Aug. 15, 2007
The following story appears in the August edition of KnightVision. Produced 10 times per year, KnightVision is the official publication of the UCF Athletics Asssociation. Each issue includes stories about UCF teams, student-athletes and coaches. To order 10 exciting issues from August through June, call 1-888-877-4373 (ext. 121) or 336-768-3400 (ext. 121).
Transition Man
The transitions have been numerous for senior Steven Baker during his tenure at UCF both as a player and as a person. The Ocala native recalls being a little overwhelmed on his first day of fall camp back in 2004 when he arrived as a true freshman wide receiver, weighing only 190 pounds and not knowing what to expect.
"Everybody looked so big and so tough," Baker remembered. "It was intimidating."
Four years later and with the 2007 season only weeks away, the roles have been reversed and Baker is the big, tough guy who is part of a senior class that wants to win and make the Knights' transition to Bright House Networks Stadium a memorable one.
"It's changed so much in the past four years since I have been here - not only with the campus and the new stadium - but just a new attitude towards football," Baker said. "I think everybody is real excited about having a successful 2007 season."
Baker's days on the offensive side of the ball ended in December of 2005 when the coaching staff switched the maturing, both mentally and physically, athlete to linebacker prior to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. It was one of many transitions the now 6-foot-3, 240-pound team leader would undergo as a Knight.
He made his first appearance on defense in Hawaii and collected a sack and three tackles in the one-point setback to Nevada. The only thing that could slow down what appeared to be a smooth transition to linebacker happened during the spring of 2006 when Baker tore his ACL.
The injury kept Baker off the field for most of fall camp and he missed the first four games last season as the knee continued to heal. Despite his absence from spring and fall camps, Baker still worked his way into the playing rotation at weakside linebacker.
Baker made two starts, while registering 15 tackles in 2006, including a career-high six stops in his return to the field against Marshall on Oct. 4. Even though he admits that the limited game experience he gained at his new position was beneficial, Baker is looking forward to the 2007 campaign when he feels he will be much more comfortable helping direct the defense.
"Now being healthy, having a full spring and with the opportunity to go through a full camp right now, it is going to be a tremendous advantage for me to understand the position that much better," Baker added. "Mentally, it is going to help me out the most."
Mental challenges are nothing new to Baker. While juggling all the changes in his role as a UCF football player, he has still been able to excel as a UCF student. Baker earned his degree in business earlier this month and with the start of the season will also come the start of his pursuit for a master's of business administration degree.
"It's been great to have the opportunity to get my degree from UCF and now I get to pursue my master's degree and still play football," Baker said. "I'm real excited about that. Once football is done, I'll be looking forward to finishing that degree up as well."
In the meantime, he will try to help the Knights to a successful transition to Bright House Networks Stadium from the place they called home for 28 seasons - the Florida Citrus Bowl.
"There is a lot of tradition there at the Citrus Bowl," Baker said. "UCF has played a lot of games there. Guys like Daunte and Asante Samuel played there, so we are leaving that behind, but I really am excited about the new stadium. It's just amazing and is going to be a great atmosphere. I think the alumni and the students are really going to embrace the new stadium."
- Ryan Powell