SportsLine wire reports
March 31, 1999

WACO, Texas -- With a determined look on his face, Baylor football head Coach Kevin Steele wasted no time implementing not only a new system, but also a new attitude.

The mistakes were still clearly visible and the yells from the coaches may have echoed even louder than before, but that did not discourage Steele from attempting to make a change within his football program, stressing self-discipline and zero-toleration for negativity.

And, Steele took a "hands-on" approach during practice to immediately convey his message. When he was not clapping his hands to get more energy out of his players from a distance, Steele walked up to the action on the field and handed out high-fives.

"I don't know how to be anything but positive," Steele said. "Negative things draw energy from me, and that will make you tired from things that are unnecessary. That's what we're preaching, from the coaching staff to the players, staying positive."

AFTER FOUR FULL PRACTICES, Steele and his staff have quickly made a favorable impression among the players.

"The atmosphere on the field is so enthusiastic," said Tyshaun Whitson, a sophomore strong tackle from Covina, Calif. "I mean you're going to get criticized, but it won't be in such a negative way.

"Everybody is laying it out on the line on every play for the coaching staff and ourselves, because we refuse to let this coming season end like it did last year. We won't let that happen again."

That change in attitude and new positive atmosphere is once again giving the players a chance to believe in themselves despite back-to-back 2-9 seasons.

"These guys are winners, they just have to be shown how to win," Steele said. "We're still making mistakes, but we have until opening game against Boston College to correct them."