BAYLOR VS. CONNECTICUT PREVIEW: Bears Aim to Claw to 2-0, Host Huskies

WACO, Texas — In less than 24 hours, the Baylor Bears (1-0) will kickoff their 2009 home opener against the University of Connecticut Huskies (1-1) for Parent’s Weekend — slated to begin at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Baylor enters their home debut fresh off a bye-week after a three-point road victory over Wake Forest to open the season, and will face a U-Conn team that comes into Saturday’s contest with a 1-1 record after beginning the season with a 23-16 win at Ohio prior to a two-point loss to the overrated UNC Tar Heels last weekend in North Carolina.

“We’re glad to be back on a regular schedule,” Baylor Head Coach Art Briles said. “What we tried to accomplish during the off week is what we tried to accomplish before the Wake Forest game. We have a long stretch in front of us so we have to be ready to go to work and take care of business. U-Conn is a very good football team. From playing them last year, we know that there style of play is something that we respect and we have a good feeling for them as an opponent.”

Once again, Briles and the Bears coaching staff will look to sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin and his young and talented surrounding cast to lead the charge as Baylor hit’s the field for their first home game of ‘09.

“They came off a hard loss [against UNC] so they’re going to be playing hard and we know that,” Griffin said. “They aren’t going to overlook us and one of our goals is to not give them one sack. I expect them to come after me, but our o-line can take care of that and I can, as well. When you have two teams attacking, someone has to win and I think we have a good shot at that this weekend.”

On Saturday, the Bears get a chance to avenge last season’s three-point loss to the Huskies — although Griffin and company are just ready to move on to this season.

“You have to be able to erase it [the loss] in that season,” Griffin said. “After that game you have to move on to the next game. However, this year we are going to be hungry from last year. We are going out there to dominate the game and put it away early. That loss from last year will be there but we have a new season and a new team and we’re ready to go.”

For those unable to make it to Saturday‘s game, fans can visit baylorbears.com for a live video webcast produced by BaylorVision — which can be viewed with the purchase of a Baylor All-Access package ($6.95/month).

“Any time you open at home, you want to come out and put on a good show for them,” senior linebacker Joe Pawelek said. “I think that with our situation, coming in and getting that first win and then seeing the big picture of things, this is a big game for us.”

For the Baylor Nation, tomorrow afternoon couldn’t come sooner as the Bears aim to continue their quest for a bowl and beyond.

“We are excited to be at home; it’s a big deal,” Briles said. “It’s exciting to be at home and show our fans what we have on our home turf. You have very few opportunities to do that in the game of football so when you have that opportunity to be on the top side, you need to take advantage of it and that’s what we’re hoping to do.”

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]