Halloween weekend full of shocking sports surprises in college football
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Commentary by Denton Ramsey/Sports Editor
This weekend was full of surprises when it came to sports.
Especially in college football.
The most shocking, in my opinion, was the Baylor Bears football team knocking off the No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies in an overtime thriller.
And maybe that’s because of my love and passion for my alumni school’s sports programs, but one way or the other – it was a huge weekend upset.
Baylor head coach Guy Morriss made the call to go for the two-point conversion in overtime to win and the Bears came through with a huge victory.
Texas A&M, under the head coaching of former Alabama coach Dennis Franchione, lost their first game in the Big 12 to the Bears.
The Bears lost last year, 73-10, on the road in College Station.
The win is a tremendously big accomplishment for the Baylor football team, which has struggled mightily for the past God-knows how many years.
After Texas A&M scored on a rushing play on the first possession of overtime, things looked grim for the Bears of Baylor.
But coach Morriss and his Bears were not afraid to go right at the Aggies.
Baylor quarterback Shawn Bell completed a pass for no gain on the first play of overtime, and then Anthony Krieg rushed 13 yards on the second play to setup the Bears overtime touchdown.
Bell rolled out and found Dominique Ziegler open just inside the goal line for the Baylor touchdown in the first overtime.
And instead of going for the extra point to tie the game, coach Morriss and the Bears came out and went for the winner-take-all two-point conversion.
And it worked to perfection.
Baylor came out and ran the same play that scored the overtime touchdown, as Bell connected with Ziegler for the game-winning score.
Students at Baylor, plastered in green and gold attire, stormed the field and quickly tore down the goal post in the south endzone and carried it out of Floyd Casey Stadium with pride.
With the win, the Bears ended an 11-game skid in the Big 12 and beat a ranked opponent for the first time since 1998.
Not only that, but A&M was undefeated in the Big 12 entering the game against Baylor.
Not anymore.
Now A&M will have to face No. 2 Oklahoma this weekend after the shocker in Waco.
The Bears rallied from a 10 point-deficit at halftime and came back to tie the game on multiple occasions and eventually forced overtime.
The victory also marked the first time that Baylor has beat Texas A&M since 1985 and the Bears ended A&M’s 13-game winning streak dating back to 1990.
Not to mention that Floyd Casey Stadium saw it’s largest crowd of the season as the Bears upset the Aggies of Texas A&M.
Back in 1997, some students at Baylor University snuck into a small town between Waco and College Station and painted what many refer to as “the Aggie Barn.”
The “Aggie Barn” is on private property and some students at the University of Texas were caught trying to paint the barn on a couple of occassions.
But these students at BU were able to come up with a plan that worked to perfection.
On a cold night in October or November, I don’t remember exactly, those BU students painted the Aggie Barn to read “Sic’ Em Bears” and “Go Baylor!”
Granted, Baylor got creamed that weekend in football, but the message was sent.
It may have been seven years ago since the painting of the barn, but now reality has set in.
Baylor has finally beat Texas A&M.
In other college football upsets, North Carolina knocked off the No. 3 Miami Hurricanes with a last-second field goal.
Also, Maryland knocked off No. 5 Florida, 20-17.
The Atlantic Coast Conference was full of shockers this past weekend in college football.
And normally we’re talking about basketball when it comes to the strength of the ACC, but it looks like those boys can play some football too.
But anyway, I digress.
Baylor’s win this weekend was a huge one, and one that I have been waiting many years to witness.
For those here in Alabama hoping to see their former coach falter, now is your moment as well.
Franchione has fallen in Waco, and the Bears have beat Texas A&M for the first time in 13 years.
It’s about time.
Congratulations, Baylor.
And way to go on a great job of coaching, coach Morriss.
Maybe coach Morriss is the answer for turning around the football program at BU.
I can only hope for the best.
Go Bears!