Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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There’s an argument to be made Baylor Hayes isn’t the best-known athlete in his own household.
“We joke about that in my family, that she took all the athletics,” Hayes said of his sister Kai, who is in her second season playing soccer at Baylor University after four seasons at North Carolina.
But come Friday night, Kai’s brother may have the chance to show the nation there is more than one Baylor in college football.
Tulsa takes on in-state rival Oklahoma State on Friday night before a nationally-televised audience on ESPN. The Tre Lamb era would get a significant jump start with the Hurricane’s first win over the Cowboys since 1998.
Hayes may or may not have something to say about that. Hayes started at quarterback last week against Navy, but regular starter Kirk Francis is expected to be available after suffering a concussion against New Mexico State.
Lamb said Monday he wasn’t sure who would start Friday. And if he was sure, he certainly wasn’t saying.
Hayes, for his part, was talking like someone who expected to get another chance against the Cowboys.
“I evaluated that night, the next day I learned from it, but now it’s in the past,” Hayes said. “There’s nothing’s we can do to change that result but get better, especially with a big game on Friday night, on prime time, just getting prepared and just trying to put on our best show for everybody in the country to see.”
By all accounts Hayes wasn’t at his best in his first FBS start against the Midshipmen. Hayes was 22-of-37 for 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was 0-for-6 on throws of 20 or more yards. But Hayes’ elusiveness produced a 13-yard gain from the Navy 19, and a play later, a 6-yard scoring run. Later in the first half, it produced a fourth-down conversion — a 4-yard gain on a fourth-and-2 running play from the Navy 41.
“He could have played better in the second half, there’s no doubt about it,” Lamb said. “I thought he got off to a hot start, and he missed some wide open guys. I’m the head coach. He’s a quarterback that started the game. You’re going to get the blame, period.
“And you better know what you’re signing up for, and you better be able to take it in the media and take it in front of the team and take ownership because it’s going to fall on your shoulders.”
According to Lamb, Hayes doesn’t at all shy away from the responsibility. Lamb has gone as far as comparing Hayes’ attitude for the job to former Oklahoma and current Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield.
It’s that confidence Lamb has in Hayes that drove the 6-foot, 180-pound freshman to follow his coach to Tulsa from East Tennessee State.
“Originally I was recruited by this staff,” Hayes said. “Coach Lamb took a chance on me out of high school. I was a 0-star kid out of high school. So I wanted to follow someone who truly believed in me, and when I had that opportunity, it was a no-brainer.”
As for Kai Hayes, she has one assist and seven starts for a Baylor women’s soccer team that is 5-0-2 on the season. Kai gets her chance against Oklahoma State on Oct. 30. But Baylor Hayes has his chance to strike the first blow for family bragging rights Friday night.
“I grew up playing soccer, but she was always incredible,” Baylor Hayes said. “She played four years at North Carolina, which is the pinnacle of women’s collegiate soccer. Now she’s in graduate school at Baylor.
“We grew up competing against each other. She pushes me and I push her.”
Tulsa Schedule
Aug. 30: TU 35, Abilene Christian 7
Sept. 6: New Mexico State 21, TU 14
Sept. 13: Navy 42, TU 23
Sept. 19: at Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 27: Tulane, TBA
Oct. 4: at Memphis, TBA
Oct. 16: at ECU, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 25: Temple, TBA
Nov. 8: at Florida Atlantic, TBA
Nov. 15: Oregon State, TBA
Nov. 22: at Army, 11 a.m., CBSSN
Nov. 29: UAB, TBA
sports@tulsaworld.com
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Michael Peters
Tulsa World TU Sports Reporter
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