Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) is introduced before the game as he interacts with the fans between the Texas Longhorns and the Baylor Bears at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco Texas..Baylor wins 48-24. Manny Flores/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: csmphoto533004
Since joining the Big 12 conference in 1996, the Baylor football team has been laughingstock of the conference. Over 14 seasons the Bears had managed zero winning records within conference and a grand total of 18 conference wins. The 2011 season was a turnaround year for Baylor led by the arm and legs of redshirt junior quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Griffin is the son of Robert Jr. and Jacqueline who were Sergeants in the US Army. At the time of Robert III’s birth they were stationed in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Upon coming back to the US, the family moved around the country before settling down in 1997 at the city of Copperas Cove, Texas. Griffin was a star athlete for the basketball, football, and track teams. His performance on the football field got the attention of Stanford, Tennessee, Kansas, Nebraska, Houston, Tulsa, Illinois, Washington State, and Oregon who all recruited Griffin but he committed to play at Houston with coach Art Briles. When Coach Briles left Houston, Griffin switched his commitment and later signed a Letter of Intent to play for Coach Briles and his new team the Baylor Bears.
Griffin continued to compete on the track team at Baylor where he won Big 12 gold medals and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials. As a freshman quarterback Griffin broke school records for rushing. In his sophomore season Griffin suffered an isolated ACL tear in the third game of the year. Griffin sat the rest of the year and returned the start of the 2010 season. Griffin gained 4,145 total yards including 22 passing touchdowns and 8 rushing leading the Bears to a 7-5 record including a school-best 4-4 Big 12 conference record.
Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 slips in for a touchdown as Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Julius Howard #13 and Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive tackle Colby Whitlock #93 try to make the play in the first quarter of their game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Baylor Bears at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas. ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportswest713883
The following season Griffin built on the 2010 season racking up 36 passing touchdowns, 9 rushing and a grand total of 4,657 offensive yards. Baylor also finished with a 9-3 record and their first winning Big 12 Conference record at 6-3 which was enough to tie them for third place. The Bears topped off the season in a shootout with Washington in the Alamo Bowl. Griffin and the Baylor offense outlasted the Huskies for a 67-56 win.
Griffin’s performance got the attention of the country and he was named a Heisman Finalist along with Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson, Tyrann Mathieu and Montee Ball. Griffin was named the winner at the ceremony in New York last December where he became a household name and everyone got a view of his odd socks.
Robert Griffin III winner of The 77th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in New York. HRC WENN Photos/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: wennphotosthree122476
Former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III shows off his monster socks during the 2011 Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award press conference at the 2012 Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, February 20, 2012. Max Faulkner/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtphotoslive534673
Now Griffin is moving on to the NFL game where he is expected to be taken second overall behind Luck. In March the Washington Redskins agreed to trade three first-round draft picks and a second-round pick to St. Louis for their second pick in this year’s draft where they are expected to take Griffin. I’m sure, after seeing the turnaround Griffin brought Baylor, the Redskins have to be hoping he can bring the same magic to the NFL.
For more pictures of RGIII check out Newscom.
Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III. ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportswest684760
Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) and Kansas State Wildcats cornerback David Garrett (27) during the game between the Kansas State University Wildcats and the Baylor University Bears at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas. Baylor wins over Kansas State 47-42. Patrick Green/ Icon SMI BAD/Patrick Green/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotostwo704651
Baylor University quarterback Robert Griffin III displays his "Barney" socks during a news conference as Griffin announces he is entering in the NFL draft at Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Griffin explained that he loved everyone so he decided to wear the Barney character socks. Vernon Bryant/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtphotoslive528625
Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 celebrates with the band after the win during the Valero Alamo Bowl game between the University of Washington Huskies and the Baylor University Bears at Alamodome Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Baylor wins the Valero Alamo Bowl against Washington, 67-56. Patrick Green/ Icon SMI BAD/Patrick Green/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree116784
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Tags: Baylor, college football, NCAA, nfl, NFL Draft, RGIII, Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins