Baylor Relying on "The Weed"

[Stallion]

in a stunning turn out events Baylor has signed John David Weed as a QB next year. I'm really surprised that more teams didn't go after this kid. 6-5 strong QB with nice mobility who was one of the Top JC QBs in the country. I guess not too many teams in this part of the Country were looking at a JC QB this year since there are so many top young QBs around. TCU probably would have offered after losing Sneed but he's getting a good opportunity at Baylor to start. SMU might have been a player for Weed if Willis hadn't had such a great Freshman season.

[50's PONY]

Weed is NOT the only one --

Bears bring in QB for next season only one ----

Saturday, December 30, 2006

By Jerry Hill

Tribune-Herald assistant sports editor

Michael Machen has packed his bags more times than he would like to remember.

But the 25-year-old journeyman quarterback and former minor league baseball player is making one more move.

After stops at Alabama, Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and Kent State, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound quarterback is transferring to Baylor. He will enroll next month and has one year of eligibility remaining after graduating early from Kent State.

“With only one year left, I was looking for a system that I was already comfortable with and hopefully have an opportunity to come in and help in a big way,” said Machen, who threw for 2,177 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 starts with the Golden Flashes.

“The offense that Baylor runs is almost exactly like what I ran last year at Kent and something that I’ve had success with in the past. I was also talking to Nevada and the University of Houston. But from the get-go, I thought Baylor was going to be the best bet.”

At the very least, Machen helps soften the blow of Gilmer quarterback G.J. Kinne’s shocking decision on Thursday to switch his commitment from Baylor to Texas.

“I know what it’s like for a new quarterback coming in,” said Machen, who has to drive from his home in Mobile, Ala., back to Cleveland, Ohio, to pack up his belongings and then to Waco in time for the first day of classes on Jan. 8. “I’m not saying anything. I know I have to earn the respect of the players first. I just want a chance to compete with whoever’s over there and hopefully make the whole team better.”

With Kinne seemingly out of the picture, Machen joins the mix with returning starter Blake Szymanski and freshmen Tyler Beatty and Brad Taylor.

Machen’s long journey from Mobile, Ala., to Waco began with a three-year side trip.

Taken in the 14th round by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 baseball draft, Machen spent two years with the Braves organization and one with the Baltimore Orioles before returning to football in 2003.

“I was in limbo in baseball and kind of weighing my options, and it was my lifelong dream to play football at the University of Alabama,” Machen said.

Then-Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione talked him into giving football another chance and then left two weeks later to take the job at Texas A&M. After Machen spent two springs and one fall as a redshirt, head coach Mike Shula suggested that he go the junior college route.

At Coffeyville, he led the Ravens to a 10-2 record and a victory in the Valley Sun Bowl. Machen threw for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns and earned second-team all-conference honors.

“I wanted to at least prove something to myself,” Machen said. “If I had gone to junior college and done badly, at least I would have given it a shot.”

Nebraska took a look at Machen, who wanted to transfer after his redshirt freshman season. But the Cornhuskers opted instead for Zac Taylor, who earned Big 12 offensive player of the year honors this season.

At Kent, Machen started 10 games as a sophomore and completed 200 of 365 passes for 2,078 yards and 11 touchdowns with 18 interceptions for the 1-10 Golden Flashes.

Machen was slated to start again this season before suffering a broken collarbone 10 days before the opener against Minnesota. By the time he came back, Kent had switched to more of an option attack with sophomore Julian Edelman and were in the middle of a five-game winning streak.

“I understood where he was coming from, because the team was going well,” Machen said. “But I didn’t agree with it. I lost my job because of an injury and a coach’s decision. So I began to look for places to go.”

Machen, who’s already working on his MBA, said his wealth of experience can only help the Bears.

“I almost feel like an assistant coach that’s been everywhere,” he said. “It’s not exactly a recipe for success to play under four different offenses in four years. But plays are plays. They’re just called different. I faced Virginia Tech this season, and they’re may not be a better defense in the country. I hopefully can use that experience to my benefit.”

[email protected]

[smupony94]

MMMMMM, weed

[BUTitan]

HAHA, look at this way............Austin A-S Front Page headline.............UT Smokes Weed.

[mustangnation]

HAHA, look at this way............Austin A-S Front Page headline.............UT Smokes Weed.

UT has already had that headline for the past couple of years.

[that's great raplh]

works for me

[ALEX LIFESON]

I thought the horns had all the weed?

[smupony94]

I thought the horns had all the weed?

Not since Ricky left

[ALEX LIFESON]

You are behind times, if you thought that.