College Football Fix: Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears Head Coach

Ms. Kelly will go no college football fix only on the site well were almost bearing for the Baylor Bears.

They kick off their season on September 3 and I came up against Albany as the Bears two years ago were two and seven this past season. 12 and two big 12 champions and they did when the sugar bowl. Now let's welcome any third year head coach of the Baylor Bears and that's Dave Aranda Dave Coates appreciate the time Zach Albert New York City how are you doing great things for me is that kinda crazy when you hear that this is now your third year at Baylor and how quickly this is already got all for you go about no I think we got we got that came in that recruiting class that first year and focusing on their maturation and people that they are now doing light but you can't take back and reflect.

It goes off and there was a lot going on in the world. When you guys to go to and seven. I know you don't want to hear the excuses, but how do you kind of explain the turn around. A year later from two and 7 to 12 and two and when the big 12. Probably myself just being at in the chlorinator rule probably being sheltered from you, probably.

Life really interesting ball and using that using ball is an escape and so you know feeling the effects of that and wanting more than just that coaching opportunity is a great opportunity but then you know then you make mistakes and you have to learn, and I think you got to get out of your way to do that. That's all you know there's some humiliation and embarrassment go with it.

You can move out of that ship with that well.

There can be be some good out of it and then I think you know so taking leadership for taking making it all about you know what you're about. And then paradoxically same time make it all about everybody else. And so I think that it would show about flows through through everyone your windows and so you must first 2020. Just thinking about what should I say here what should I do here.

How should I know what's next. What I know there's a lot of questions and and just when you can figure out who you are all those questions can't take care of himself and so journey I saw the comments you made the other day when you said your analyses you felt like you were a machine and I would say this to coaches. I know how you guys operate its minute by minute, second by second, and sometimes even though you appreciate the moment you may not show it, and last night coach, I went back and watch that big 12 championship game and I don't know if that didn't get to the good moment, but you look even pretty serious after that incredible goal line stand side to process the goal line sandblasted on the big 12. I know that in the there's two things and I think I don't know what I'm imagine that Jesus only face mother could love a buzzer beater and he looked like he just rolled that he was so stoked coaching face.

The more you see you with light dressing face was so different, it is what it is, I think, but I think prior you know Kansas State.

We we we played them earlier in the season and big 12 championship like sheep are to be and Blake was our quarterback canvas finger shoulder was injured and like never you know running QB sneak over or never run and never had him under center near the ball calculator anything anything of that nature chokes that in that particular moment because there's still time on the clock and how we can get out of the 1 inch line you know what's going to happen and then I think also.

But that was just think you thinking about the other side just how many minutes later when got to shake coach and he was so in the moment and just so appreciative of the game and cut your Baylor's effort everything and I just know it's weird because you kind of knew that was comfy even before he said it no kiss from my my my small, limited interactions with him, but it makes you proud to be a coach just way cool but I'm thinking of those two things Dave Aranda here without you guys had a remarkable season a great season. A year ago. Do you feel like you could just wanting to have a great season individually that you guys are great programmer you still building to become a great program and I appreciate that question. I think you're thinking of building and I think after season after Saturday game and you have yourself a brand-new team that Sunday morning, based upon, you know how football is a game of random events and setbacks you how you respond to all the good and is it are we too big for our britches are trending that way or we are we having your complaining and whining order excuses now. Are there no fight or flight. We part of it would be no blaming it's not me somebody else fleeing would be here. I'm just to do me good teams over here doing their stuff, but I will do my stuff do it my way, graduated an eight year I'm good, do me so all those things are always under the surface. Also near the wins and losses when important you as you building like what is the task within the task. What are we really doing what were doing were doing and I think to stay on top of that is kind of an exhaustive thing and so were always building success comes pressure and expectations isn't wild with after two and seven season, then you guys win the big 12 you when the sugar bowl. Now you're not flying under anyone's radar those expectations.

I know you embrace him it's it's a reason why we all get involved in this and you want to get to the mountaintop, while tell quickly those expectations and pressure then comes your program. It is that it is think you know when it when it's two and seven and you're going into the 21 season.

The issue with your teams really it's it's that you know you're kind of a quirky you know weird dude and trying to get across. Next stuff, it is typical for normal that a coach would say and what does any of this stuff have to do with winning and now you're saying some of this stuff last year you want to create so that can be difficult. You know when you when you win the shoot and then becomes was able to watch the UFC fight on Saturday Saturday and so like lover guys like to watch your boxing matches UFC fight this country.

Just look the excitement of all that when you're in the octagon are agreeing to take that your metaphors and think we can use. But one thing is interesting for this particular team. You know you train. You do all you you have to walk to the octagon. They announce you, and you have a mute music that plays people cheer for you and get in to the ring and then you buffer announces you and it's like crowd goes crazy but then after that they don't just give you a chance to talk you have to like fight and used to get hit and you have to get hurt and you may get knocked down guy get back up and you know your hand is your other hand. And you know your getting choked out to find a way to get out usual this year. Everything you've been taught in the hardest, most pressurized moment, and then after all that the Lord smile on your then there's a chance for something at the end and I think that's the thing with having success is you know you still walk into a ring and anything that we have few young guys. Maybe just the rule of all of it, they could look at it that way certainly isn't so fight with everything.

I know we always talk about players maybe getting complacent, but then you could also think about it from a coaching aspect to accomplish everything that you have one job maybe a coach needs a new challenge.

It seems like what you're saying Dave Aranda. There's a lot more to accomplish for you Baylor. Maybe that's factored into the decision when your name was thrown into a bunch of jobs this off-season why you elected to stay.

I know I can remember in high school a little much of the student was trying to find. I guess my way in college. Everything was able to. And since I found my way always way interested in Jewish transformation.

And it's always been hard to talk about additional never see anyone else really talk about it and you don't want to know. I think the opportunity to try to live that out here and try to built to teach and model.

Here I think is way unique and I think that's really what it's about. And you know who is the person that you're becoming. As a result of the chick flick get all the stuff we trying to accomplish and do all of you becoming what is is becoming greater than or less than URL and so I think it was a great place to do that and what is the data land away at that Baylor coach. I think it mastery of self mastery of craft.

Looking at that as one thing you know it's not being in David close the school day for close the play football or a day that she almost parents or do you know on and around campus something that's if you knowing who you are and everything flowing from that. I just think you there is such up-and-down think you the ability to see all that as as an opportunity to hone in on your values and really live out think is the only naturally, last year, having been able to win before it really high level and not through this way is just so ephemeral and just got the winds there there and then they're gone now and if you don't really have kind of you grow and real strong time with relationships to other people. You just different string winning the winning show so much of it is when shall I feel like you're winning and waiting for your ego you know in your winning so that you're better than your it's comparative when you win deep. It's like it's like a soul winning if there's a connection to your winning your scene. The goddess is not getting the credit, but it has put everything into this week put everything into this year you seeing all the sacrifices it's just so strong it's hard to ask hard to explain but because it's something that's outside of just you and I think that's what's great about sports and not so much of it I feel is pull away from that.

If you allow it to be now if you look at your phone doing all the stuff we all do so. It's a a lot of video with the store sign so grown-up and so I feel like sometimes there is an episode with George was like he was cut he kinda figured out that whatever he wanted to do here to do the opposite. No don't do that do the opposite of whatever were doing here is that doing the opposite of the coach of the Baylor Bears to kick off their season next Saturday night up against Albany in their big 12 title defense does get underway next week.

We seen a little bit your quarterback like Chapin last year and some big moments in he excelled in a wonderful way if someone has it.

Watch your quarterback if someone is not familiar with your quarterback that he described the gunslinger great feel for the game in terms of the defenses or you can do their best to not show their hand and to try to spin down late or trite with safeties or try to disguise the coverages and I think he's got a great sense about older studies spends time but I think his office was special and I think he can control it from different angles, platforms, and was up with was a shortstop in baseball and can I have that that that look and feel about him and so this way excited. There's been countless close throughout the camp were your kind of amazing.

Throughout the team.

Did you see that while you sometimes like did you hear that you know and so possibly cool I think is though his his greatest human growth and full campus to spin his leadership in him because settling down to who he is and not trying to be someone that is not think you've you've really seen some of the strides that way because you're a couple weeks so so far so good. You coach and you talked about it, you get new players in the program yester place some legendary players like Jaelyn Petrie, which is good to be a really tough task that will see that the growth of your quarterback as well.

I take you back to big 12 media days is watching your session and you said it smart for us to align our strengths early on and develop what needs development throughout the season.

What you think your biggest strength is headed into the season as a team and what is the thing that keeps you most. That night, that you really need to develop on the question.

I think the line of scrimmage is probably our our our or most of our returning people are at and so you I think it's a positive thing with them just have an attitude that they've had the mindset that they've had to continue to improve it to you falsely, and we talk about dying and rising parts of the self that hold you back, and ego takes hold in all that that has to die salute. In others there can be something greater that can be born, and I think they do that and they tried it and I held back so I think that's a strength of think you have the weakness or the you know the things that it kind of keep keep me up or just the immaturity and we got some young really counted guys that you know I think it were, running into a storm for the season. Yet this this this schedule presents plenty of storms and though for us to be at her best.

You look at the last year's game versus local, state, were around theirs, so from pollution. I take responsibility for the other side looking at our team faces and they were not prepared, and then I look at the end of the game. Oklahoma State and sugars in the competitiveness and it was the same.

You know, we melted one can we stay true with the other and so I want to waste when I just don't know we we contemplate a fair amount of similar particular games that come down to you, not melting. And so the concern and we worked on it. You know I think you're never going to know to know so stay tuned my thoughts a lot of the last 56 years on the Temple guy someone that was there was watch a lot. I continue doing so because I'm excited to see what you continue to build good luck this year and really do appreciate the extensive conversation you just gave us