Underrated Baylor senior linebacker Joe Pawelek has been one of the most productive players in Big 12 history.
Pawelek ranks first national in career tackles among active players with 401 in 46 career games. He has at least two games left during the regular season, and with two victories the Bears can make their first bowl trip since 1994.
We caught up with Pawelek earlier this week to talk about his career, his hopes of making a bowl trip before he leaves college and why the “Battle of the Brazos” with Texas A&M is so important to both schools.
You’re close to finishing your career at Baylor. Could you reflect on how fast it has gone?
Joe Pawelek: Yeah, looking at me and all of the seniors, this thing just flies by. You hear it all the time, but it doesn’t seem that way until you experience it. We’ve only got two games left and it’s really crazy that it’s all coming to an end.
Are there any regrets that Baylor hasn’t been able to accomplish more during your career there?
JP: I don’t think that regret would be a good word. You wish things would have happened a little different. From the time since I’ve been here, I would have done nothing differently. All of the work and the practice and the preparation have been big for us. Sure, we’d love to be undefeated and wanting to go to a third or fourth bowl game. But I don’t have any regrets to have done anything differently.
Could you talk about challenge your team faces, knowing that two victories will push you into your first bowl game since 1994.
JP: A lot of people outside this locker room have written us off for this season for awhile. When Griff (Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin) went down, a lot of people thought Baylor would go down with him. We still have a shot to make this a special season. With our start, it has turned this into a one-game season for us against Texas A&M and that’s how we’re going to approach. It’s the only week that matters to us. We’re looking to extend our season, one week at a time.
A lot of people from outside this area probably don’t realize what a bitter rivalry it is between Texas A&M and Baylor. Can you explain what makes “The Battle along the Brazos” so fervent.
JP: Over the years, it’s been picking up some steam. Every time we play them, it always seems to be close and a heated game. I think the closeness of the schools plays a big part in that. It’s a short drive along Highway 6 between both places. And for whatever reason, we’ve always been rivals over my career here. We’re looking for another win on Saturday.
Do you have any friends or family members with an A&M connection?
JP: A couple of my friends, receiver Cody Beyer and offensive linemen Corey Clark from my high school team, played for them over the years. My dad graduated from there and my fiancee is going to school over there now. It’s kind of funny now to see all those people that went to school there.
As a kid growing up, did you get a chance to sample games or the rich tradition at Kyle Field for A&M games?
JP: We made it to a couple of games. I think growing up knowing about the program and knowing the traditions of the school kind of make this game coming up a little more special. I think Kyle Field is a special play not only to watch games but also to play there.
Your team had a lot of success against the Aggies and their starting quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, in last season’s victory over the Aggies in Waco. How do you think that will help your team playing against them on Saturday?
JP: I’ve been impressed with what he’s been able to do this season. He’s putting up some great numbers and has had a great year. But it’s not necessarily one thing or another. Their running backs are very explosive. Jerrod is not making many mistakes and every time he goes out there, he has a chance to make something special happen.
As you get ready to play in your last two college games for Baylor, what are some of your thoughts about your career.
JP: It’s been a long process coming out of my recruiting and it’s still a little difficult to really consider things because we don’t know where we’re going to end up. Our senior class here has been through a lot with the coaching change. We’re just trying to leave the school better than we found it. I would like to think it’s happened but that work isn’t finished yet, either.
Would you like to have a couple of seasons to finish your career up with some of the top recruits that Coach Art Briles is bringing into the program and a healthy Robert Griffin?
JP: Not only that, but having the opportunity for some work with our strength coach Kaz Kazadi to see how he could mold us, but I don’t think anything for me is bade on regret wishing I could have done this or that. We’re satisfied with the things we’ve been able to accomplish, but we also understand that guys are in place that will keep the program growing and growing.
What do these last two regular-season games left in your career mean to you?
JP: Our team is definitely ready for Saturday to get here. We can go out and make this season something special. What a perfect way for us to end things up by winning against these two Texas schools who are big rivals for us. We still have a chance to make our season with a little storybook ending. We’re excited, but we still have a lot of work before we can go out and have another big game.
Pawelek ranks first national in career tackles among active players with 401 in 46 career games. He has at least two games left during the regular season, and with two victories the Bears can make their first bowl trip since 1994.
We caught up with Pawelek earlier this week to talk about his career, his hopes of making a bowl trip before he leaves college and why the “Battle of the Brazos” with Texas A&M is so important to both schools.
You’re close to finishing your career at Baylor. Could you reflect on how fast it has gone?
Joe Pawelek: Yeah, looking at me and all of the seniors, this thing just flies by. You hear it all the time, but it doesn’t seem that way until you experience it. We’ve only got two games left and it’s really crazy that it’s all coming to an end.
Are there any regrets that Baylor hasn’t been able to accomplish more during your career there?
JP: I don’t think that regret would be a good word. You wish things would have happened a little different. From the time since I’ve been here, I would have done nothing differently. All of the work and the practice and the preparation have been big for us. Sure, we’d love to be undefeated and wanting to go to a third or fourth bowl game. But I don’t have any regrets to have done anything differently.
Could you talk about challenge your team faces, knowing that two victories will push you into your first bowl game since 1994.
JP: A lot of people outside this locker room have written us off for this season for awhile. When Griff (Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin) went down, a lot of people thought Baylor would go down with him. We still have a shot to make this a special season. With our start, it has turned this into a one-game season for us against Texas A&M and that’s how we’re going to approach. It’s the only week that matters to us. We’re looking to extend our season, one week at a time.
A lot of people from outside this area probably don’t realize what a bitter rivalry it is between Texas A&M and Baylor. Can you explain what makes “The Battle along the Brazos” so fervent.
JP: Over the years, it’s been picking up some steam. Every time we play them, it always seems to be close and a heated game. I think the closeness of the schools plays a big part in that. It’s a short drive along Highway 6 between both places. And for whatever reason, we’ve always been rivals over my career here. We’re looking for another win on Saturday.
Do you have any friends or family members with an A&M connection?
JP: A couple of my friends, receiver Cody Beyer and offensive linemen Corey Clark from my high school team, played for them over the years. My dad graduated from there and my fiancee is going to school over there now. It’s kind of funny now to see all those people that went to school there.
As a kid growing up, did you get a chance to sample games or the rich tradition at Kyle Field for A&M games?
JP: We made it to a couple of games. I think growing up knowing about the program and knowing the traditions of the school kind of make this game coming up a little more special. I think Kyle Field is a special play not only to watch games but also to play there.
Your team had a lot of success against the Aggies and their starting quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, in last season’s victory over the Aggies in Waco. How do you think that will help your team playing against them on Saturday?
JP: I’ve been impressed with what he’s been able to do this season. He’s putting up some great numbers and has had a great year. But it’s not necessarily one thing or another. Their running backs are very explosive. Jerrod is not making many mistakes and every time he goes out there, he has a chance to make something special happen.
As you get ready to play in your last two college games for Baylor, what are some of your thoughts about your career.
JP: It’s been a long process coming out of my recruiting and it’s still a little difficult to really consider things because we don’t know where we’re going to end up. Our senior class here has been through a lot with the coaching change. We’re just trying to leave the school better than we found it. I would like to think it’s happened but that work isn’t finished yet, either.
Would you like to have a couple of seasons to finish your career up with some of the top recruits that Coach Art Briles is bringing into the program and a healthy Robert Griffin?
JP: Not only that, but having the opportunity for some work with our strength coach Kaz Kazadi to see how he could mold us, but I don’t think anything for me is bade on regret wishing I could have done this or that. We’re satisfied with the things we’ve been able to accomplish, but we also understand that guys are in place that will keep the program growing and growing.
What do these last two regular-season games left in your career mean to you?
JP: Our team is definitely ready for Saturday to get here. We can go out and make this season something special. What a perfect way for us to end things up by winning against these two Texas schools who are big rivals for us. We still have a chance to make our season with a little storybook ending. We’re excited, but we still have a lot of work before we can go out and have another big game.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
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.
