Decision Time

Robert Griffin III has faced and overcome several challenges this season. Now only one remains. RG3 will have until January 15 to decide whether to declare for the 2012 NFL Draft or return to Baylor University for his senior season.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock of the Bears’ 67-56 victory over Washington in the 2011 Alamo Bowl, out came the chants of, “One more year,” directed toward Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Griffin, a redshirt junior, has one more year of eligibility in college football but has the option to forego that year and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. According to several draft experts, it is likely that he would be selected within the top ten picks.

RG3 has done everything and more for Baylor this season. He set numerous offensive records, won the Davey O’Brien Award and Heisman Trophy, and was the driving force behind Baylor’s first ten-win season since 1980. While his resume may seem complete to many on the outside looking in, there is one thing Griffin and company have not accomplished in Waco just yet: win a championship. As I have previously stated, Baylor hasn’t won a conference championship since 1994 and has never won a national championship. Griffin’s legacy certainly would not be tarnished if he never does either of those things at Baylor, however, if one were to ask why he is even considering returning next year, it is my opinion that winning a championship would be the primary reason.

If you believe Griffin, he truly hadn’t thought about whether to stay or leave prior to the bowl game. That’s different now. With the season over, decision time is upon RG3. He will have until January 15 to declare for the draft. In the meantime, Baylor is a program in limbo. Not only is Art Briles uncertain of who will be his starting quarterback in 2012, he has to contemplate whether or not to offer another high school quarterback or pursue a junior college quarterback for this year’s recruiting class. The season may be over, but it doesn’t seem like it is time to relax. Until the draft deadline comes, Baylor fans will nervously await RG3’s decision as they gear up for basketball’s conference season.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll come back for another special season,” Griffin said.

Baylor Nation certainly hopes so.