College Football Fix: Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears Head Coach

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Only on the Zach Gelb show. Well, we're almost there. And for the Baylor Bears, they kick off their season on September 3rd, a night game up against Albany, as the Bears two years ago were 2-7 this past season, 12-2.

Big 12 champions, and they did win the Sugar Bowl. And now let's welcome in the third-year head coach of the Baylor Bears, and that's Dave Aranda. Dave, coach, appreciate the time.

Zach Gelb here in New York City. How are you? Doing great.

Thanks for having me. Is that kind of crazy when you hear that this is now your third year at Baylor and how quickly this has already got off for you? It does go by fast. You know, I think we've got some kids that came in that recruiting class that first year, and so just seeing their maturation, just seeing kind of the people that they are now, kind of brings it to light. But it does when you do kind of take pause and sit back and reflect.

It goes awfully fast. And there was a lot going on in the world when you guys did go 2-7. I know you don't want to hear the excuses, but how do you kind of explain the turnaround a year later from 2-7 to 12-2 and winning the Big 12? I think just probably myself just being in the coordinator role, probably being sheltered from probably life, really, and just doing ball and almost kind of using ball as an escape. And so feeling the effects of that and wanting more than just that, a head coaching opportunity is a great opportunity, but then you're really not prepared, man. And so then you make mistakes, and you have to learn. And I think you've got to get out of your way to do that, and that's all, you know, there's some humiliation and embarrassment and all of it with it.

But if you can move out of that or really kind of sit with that while there can be some good out of it. And then I think, you know, so taking leadership, so making it all about you, you've got to know what you're about, and then paradoxically at the same time make it all about everybody else. And so I think what you're all about kind of flows through through everyone you're with. And so I remember the first year of 2020 just thinking about what should I say here, what should I do here, how should I, you know, what's next, you know, there's a lot of questions. And just when you kind of figure out who you are, all those questions kind of take care of themselves.

And so it's been a big journey, you know. I saw the comments you made the other day when you said you were at LSU, you felt like you were a machine. And I always say this to coaches because I know how you guys operate.

It's minute by minute, second by second, and sometimes even though you appreciate the moment, you may not show it. And last night, coach, I went back and watched that Big 12 championship game, and I don't know if they didn't get you in a good moment, but you looked even pretty serious after that incredible goal line stand. So how did you process the goal line stand last year to win the Big 12?

Yeah, so I know that there's two things I was just thinking of, and I think, I don't know, I imagine that face is only a face a mother could love, you know, so I don't know. Hey, Jay Wright once won a national championship in basketball on a buzzer beater, and he looked like he just rolled out of bed and he was so stoic. So it happens, it's coaching face.

Oh, man, it's just the more you see it, you wish like the resting face was just so different, but it is what it is. I think, but I think prior, you know, with Kansas State, we played them earlier in the season, and, you know, Big 12 championship, Blake Shapen was our QB, and Blake was our quarterback at Kansas State, our starter at the time, was injured, and Blake had never, you know, run a QB sneak or never run, and we never had him under center and kneeled a ball to kind of kill it or anything of that nature, and so I was thinking of that in that particular moment because there's still time on the clock and, you know, how are we going to get out of the one-inch line, you know, and what's going to happen, and then I think also with that was just, I think, you know, thinking about the other side, you know, and just however many minutes later when got to shake Coach Gundy's hand, just he was just so in the moment and just so appreciative of the game and kind of, you know, Baylor's effort and everything, and I just kind of, you know, it's weird because you kind of knew that's what it was going to be even before he said it, you know, just from my small kind of limited interactions with him, but it makes you proud to be a coach, just way cool, but I remember thinking of those two things. Coach Dave Aranda here with us. You guys had a remarkable season, a great season a year ago. Do you feel like because there's one thing to have a great season individually that you guys are a great program or are you still building to become a great program?

No, I appreciate that question. I think you're always thinking of building, and I think, you know, I think after, I think in a season, you know, after a Saturday game, I mean, you have yourself a brand-new team that Sunday morning based upon, you know, how, you know, looking at football as a game of random events and setbacks, you know, how you respond to all of it, you know, the good and the bad, you know, is it, are we too big for our britches or are we trending that way? Are we, are we having, you know, complaining and whining?

Are there excuses now? Are there, you know, talk about like fight or flight, are we, the fight part of it would be, you know, the blaming, it's not me, you know, it's somebody else or the fleeing would be, you know, I'm just going to do me, right? I'm, you know, the team's over here doing their stuff, but I'm going to do my stuff. I'm going to do it my way.

And, you know, I'm going to graduate in a year and I'm good, I'm going to do me. So all of those things are always kind of under the surface of, you know, the wins and losses. So it's way important, you know, as you're building, like, what is the task within the task? Like, what are we really doing when we're doing what we're doing? And I think to stay on top of that is kind of an exhaustive thing, but I think it's everything, you know?

And so I would look at it like we're always building. With success comes pressure and expectations. Isn't it wild with after a 2-7 season, then you guys win the Big 12, you win the Sugar Bowl, now you're not flying under anyone's radar. Those expectations, I know you embrace them, it's the reason why we all get involved in this, and you want to get to the mountaintop, but it's kind of wild how quickly those expectations and pressure then comes to your program.

It is. It is, I think, you know, when it's 2-7 and you're going into the 21 season, the issue with your team is really belief. It's that you're kind of a quirky, weird dude, and you're trying to get across maybe stuff that isn't typical or normal that a coach would say, and what does any of this stuff have to do with winning, and you were saying some of this stuff last year and you won two games. And so that can be difficult. When you win, the issue then becomes, you know, I was able to watch the UFC fight on Saturday, this last Saturday, and a lot of our guys like to watch either boxing matches, UFC fights, just the pageantry, just the excitement of all of it when you're in the Octagon or the ring, and just kind of taken from that, you know, metaphors and things we can use. I think one of the things that's interesting for this particular team is that, you know, you train, you do all of it, you have the walk to the Octagon, they announce you, and you have music that plays, people are cheering for you, and then you get in to the ring, and then, you know, Buffer announces you, and it's like the crowd goes crazy. But then after that, they don't just give you a championship belt.

You know, that doesn't work like that. You have to like fight now, and you have to get hit, and you have to get hurt, and you may get knocked down, and you've got to get back up, and, you know, your hand is hurting, and you've got to use your other hand, and, you know, you're getting choked out, and you've got to be able to find a way to get out, use all this, you know, everything you've been taught in the hardest, most pressurized moments. And then after all of that, if the Lord is smiling on you, then there's a chance for something at the end, you know. And so I think that's the thing with having success is that, you know, you just don't walk into a ring and they hand you anything, because I think we have a few young guys that maybe just their role of all of it, they could look at it as that way, and it certainly isn't.

So there's always a fight with everything, you know. I know we always talk about players maybe getting complacent, but then you could also think about it from a coaching aspect, too. If you accomplish everything that you have at one job, maybe a coach needs a new challenge.

It seems like what you're saying, Dave Aranda, there's a lot more to accomplish for you at Baylor, maybe that's factored into the decision when your name was thrown into a bunch of jobs this offseason while you elected to stay. You know, since I can remember, I think when I was in high school, I didn't live much of a student life kind of thing. I was trying to find, I guess, my way, but, you know, in college and everything I was able to, and since I've found my way, I've always been way interested in just transformation.

And I don't know, it's always been hard to talk about, because I just don't ever see anyone else really talk about it, and so I just don't want to be weird. And so I just, you know, I think the opportunity to try to live that out here and to try to build, to teach it and model it here, I think is way unique, and I think that's really what it's about. And, you know, who is the person that you're becoming as a result of the chase? Like, you know, all the stuff we're trying to accomplish and do and win and all the outcome, like, who are you becoming? Like, what is, are you becoming greater than or less than who you are now? And so I think Baylor's a great place to do that.

Well, then what is the day veranda way at Baylor, Coach? I think it's mastery of self, mastery of craft. I think it's looking at that as one thing, you know.

I think it's not being, you know, a Dave that goes to school and then a Dave that plays football or a Dave that's, you know, on and around campus. I think it's, you know, knowing who you are and everything flowing from that. I just think, you know, there is such up and downs. I think, you know, the ability to see all that as an opportunity to hone in on your values and really kind of live out those values, I think, is the only thing that's really going to last. You know, having been able to win before and win at really high levels and not through this way is just so ephemeral, man. It just got to the wins.

They're there and then they're gone, you know. And if you don't really have kind of, you know, a growth and a real strong tie with relationships to other people, you know, there's a difference between winning deep and winning shallow. Like, so much of it is winning shallow, I feel, man. It's like you're winning to avoid losing and you're winning for your ego, you know, and you're winning so that you're better than your – it's comparative. When you win deep, it's like soul winning, right? There's a connection to winning. You're seeing the guy that is not getting the credit, but it has put everything into this week or put everything into this year and you're seeing all the sacrifices and it's just so strong. It's hard to explain, but it's because it's something that's outside of just you. And I think that's what's great about sports and so much of it, I feel, is the pull away from that if you allow it to be.

You know, if you're looking at your phone and doing all the stuff that we all do. So it's a – you know, a lot of – there is a video with – or there's a – I used to watch Seinfeld growing up and so I feel like sometimes there's an episode with George where it was like he was kind of – he kind of figured out that whatever he wanted to do, he had to do the opposite. You have to just – no, don't do that. Do the opposite of whatever you thought.

And so some of what we're doing here is that, you know, we're doing the opposite. Dave Aranda here with us, wrapping up with the coach of the Baylor Bears. They kick off their season next Saturday night up against Albany and their Big 12 title defense does get underway next week. We've seen a little bit of your quarterback, Blake Chapin, last year and some big moments and he excelled in a wonderful way. If someone hasn't watched your quarterback, if someone is not familiar with your quarterback, how do you describe him now? I think he's a gunslinger. He's got a great feel for the game, you know, in terms of defenses are always going to do their best to not show their hand and to try to spin down late or try – with safeties or try to disguise the coverages. And I think he's got a great sense about all of it. He studies and he spends the time, but I think, you know, his arm is way special. And I think, you know, he can throw it from different angles and platforms and was a short stop in baseball and kind of has that look and feel about him. And so just way excited. There's been countless throws throughout fall camp where you're kind of amazed and you kind of hear, you know, throughout the team, like, did you see that? Wow, you know, sometimes it's like, did you hear that, you know?

And so that's way cool. I think, though, his greatest, you know, growth in fall camp has just been his leadership and, you know, him just really kind of settling down to who he is and not trying to be someone that he's not. And I think you've really seen some strides that way.

For sure it's all going to be tested here in a couple weeks. So, you know, so far so good. Last thing I'll ask you, Coach, and you talked about it, you get new players in the program, you have to replace some legendary players like a Jalen Petrie, which is going to be a really tough task, and we'll see the growth of your quarterback as well. Taking you back to Big 12 Media Days, I was watching your session and you said it's smart for us to rely on our strengths early on and develop what needs development throughout the season. What do you think your biggest strength is headed into this season as a team, and what is the thing that keeps you up most that night that you really need to develop on?

No, yeah, good question. I think the line of scrimmage is probably where most of our returning people are at. And so, you know, I think it's a positive thing with them just having the attitude that they've had and the mindset that they've had to continue to improve and to evolve. We talk about dying and rising and parts of the self that hold you back and where ego takes hold and all of that, that has to die so that there can be something greater that can be born. And I think they do that, man, and they try and they're not kind of held back. So I think that's a strength.

You know, the weakness or the things that kind of keep me up are just the immaturity. We've got some young, really, really talented guys that, you know, I think we're talking about running into a storm for this season, and this schedule presents plenty of storms. And for us to be at our best, you know, I look at the last year's game versus Oklahoma State where there's kind of a self-implosion I take full responsibility for. I just remember being on the side, looking at our team and some of their faces, and they were not prepared. And then I look at the end of the game, Oklahoma State, and, you know, the pressures and the competitiveness of all of it was the same.

You know, we melted in one and we stayed true in the other. And so, you know, there's a bunch of ways to win. I just know, you know, we kind of play a fair amount of similar particular games that it's going to come down to, you know, not melting. And so that's a concern, and we've worked on it. And, you know, I think you're never going to know till you know, though. So we'll stay tuned.

Well, I've watched a lot of Baylor football last five, six years. I'm a Temple guy, so when Matt was there, I was watching a lot, and I continued doing so because I'm excited to see what you continue to build. Good luck this year and really do appreciate the extensive conversation you just gave us. Appreciate you. Thank you.