QB Baker ready to return as Golden Bears starter
Brad Baker is back where he belongs.
After nearly a year-long recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, the University of Alberta Golden Bears quarterback is ready to take back the reigns as the team’s top pivot.
“From Day 1, I felt I was ready to be the starter,” Baker said this week as the Bears prepare to open their Canada West pre-season against UBC on Wednesday in Kamloops. “It was a freak injury. I just stepped wrong. It was heartbreaking. The pieces were in place for me to come in my second year (last year) and play, and I had that taken away from me.
“The injury set me back, but my mindset never changed. I felt I could come in and contribute right away and I’m so excited to get back playing this year and help lead this team.”
Baker injured his knee in the off-season last summer playing flag football. It was a non-contact injury, and before training camp even began, his season was done.
He was hoping to build off a solid rookie campaign that saw him complete 57 of 90 passes for 744 yards and five touchdowns in limited action in 2015.
Sophomore Ben Kopczynski stepped in last season, but getting Baker back into the fold is going to be big for the program.
It set up a nice quarterback competition throughout the offseason and training camp, but Baker showed he’s ready and was named the Bears’ Week 1 starter this week.
“Ben is a super competitor and a great quarterback. I didn’t just walk in and have a spot. There was a lot of hard work,” said Baker. “I was rehabbing my knee and also trying to keep up with the reps.”
Baker, a pocket passer with a strong arm, will have plenty of weapons at his disposal this season as Alberta brings back a strong group of receivers including Tylor Henry and Aundrey Webster and running back Ed Ilnicki.
Baker comes from the highschool football factory in Raymond, one of many former Raymond Comets to play for the Golden Bears over the years. His old high school coach was former Golden Bears QB Darryl Salmon, who helped lead the U of A to three straight Hardy Cup Final appearances from 2003-05.
“His name is right beside mine in my locker-room stall, and I would love to follow in his footsteps,” said Baker.
Alberta is coming off a disappointing 1-7 record last season and missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year. The Canada West conference is the strongest in Canada, and the Golden Bears are in for another tough battle to clinch a playoff spot in 2017.
The Bears open the Canada West season at home on Sept. 1 against the defending Hardy Cup champion Calgary Dinos, but Alberta wants to send a message in their pre-season season tilt against UBC.
“We have to come out and compete and show that we can be a winning team this year,” said Baker. “This is the first opportunity for us to show that we’re not going to be the same team like last year.”