Baylor Football Spring Game 2017: 5 things to watch for

Here are the five storylines that Baylor fans should be watching for when the Bears take the field for their annual Spring Game.

Over the past two years, it’s been tough to be a Baylor fan. The Art Briles scandal rocked the program to its core, which has translated to poor play on the field. They won the Cactus Bowl last year, but much more was expected of them after starting 6-0. While that was happening, players de-committed from the school while anyone who declared for the Draft has seen their stock slip.

But Matt Rhule is in, and he will try to help the Bears get back to the upper echelon of the Big 12. It won’t happen overnight, and a lot of questions remain, but seeing him sign 28 players since he arrived should be an indication that people are buying in. And after off-the-field issues have surrounded Baylor for the past few months, fans are finally ready to see what they look like on the field.

As the Bears get ready for their Spring Game, this is what fans should look forward to watching.

5. Football!

It sounds mundane, but it’s the biggest thing to look forward to. There is a laundry list of off-the-field issues surrounding Baylor that extend beyond Art Briles. Former players are either getting arrested or on trial, staffers are in hot water, and there are ongoing probes against the school.

Bears fans, and frankly all college football fans, need a break from this. The next headline that comes out of Baylor had better be about something football-related. There are a lot of intriguing storylines surrounding this team, and how they’ll line up next season. But instead, these new players and coaches have to deal with a campus-wide scandal and multiple PR nightmares before they can even get settled in.

The Bears couldn’t tune out all the noise and distractions last year. With this year being largely a fresh start, it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.