Reflecting on a historic four years for Baylor football

Now that we’ve had a few days to reflect on Baylor football’s Cotton Bowl loss, it’s a little easier to put the game in perspective. After all, a one-point defeat to a top-10 team shouldn’t completely tarnish our memories of the 2014 season — or all that this year’s outgoing seniors accomplished in their four years here.

Consider what members of Baylor’s Class of 2015 have witnessed here since their first Welcome Week:

• A four-year record of 40-12, including a 25-1 record at home. (Think about that: An entire class of students will graduate having seen just one home loss in four years. Unbelievable — but it keeps going.)
• The first two 11-win seasons in program history (and three of the Bears’ four 10-win seasons ever).
• A Heisman Trophy winner.
• Back-to-back Big 12 Conference titles.
• A program-record 5 straight bowl appearances.
• The successful fundraising and construction of a new on-campus stadium.

Want more good news? While the Bears’ will certainly miss this year’s seniors — a group that includes Bryce Petty, Bryce Hager, Antwan Goodley and Levi Norwood — Baylor is set to return an astounding 18 of 22 starters on offense and defense in 2015 as the Bears aim for a third straight Big 12 championship.

Sic ’em, Baylor football!