Baylor facing another QB change heading into Nebraska game
October, 28, 2009
Oct 28
1:03
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Baylor coach Art Briles will likely turn again to freshman Nick Florence as his starting quarterback when the Bears meet Nebraska on Saturday.
The Bears have struggled since Robert Griffin sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Bears' victory over Northwestern State on Sept. 26.
Both Florence and Blake Szymanski have received starts, but Briles said that Florence likely will get the shot Saturday because Szymanski is nursing a bruised (right) throwing shoulder.
Baylor started the season 2-1 with Griffin as the starter, but has won only one of four times since his injury. Included in that streak are three straight Big 12 losses to Oklahoma, Iowa State and Oklahoma State where the Bears have produced only 24 points.
“For the most part, Nick did what we asked him to do, and that is really all you can ask of any player,” Briles said at his weekly news conference. “He’s competing hard and trying hard to do the right thing at the right time. He got a little bit ahead of himself a couple of times in some sticky situations that I don’t think will ever happen again. Nick is the kind of guy that if you tell him once, it sticks.”
Florence is hopeful of more production offensively if he gets a second chance as a starter.
"I think this week, as an offense, we need to just come out and find our identity," Florence said. "I think everyone on the offense is pretty excited to find a groove and finally fit in. We are going to do that this week and it is going to be a good game Saturday."
The freshman quarterback told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he's predicting big things when the offense finally starts producing.
"When we find our identity as an offense and when we go out there this week and really start clicking, I think it’s going to be a different story than what everyone’s expecting," he said.
Baylor coach Art Briles will likely turn again to freshman Nick Florence as his starting quarterback when the Bears meet Nebraska on Saturday.
The Bears have struggled since Robert Griffin sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Bears' victory over Northwestern State on Sept. 26.
Both Florence and Blake Szymanski have received starts, but Briles said that Florence likely will get the shot Saturday because Szymanski is nursing a bruised (right) throwing shoulder.
Baylor started the season 2-1 with Griffin as the starter, but has won only one of four times since his injury. Included in that streak are three straight Big 12 losses to Oklahoma, Iowa State and Oklahoma State where the Bears have produced only 24 points.
“For the most part, Nick did what we asked him to do, and that is really all you can ask of any player,” Briles said at his weekly news conference. “He’s competing hard and trying hard to do the right thing at the right time. He got a little bit ahead of himself a couple of times in some sticky situations that I don’t think will ever happen again. Nick is the kind of guy that if you tell him once, it sticks.”
Florence is hopeful of more production offensively if he gets a second chance as a starter.
"I think this week, as an offense, we need to just come out and find our identity," Florence said. "I think everyone on the offense is pretty excited to find a groove and finally fit in. We are going to do that this week and it is going to be a good game Saturday."
The freshman quarterback told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he's predicting big things when the offense finally starts producing.
"When we find our identity as an offense and when we go out there this week and really start clicking, I think it’s going to be a different story than what everyone’s expecting," he said.
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Tim Griffin
Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
