and moment in time that Baylor fans and media will look back upon for years to come.
THE HOUSTON GAME
Houston is excellent defensively and quite average offensively. Weigman has not played all that well recently, but I’m not sure the Bears’ defense is capable of exposing or taking advantage. On the flip side, Baylor’s offense is a lot more uninspiring these days, and even when things get rolling, like on Saturday, turnovers come in bunches.
ANYONE WANT TO GO BOWLING?
Saturday is a must-win to prolong the college careers of names like Josh Cameron, Sawyer Robertson, Michael Trigg and countless others.
I know many people want to turn the page on this year, but these guys provided some incredible individual moments and contributed to some great team wins. They also won’t be easily replaced in many cases. Next year’s team will be hard-pressed to have a better star tight end or overall wide receiver group, for one.
A postseason trip would be a nice sendoff, though it’s not the bowl hopes or big picture aspirations anyone had for this group at the start of the season.
MACKEY AWARD
Trigg was named one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s best tight end. Not long ago, I thought that award was Trigg’s for the taking, but now I’m a bit concerned about Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who’s closing strong on a much better team with much bigger stakes, as evidenced by his two-touchdown performance in last week’s ranked win over USC.
PREDICTION
Baylor 24, Houston 20
It seems ridiculous given all the negativity surrounding the program, but I’m picking the Bears to win one for the seniors and extend this season by just a few more weeks. Houston has a terrific defense, but it is pedestrian offensively. Special teams is usually a strength, despite a big potential game-tying miss by standout Ethan Sanchez, which contributed to last week’s loss. But I don’t think the Cougars are world-beaters by any stretch.
I’ll be looking at effort closer than ever this week. Does this team want to play more ball, or are they ready to move on? Last week, the Aranda news didn’t lead to an inspired effort, and if that’s again the case at home on Senior Day with a bowl trip on the line, then it’s not just this season these players are ready to move on from.