It was August 31, 2002 (8/31/02!) and Mizzou fans gathered together at the dome in St. Louis to drink beer, throw a football around, eat assorted grilled meats, drink more beer, and, oh yeah, watch a football game.  We were there to enjoy the novelty of the venue and opponent as much as we were there to watch the dawning of yet another strive-to-be-mediocre Tiger season.  Little did we know that an uber QB was about to be unleashed on college football and breathe life into an otherwise moribund program.  It was Pinkel’s second year and we were coming off a 4-7 season.  Pinkel had appointed something called a Brad Smith – an unheralded recruit out of Ohio - as QB1 over incumbant and senior Kirk Farmer.  Optimism wasn’t brimming, but the beer was flowing and good times were had.   I think it was about halftime when we started getting the sense that something special was happening.  Soon after the game we looked at each other and said “we get four years of this?”  Brad Smith – the Mizzou Savior – was born.

A NKOTB down Waco way sprang on the scene this year.  His name is Robert Griffin and I’ve only heard him compared to Brad Smith about a dozen times.  He must be good.  Now, I often wonder if people outside of Missouri really understand just how big-time Brad Smith was.  Chase Daniel has made Brad easy to forget for some, but Brad Smith was Mizzou before it was cool to be Mizzou.  Brad Smith had the tools to baffle opposing teams and his own coaches alike.  Brad Smith owned the Missouri career passing yard record until Chase broke it this year.  Brad Smith owns the career rushing record.  By 1100 yards.  Brad Smith scored more TDs than any other Tiger.  He did all this with very little talent around him.  Brad Smith was Mizzou football. 

So, yeah, when I hear someone compared to Brad Smith I take notice.  My instinct is to scoff.  Yeah, right.  Whatever.  But, then I start hearing it from people who know what they’re talking about and I wonder.  Then I watch highlights of the upstart and start thinking there’s something to it.  Then I watch a game and I get the feeling that, ok, this kid is special.  But, is he really a good comp for #16? 

Below are Smith’s and Griffin’s stats through the first eight games of their careers:

Damn, Brad Smith took the world by storm. 

A lot of similarities in the numbers above.  Brad Smith’s counting numbers may be a little bigger, but the rate stats are comparable.  Robert Griffin may be the next Brad Smith.  In the end, dare I say it, he could be … better.   He’s got a shot, and he’s done it as a true freshman, whereas Smith was a freshman of the redshirt variety.  There is one difference in their games that does not show up in the stats.  In the games I have seen, Robert Griffin has taken some hard hits.  Brad Smith almost never took a direct shot – he was smooth.  If Griffin can avoid getting concussed or broken, he will dominate.  Time will tell if his domination leads to Baylor competitiveness, but it will definitely lead to Baylor relevance, which is something it hasn’t seen in the Big 12.  Ever.

I imagine that after the Wazzu game long suffering Baylor fans looked at each other and said “we get four more years of this?”  Eight games in, Baylor has a QB who can run, who hasn’t thrown a pick in 175 pass attempts, who is responsible for 18 touchdowns, and, frankly, upon whom they can drape their hopes and dreams of a better Baylor Bear football tomorrow.  Griffin has given every indication that he is the difference maker – he’s the man who can change the face of Baylor football, just like Smith changed Mizzou.