Editor’s Note: For now over 75 years, The Baylor Line has been publishing vivid storytelling from across the Baylor Family. I don’t think our archives full of deep, inspirational features should live solely on shelves, so we are bringing them back to life in BL Classics. This November 1980 Classic highlights the struggles of Jay Jeffrey, after transferring to Baylor and trying to be different than his older brother, Neal Jeffrey.
His brother led Baylor to its first Southwest Conference championship since 1973 and a berth in the Cotton Bowl in 1974. His brother earned All-SWC honors as a quarterback. His brother still holds most of Baylor’s passing records.
His brother was known for his leadership ability. His confidence was unflappable. When Texas swept to a 24-7 halftime lead over the Bears in 1974, he confidently told Baylor coach Grant Teaff that the Bears would come back in the second half and win the game. Indeed, the Bears did just that, 34-24, starting what was called the “Miracle on the Brazos.”
The name of Neal Jeffrey still brings exciting memories to Baylor football fans who recall that wonderful season with nostalgic yearning.
When Jay Jeffrey transferred to Baylor University after two frustrating years at the University of Missouri, he knew the comparisons would be inevitable, especially since he plays the same position as Neal, who is now youth minister for the Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.
“Neal has always been a winner and a positive influence on me,” said the blond, 6-1, 181-pound Jeffrey. “But I’m me and Neal is Neal. We’re two different people. I realized people would start comparing me to Neal sometime, but I didn’t think it would come this soon.
“I know a lot of people will expect me to do what Neal did. But Neal, the rest of my family and I don’t expect that. I’m going to do what I can to help Baylor win. That’s fine with Neal and my family.
“There can’t help but be comparisons. I’m just going to have to get used to that. Neal had his own style and I’m going to have mine. Hopefully, I’ll come up with the same results. That’s my goal.”
During two-a-days in August Jeffrey battled for the starting quarterback job with sophomores Mike Brannan, who started six games for the Bears last season, and David Mangrum. Teaff selected Jeffrey to lead the Bears the week of the season opener against Lamar.
Despite missing three crucial workouts during two-a-days because of a concussion, Jeffrey had shown the poise and leadership that, yes, Neal had demonstrated when he was quarterbacking the Bears.
Brannan just wasn’t fully recovered at the time from a knee injury suffered in Baylor’s win over Clemson in the Peach Bowl. Mangrum was inconsistent and showed the effects of missing two years of football. He played pro baseball for one year for the Kansas City Royals organization and then sat out last season.
“Jay was very consistent and very good in workouts,” said Teaff. “He throws the ball exceptionally well and he executes the offense. He has the leadership to direct a team. You can just see it when he’s in the huddle. The players are very attentive when he talks.
“The team and I have confidence in him and that means a lot. This is actually Jay’s fourth year to play, and you can tell he has maturity.”
Teaff came to Baylor at the same time Neal became a starting quarterback as a sophomore, eight years ago. He also knows there will be comparisons made between the two Jeffreys before Jay establishes his own style.
“Jay is further along than Neal was because when I first saw Neal he was the third-team quarterback on a freshman team that didn’t win a game,” said Teaff, now the dean of SWC coaches. “They’re both fine, young Christian men. Their temperament is different. ]ay is harder to coach because he’s got that experience.
“Neal was a better passer but Jay will get better and better as the season progresses. He will continue to improve and has done that this season. He has made his mistakes and had his bad moments.
“They have a lot in common in the simple fact that they both have the leadership we need. They know what it takes to be a winner and how to move a team.”
Jeffrey was a highly sought quarterback out of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, four years ago. Jeffrey, along with Phil Bradley, chose Missouri. When starting quarterback Pete Woods went down with an injury in the ’77 opener, Bradley was inserted at quarterback.
Jeffrey then spent time the next two years waiting . . . and waiting for his chance. It never came. He alternated with Bradley during practices; but when game time rolled around, he found himself on the bench, rarely getting to see any action.
It was then that Jeffrey found out a lot about himself.
“It was a frustrating two years for me,” said Jeffrey. “It’s always been an ambition of mine to be a starting quarterback for a major college team. It’s not actually a dream because I’ve spent a good portion of my life preparing for just this instance. I’m confident in my abilities and my chances of moving a team down the field. I know I can lead a team.”
Although people will never forget about Neal, Jay has already started making a name for himself. In Baylor’s first six games, he led the Bears to victories over West Texas, Lamar, Texas Tech, Houston, SMU and Texas A&M. Those six wins gave the Bears their best start since 1953, when Cotton Davidson, now a Baylor assistant coach, was the starting quarterback. It was also the first time since 1922 that the Bears had won their first four SWC games.
Baylor’s ace receiver Robert “Radar” Holt says Jeffrey is the reason why.
“Baylor’s had some good teams the past few years, but they’ve always lacked a quarterback who could take control and move an offense,” said Holt. “Jay can do that. He’s a leader and a talented athlete.”
Jeffrey directed Baylor’s offense to 1,235 yards in total offense in the first two games. The Bears rolled up 43 first downs, 743 yards rushing and 490 yards passing. He hit 21 of 37 passes for 56.7 percent, which brought a smile to Teaff’s face since the Bears completed only 34 percent last season. Jeffrey also passed for two touchdowns with no interceptions in those two games.
Then he led the Bears to a 24-12 win over Houston. It was Baylor’s first win over the Cougars in five frustrating tries. Against SMU, after falling behind 21-0 the first sixteen minutes of the game (one touchdown thanks to a Jeffrey interception), he rallied the Bears with three touchdowns to a final 32-28 win.
In that game, he earned the Associated Press’s Offensive Player of the Week honors in the SWC for the second time this season.
Then in driving rain and wind, Jeffrey led the Bears to a complete demolition of the Texas A&M Aggies, 46-7, the worst defeat ever of an A&M team by Baylor. After six games, Jeffrey’s stats were impressive: 55 of 105 pass completions for 799 yards and six touchdowns, 213 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
While he enjoyed the best of times, Jeffrey had also found out how the other half lives in the Bears’ third game of the season, against Texas Tech. He could complete only four of sixteen passes before Teaff took him out and inserted Brannan, who then led the Bears to their winning touchdown against the Red Raiders.
“Things just clicked for me early,” said Jeffrey. “I had a rough night against Tech. That was a big obstacle for us, and I might have tried too hard to do well. You can do that sometimes. On the interception by SMU, he (John Simmons) played the ball well and I just misread the coverage.
“I think you learn from adversity more than anything else. You find out what type person you are. I’m a human being just like everyone else and will make mistakes. You’ve got to let those things go by and forget about them. You need to get ready for the next day.”
Baylor was picked in most preseason polls to finish sixth in the SWC race but Jeffrey has disputed that little claim all along. The Bears were ranked No. 11 by the AP and No. 13 by United Press International going into their game against TCU.
Jay is the fourth Jeffrey to attend Baylor University. His father, James Jeffrey, was a starting running back for the Bears from 1948 to 1950. Jay’s brother, John, threw the javelin for BU from 1976 to 1977.
“My father and brothers enjoyed Baylor tremendously when they were in school,” said Jay. “Baylor has a lot to offer. I was glad to have the opportunity to come here. I guess I should have done that when I first graduated from high school.
“Neal and I talk a lot, and he’s explained a lot of things to me. He’s gone through a lot of what I’m going through right now. It always helps to have a big brother you can talk to. My family means a lot to me. Baylor will always be a special place to me and to my family.”
While it’s been a major obsession for Jeffrey to be a quarterback for a major college team, it’s not the No. 1 thing in his life. That true No. 1 obsession is living his life as a Christian.
Jeffrey is a member of the Baylor chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and feels that every day should be lived for the Lord.
“I try to live every day as the Lord would have me to,” said Jeffrey. “Someday when I go into business or football, I hope to set an example through my faith.
“There’s a lot of hypocrisy in the world today. People have questions about the Lord, and someday I hope to help answer their questions.
“Many people just don’t realize that Christians are human beings also. They’re like everyone else. They make mistakes, too. But I know the Lord is going to forgive me and help me through the rough times.”
Sounds just like Neal. But then again it’s not.
