How the Baylor Bears Learned From BYU to Beat Iowa State
As soon as quarterback Blake Shapen's pass was too tall for Seth Jones, ending a double overtime loss to BYU September 10, the questions started to swirl as to whether Dave Aranda and the Baylor Bears could win meaningful road games.
A loss in Provo ran the coach's record to 3-8 since taking charge in Waco, with one of those road victories coming at Texas State and another to Kansas. Saturday's 31-24 victory over the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames is one of the few pieces of evidence to show that Baylor had learned from the BYU experience and could take their game plan on the road with them.
The first correction they had to make was keeping their composure and discipline in a hostile environment. Not only did Aranda reference the "big eyes" on his players looking at the capacity crowd, but also said he was "disappointed" in the Bears committing 14 penalties in the loss.
"It's one thing to be playing a real good and worthy opponent," Aranda said after the loss to BYU. "But we can't be playing them and us."
Last Saturday in Ames, the Bears committed just 3 penalties in a 7-point win where the scoreboard flattered the Cyclones.
While the one-score game might not show it, the Bears were in control essentially the entire game. Despite what looks like a close win against an unranked team, the players aren't underselling it.
“We struggled a little bit against BYU with the noise,” Shapen said. “Coming in here on the road and getting a big win, I think people look at that and don’t give it too much credit at times, but it’s always big when you go on the road and win.”
The score was something the Bears cared little about as they were trying to build a second-half lead. Unlike how they did against the Cougars a few weeks ago, the Bears played to the game plan, not to the occasion.
“Guys were going ‘there is no scoreboard,’” Aranda said. “They fought through it, and I’m proud of them for that. We are going to need more of that.”
Aranda also talked about the outside expectations that are weighing on the Bears this year, as they were preseason favorites to win the conference again. Saturday's win gave them a chance to cut loose a little bit and play comfortably.
“BYU was a learning lesson,” linebacker Bryson Jackson said. “We went into the next week knowing we can’t let the outside affect the inside. It definitely prepared us for this fight [against Iowa State]."
While it is not a road game this week, there will certainly be expectations and pressure surrounding the Bears as they host an Oklahoma State Cowboys team that is ranked ninth in the country but also one looking to avenge last year's Big 12 Championship Game loss.
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You can follow Cameron Stuart on Twitter @RealCamStuart
Covering Baylor for Inside The Bears and the Locked on Baylor podcast. You can follow me for more Baylor content at @realcamstuart on Twitter. Originally from Rockland, Massachusetts and a Baylor alum, so I might mix the occasional bias and/or Boston sports tweet in there every once in a while.