| The Cicero file |
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College: Baylor
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Position: Quarterback
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Height: 6-4
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Weight: 210
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Year: Junior
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1999:
Junior college
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The scoop: Possesses the skills and leadership to bring needed improvement to Baylor's anemic offense.
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Greg Cicero is a Southern Californian who just can't stay away from Central Texas.
The junior quarterback, who transferred from Palomar (Calif.) Junior College, originally signed with Texas in 1997. He redshirted during his first year in Austin.
In 1998, the Anaheim, Calif., native sat on the sidelines with an injury, watching fellow redshirt freshman quarterback Major Applewhite lead the Longhorns to a Cotton Bowl victory.
One year removed from Austin and one year of junior college football completed, Cicero is back in the Big 12, only 90 minutes north of where he started his college career.
"When I left Texas in December 1998 for Palomar, I played three or four games before any schools talked to me," Cicero said. "After that fourth game, I started getting calls from the Baylor coaches. They were the first ones to call and I really enjoyed their honesty and consistency."
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| Greg Cicero(Provided to SportsLine) | |
The Bears staff told Cicero (6-4, 210) they were going to continue looking at film and evaluating him, but they assured him he was on top of their wish list.
He continued putting up big numbers and working off the rust of a two-year layoff. He led Palomar to an 8-3 record, completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,800 yards, 33 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was Mission Conference Player of the Year and a second-team All-American.
"Greg brings a maturity to the position," Baylor coach Kevin Steele said. "He's been in a Big 12 program for two years. You're not going to shock him. We're glad to have his maturity. Had he not come, we would have been back to square one."
Cicero did come to Waco. He did return to the Big 12. And, on Oct. 28 in Austin, he will get a chance against his former team.
"I still stay in contact with some of those guys (at Texas)," Cicero said.
"I liked keeping up with them last year and I cared about how they were doing. I didn't realize I would be coming back to a Big 12 school. I'm going to enjoy playing down there this year. I hope they remember me."
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