QB Nick Tiano Leads Baylor Into 2014 Season

Baylor hits the gridiron this Friday with one of the top quarterbacks in the Tennessee Valley.

And when you have good quarterback play, you’re normally a big threat during the season.

  When you look at the Baylor team, it’s kind of hard to miss senior quarterback Nick Tiano, a Mississippi State committment.

Said head coach Phil Massey,"To be a 6’4, 230-pound high school quarterback that’s a huge advantage, and that obviously gets the eyes of a lot people. He’s just like having a coach on the field because he has been around our program now for four years. He has been getting varsity time since he was a sophomore."

Said Tiano,"Friday night at the jamboree was some of the most fun I’ve had on the field, and the most comfortable I have been in awhile."

   Having Gage Upshaw as a receiver makes life fun for Tiano as well.

"Gage is one of my go-to-guys. We’ve been throwing and catching every day for three years, so this is something we have been working for, and hopefully we both can have big years this year."

   Baylor has to replace a big weapon in kicker Rafael Gaglianone.

He booted a 57-yard field goal last season.

He’s now at Wisconsin.

Said Massey,"Well we have a senior this year who has been backing up Rafael the last two years. His name is Colin Brewer. He’ll do an outstanding job for us. He has got a strong leg. This year it’s his turn. He’s actually going to handle all of our kicking duties. He’ll be our place-kicker and kick-off and handle punting."

   Numbers could be an issue for the Red Raiders.

Coach Massey says a few guys will have to go both ways.

Said Massey,"For us to get to the point of playing for a championship, we’ve got to stay well."

Added Tiano,"My freshman year, we had 96 players. This year I think we have somewhere around 66. We’ve got a lot of talented guys and a lot of guys who are just excited to play ball."