by by Charlie Perry @CharlieHPerry
The Chickasaw Nation is built on the foundation of respect and advancement of its people. As the tribe flourishes in the heart of Oklahoma one of their own continues to flourish on the football field. “I count it as an honor to have Chickasaw blood flowing through my veins, along with the history of a resilient and unconquerable people, said Bryce Petty, quarterback for the Baylor Bears, on a recent interview with ChicaksawTV.com.
Petty rounded out his career for Baylor with a trip to the 79th Annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl in Arlington Texas. There he became the first Native American in the bowl’s history to receive the Sanford Trophy as the “Outstanding Offensive Player.” Petty also became the all-time leading passer in Cotton Bowl history, airing it out for 551 yards. Petty helped lead Baylor to an 11-2 record in 2014 barely missing college football’s first “final four” playoff at the Sugar Bowl this year. Petty proved he could stand up to the completion as he was voted a Maxwell finalist and Heisman Trophy candidate. It’s a bit surreal that Petty would return to Arlington for the Cotton Bowl. Growing up in the Fort Worth area he originally committed to Tennessee but would ultimately land as a red shirt freshman for Baylor.
Petty waited patiently for three years as Robert Griffin III and Nick Florance went before him at quarterback. Ready to compete Petty was left at a low point in his college career. “I think the lowest point was when I thought that I guess with Nick Florance, as great a guy as he is, greatest competitor a he is, you know, I really thought that I would get an opportunity or a chance to compete. I thought that was great. And so, when I was getting two reps in practice and not really have a chance that was my low point.”
Petty however has taken full advantage of his time as the starting quarterback for Baylor. The Bears have went 22-4 and secured two Big 12 titles since he became the starter in 2013. “That’s the greatest part about it. That’s really what life is all about, is looking back. Petty said, you can’t tell yourself where you’re at if you don’t know where you’ve been. So for me it’s been an outstanding journey, one that I will cherish and, hopefully, tell my kids and my grandkids about. It really sets you up with things that have to come in life, the future. When you’ve been down before, you know you got out of it. And for me, especially my faith and the fact that you know God’s plan is 10 times better.”
Head coach of Baylor Art Briles has seen a progression in Petty and admires his character on and on the field. “First of all, he is a tremendous person in his character and leadership and everything you need at that position to be great. Bryce has certainly been as great an ambassador for Baylor as possibly we’ve had. He’s great on the field, He’s great off the field. He is a great student of the game, and he’s a guy that will fight for wins. He will compete his tail off.”
Sophomore receiver Cory Coleman described Petty as, “a really good dude, a good people person” Many of Petty’s teammates agree that he is the hardest working player for the Bears.
When asked to sum up his experience as a Baylor Bear Petty commented, “The coolest part about what Baylor has done for me is as much off the filled as on the field. I’ve been through several challenges. So it’s a unique and very appreciative feeling that I have towards Baylor. It’s been a blessing to be here and couldn’t think of a better way to finish it out.”
COTTON BOWL GAME RECAP
Legendary WWE wrestling ring announcer Jim Ross had a popular catch phrase throughout his career. “We have a good old fashioned slobber knocker on our hands.” Ross would be dead on if he was doing the play by play for the 79th annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Baylor and Michigan State. The Spartans won the toss and elected to make a statement against the Bears by receiving the ball. Three plays into Michigan State’s first drive Jeremy Langford was off to the races as he took the ball outside 65 yards to Baylor’s 2 yard line. Two plays later Langford would pound it in the end zone putting the Spartans up 7-0 over the Bears.
Not to be outdone Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty led the Bears down the field on a series of short yardage passes which chipped away at the Spartans defense. Looking to convert on his third 3rd down of the drive Petty threw a 49 yard bomb to KD Cannon resulting in a touchdown to tie the game at 7.
Conner Cook had his chance to do his best Bryce Petty impression on the following drive. Cook moved the ball downfield with a series of short yardage passing plays of his own to set up an 11 yard touchdown run up the middle by R.J. Shelton to take the lead 14-7.
Michigan State’s defense stepped up on the next positon to hold Petty and the Bears to a 3 and out resulting in a punt and a test for the Bears defense. Baylor rose to the occasion topping off a defensive stand with a 6 yard sack by Right End Shawn Oakman on Cooke.
The Spartans punted to the Bears where they would put together another short yardage passing barrage before Petty went over the top 53 yards for a touchdown to wide receiver Cory Coleman, Baylor 14 Michigan State 14.
With the 2nd quarter underway it was once again time for Michigan State to respond. A series of quick handoffs from Cook to Langford gained enough ground for the Spartans to attempt a 50 yard field goal for the lead. Michigan State faked the field goal attempt and gained 6 yards but it would not be enough to keep the drive alive. Baylor took over on offense at their own 25 yard line.
A quick slant from Petty to Jay Lee would go for 26 yards to put Baylor in Michigan State territory. After holding the Bears to 3rd and long the Spartans would shoot themselves in the foot with a defensive holding penalty, putting Baylor in Michigan State’s red zone. On the following play the Spartans would once again falter as a roughing the passer penalty took the Bears inside the Spartan’s ten yard line. Shortly after Antwan Goodley moved Baylor to Michigan State’s 1 yard line on an 8 yard reception. Petty lowered his shoulder and ran the football up the Spartan’s gut resulting in a 1 yard touchdown run. Baylor took their first lead of the game 21-14.
On the following possession Baylor stopped Michigan State’s offense fairly quickly and once again was in control of the ball on offense. Petty caught fire as he connected with Cory Coleman for a 36 yard gain through the air. On the very next play Petty once again went deep. This time to Antwan Goodley for a 37 yard pickup. The Spartans stood up to the Bears in the Red zone however, holding Baylor to a 25 yard field goal by place kicker Chris Callahan to put the Bears up 10. As the clocked ticked down on the first half Baylor ran into the locker room leading 24-14 over Michigan State.
Baylor received to open the second half and quickly got to work. Two plays and 19 seconds into their drive the Bears scored another touchdown as Petty went 74 yards deep to KD Cannon for his 2nd touchdown reception on the day. Baylor extended their lead 31-14.
Michigan State received the ball and was quickly stopped by a Baylor defense that started showing signs of unity. Petty and the Bears offense took back over and once again made their way down the field with a series of short yardage passes. The Spartans would eventually respond with their first sack of the game. The Bears would bring Callahan out to attempt his second field goal of the day. A 46 yard boot by rang true to further extend Baylor’s lead 34-14.
Michigan State needed an answer on their next position to stay in the game. Cook was listening as a check down pass to R.J. Shelton for 17 yards put the Spartans in Baylor territory. The play was followed up with an end around by Tony Lippett taking Michigan State to the Baylor 5 yard line. Two plays later The Spartans were in the end zone on a 2 yard run by Jeremy Langford. His second touchdown of the day. Michigan State edged the game closer 34-21.
On the following drive Petty responded to the Spartans offensive strike with a long ball to KD Cannon putting the Bears in Spartan territory. Baylor continued to drive until Petty ran a bit of trickery finding 390 pound offensive tackle LaQuan McGowan in the end zone for six on a converted tight end, short fly route that put the Bears up 41-21.
Michigan State drove into Baylor territory fairly easily on the next position and found themselves in the red zone Until Cook’s pass to the sidelines was intercepted by strong safety Alfred Pullom on the Baylor 2 yard line. The Bears once again drove into the Spartan’s territory resulting in Callahan’s 3rd field goal attempt of the day. The attempt went wide right for his first miss on the day and a turnover on downs to end the 3rd quarter.
Cook went deep on the first play of the 4th quarter to Keith Mumphery for a 50 yard reception that put the Spartans on Baylor’s 13 yard line. 3 plays later Cook found tight end Josiah Price in the end zone resulting in an 8 yard touchdown reception. The Spartans continued to fight drawing the game closer 41-28.
Michigan State decided to attempt an onside kick on the following possession. The Spartan’s recovered the ball setting up the Spartans in Baylor territory. Cooke threw a 39 yard pass to Brandon Clemons to set up a red zone scoring opportunity only to be intercepted by Tyler Young for Baylor the following play.
Baylor and Michigan State traded punches on defense until just under 8 minutes left in the game when the Spartans caught a spark with a 24 yard pass to Paul Lang. Michigan State ran the ball the next four plays resulting in Cook plowing the ball 10 yards to put the Spartans on the one foot line. Jeremy Langford finished the job as he ran the ball 1 yard to pay dirt for his 3rd touchdown of the day. With just over five minutes remaining Baylor’s lead was cut down to a mere touchdown 41-35.
The Spartans kicked off to Baylor who instantly started driving down the field. A pass for 26 yards from Petty to Coleman took the Bears to the Spartans 7 yard line but was called back to the Spartans 22 yard line on an offensive facemask penalty by Coleman. The Bears needed just a field goal to put the game out of reach as Callahan lined up for his 4th attempt of the day. This kick would be from 43 yards out. Marcus Rush got off the line fast for the Spartans and made a leap of faith resulting in a blocked the field goal.
Michigan State had the ball and one last try to take down the Cotton Bowl. Cook led a 10 play drive converting a 4th down attempt along the way that comminuted with a reception to flex player Keith Mumphery for 10 yards in the middle of the end zone. Michigan State took the lead 42-41 with 15 seconds remaining.
Petty would heave the ball high in the final 17 seconds of the game but it would not be enough to head back to Waco with the victory. Your final score Michigan State 42, Baylor 41.
Petty passed for 551 yards in the Cotton Bowl making him the all-time leading passer in the game’s history and was also awarded the Sanford Trophy for Outstanding Offensive Player. Petty is the first Native America to receive such honors in the Cotton Bowl’s 79 year history.
Petty however was left unsatisfied in how the game played out. “It’s all for naught when you lose. Like I said, the whole goal going into this was finishing. You know, last year, it’s a flashback. I’m sitting on the podium with coach and a couple guys again talking about would have, could have, should have. But that’s never a spot you want to be when you got the game like we had it. So tough deal.”
Petty also commented on what it was like to watch a 20 point lead slip away late in the game, “You know, it’s a tough deal, especially when you feel like you got the game, you know, in control. Momentum is a tough deal. When you got a team that’s starting to build momentum, you got to shut it down and that’s what we lacked, what we didn’t do on offense when defense got the pick. So got to take care of that stuff.”
Head coach for Baylor Art Briles had one last thing to say about his team’s loss, “I’m proud of our football team. Any time you put so much into something for so long, like we do, like our players do, you know, it certainly is unpleasant when the outcome is a reality like what happened today. I feel like we had a really good opportunity to come out of here victoriously and had a couple of unfortunate things that happened down the stretch that prevented us from winning.”
In the opposing locker room Michigan State exuded a confidence that few team can match. Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio spoke on the game as a whole. “Great football game. Outstanding Baylor football team and we just kept playing. Really, fourth game in a row we were behind in a bowl game at half time, we bounced back to win the game. This one was the toughest probably of those. We have to credit our football team. We just keep finding a way, sneak back into a football game, cut it to 20 or whatever, kept it at 20 and we made some plays.”
Dantonio also took a moment to break down his team’s block of the final field goal from Baylor late that would have put the game out of reach. “It was pure and simple, we got to have a block. We got to get pressure, and we got to get a block. And that’s what was said in there. Monster block and two effort guys, Shilique Calhoun and Marcus Rush. Marcus got the push. Marcus got the block. Shilique might have got a little piece, but Marcus got it.”
Senior Jeremy Langford capped off his college carrer with his 10th straight 100+ yard performance at the Cotton Bowl. Langford finished with 162 yards on 27 carriers with 3 touchdowns. His ten 100 yard rushing games are the second most in a single season by a Michigan State running back behind only Lorenzo White with 11 in 1985. Langford was asked to reflect on his time as a Spartan. “it is truly a blessing to be in this program. The coaches care more about you than football, your social life. Just a very special program.”
I’m glad I’m here. I have no regrets of my time here, and I’m glad we can go out the way we did today.
Senior wide receiver Keith Mumphery gave his thoughts on what it was like to grab the winning catch with 17 seconds remaining in the game, “It was so exciting. I don’t know how to respond. I don’t want to get too sentimental because I might cry. I was just like we have 17 seconds more and I’ll celebrate after. I’m not ready for this to end.”
