Football: 'Unbelievable' Griffin has transformed Baylor

IRVING, Texas — The conventional wisdom in college football is that no single player can turn around a sagging program.

The rosters are too big. The game is too complex. Too many pieces need to fit together over too long a period of time for success.

The exception to such thinking appeared Tuesday at Big 12 media days.

Quarterback Robert Griffin, and what he accomplished as an 18-year-old freshman last season, has transformed Baylor football from laughingstock to serious business.

Remember, this is the program that has the longest bowl drought in the Big 12 (since 1994), and has had five head coaches in the past 13 years.

Now, opponents are legitimately worried about going to Waco.

“It's going to be difficult,'' Oklahoma State linebacker Andre Sexton said. “They are going to beat some good teams this year with Griffin. He is unbelievable.''

That's just how Griffin, the 2008 Big 12 newcomer of the year, wants it.

“They're all going to have to be ready for us,'' said Griffin, including Nebraska on Oct. 31.

“That might suck for opponents because they are used to having a game off against Baylor. But there won't be any more games off.''

Simply reading those words may lead you to believe Griffin is cocky.

But if you follow him around for an hour and listen to his thoughtful and measured answers, everything sounds doable. Even resurrecting Baylor football.

“Does he remind you of anyone?'' a veteran Big 12 administrator asked following Baylor's interview sessions. “Say Tommie Frazier. Or Vince Young.''

Yes and yes. Griffin is 19 years old physically, but 39 in real-life savvy.

“With the way Robert has come in and handled everything,'' Baylor All-Big 12 safety Jordan Lake said, “he's a rock star.

“He exudes confidence, and that has rubbed off on everybody. The hope and expectations for this year and beyond are something we've not seen before, and it's because of Robert.''

Griffin was born in Japan, raised in an Army household and eventually settled in Copperas Cove, Texas.

By the end of high school, he was one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks, an Olympic-caliber hurdler and No. 7 in his graduating class.

He orally committed to Art Briles, who at the time was head coach at Houston.

“The previous Baylor staff wanted me to get a track scholarship and walk on for football,'' Griffin said. “I just took it with a grain of salt and moved on.''

Then Baylor fired Guy Morriss and hired Briles. Griffin trusted Briles enough to tag along to Waco.

No wonder Briles is all smiles.

“What Robert has done for Baylor on the national football scene, we're very appreciative of,'' the coach said. “He hasn't done it with what he's said. He's done it through what he has done.''

Griffin produced immediately last year after becoming the starter in the second game.

He passed for 2,091 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. He ran for 843 yards and 13 touchdowns. And he had the Bears ahead of Connecticut, Nebraska, Missouri and Texas Tech in the second half — a major accomplishment compared with previous years.

Many defenses figured the best way to rattle the youngest starting quarterback in Division I-A was to blitz. They figured wrong.

“I expected to be blitzed a lot,'' Griffin said. “They think you're going to pee in your pants and go cry to momma.''

It didn't happen. Griffin opened the season by throwing 209 passes without an interception, an NCAA record for the start of a career.

He finally confessed to one difficulty in the transition from high school to college ball.

“They hit harder,'' he said. “Other than that, if you can play football, you can play football.''

Griffin, who hopes to run in the 2012 Olympics, showed his commitment to football by forgoing track this spring.

“The coaches wanted me to gain some weight and build chemistry on the team,'' he said. “I gained about 10 pounds.''

Did it affect the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder's speed?

“No,'' he said. “I can still hit turbo.''

Even while living life at warp speed, Griffin already has mapped out his future education.

“Law school,'' he said. “I wanted to be a doctor at first, but then I realized I couldn't deal with people dying on me.''

Makes sense. Griffin's hatred of failure in combination with his physical gifts is what has Baylor football on the cusp of a rarely seen transformation.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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