FOOTBALL: Briles: Baylor swinging for the fences

DALLAS Coach Art Briles and Baylor arrived at Big 12 football media days as defending champions for the first time.

Briles has a slightly different take on the Bears newfound standing.

How can you defend and protect something that nobody can take? 2013 is gone forever. That title is ours, Briles said Monday. Were attacking 2014 just like everybody else. Thats our mindset with our players, and thats the way theyve been approaching everything.

The first of five coaches on the podium for the first day, Briles used a baseball analogy in that leadoff role.

The thing thats a little different is, I dont know what the commissioner expected, but were not going to try to bunt or get a single. I promise you that, he said. Were swinging for the fences. So maybe he should have put us fourth because thats just the way we approach the game.

Even with quarterback Bryce Petty and receiver Antwan Goodley back, Baylor was picked second in the Big 12 media preseason poll behind Oklahoma. The Bears won 11 games last season before losing 52-42 to UCF in the Fiesta Bowl.

Kansas State and Texas, who will join the Sooners for the second day at the Omni Dallas Hotel, were picked third and fourth, respectively.

Oklahoma State opens Aug. 30 against defending national champion Florida State and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston in Arlington, Texas.

The Cowboys will have less available practice time once school starts after falling below the NCAA minimum standard with their Academic Progress Rate score over a four-year period. They can work only 18 hours a week, instead of the standard 20 under NCAA rules, though coach Mike Gundy said that wont be too much of an issue.

We havent used the 20 hours in a number of years. And when you put it down on paper, we end up being about 45 minutes short, Gundy said. Well incorporate a few new things in two-a-days prior to school starting, when we dont have any limitations, and well move forward. Ive challenged the players with accepting responsibility to make up for that time during the week.

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FOOTBALL: Briles: Baylor swinging for the fences