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Terrance Ganaway is setting records while running in the shadows of a Heisman Trophy hopeful.
If the 6-foot, 240-pound senior running back with surprising speed wasn't in the same backfield with Robert Griffin III, people outside of Baylor might actually know about who is.
''I'm able to relax without people knocking on my door because they figured out where I live. In that aspect, I really like it,'' Ganaway said. ''I'm a team player, Robert's a team player. He's the best quarterback in the nation, so why wouldn't he have all that hype.''
Ganaway has a Big 12-leading 1,195 yards rushing for the 19th-ranked Bears (8-3, 5-3 Big 12), and needs only 24 in the regular season finale Saturday at home against Texas to set a single-season school record. He already has a school-record 14 rushing touchdowns.
''He is the most important piece to our offense,'' said Griffin, the record-setting quarterback. ''He makes a lot of things easier for me. ... He's special because he's a 240-pound back that can break an 80-yard touchdown run. He's got all the skills, whether it's run over you, make you miss, and he gets tough yards.''
Griffin missed the second half last Saturday in a 66-42 victory over Texas Tech because of concussion-like symptoms. Ganaway had 25 of his school-record 42 carries after halftime and finished with 246 yards, his second 200-yard game this season, and two TDs.
Before this season, Ganaway had started only one of 25 games his first two years at Baylor. There was a point this summer when he was anxious to be done with football. But coaches changed his mode by letting him know they wanted him to be a key running back.
''I was one of those guys that said I'm counting down the days,'' Ganaway said. ''Now I'm one of the guys trying to savor the rest of the days.''
After being a two-time Texas Class 2A offensive player of the year at DeKalb High, Ganaway played 13 games for Houston as a freshman in 2007, coach Art Briles' final season there before going to Baylor.
Then during the summer after his freshman year at Houston, Ganaway's mother died of kidney cancer. Ganaway, among the youngest of 11 children who grew up in a dilapidated house, then left Houston and spent a year at Texarkana (Texas) College without playing football before reuniting with Briles at Baylor.
''He's a very mature person,'' Briles said. ''He's very, very focused and very driven. ... He brings a level of mature confidence to our team because of where his focus and energy lies.''
Griffin has heard Ganaway share the story about his mother and growing up before several different groups.
''When he does, it just hits you. This guy has been through a lot,'' Griffin said. ''He had to do a lot of learning and growing up in that process. ... Just to see how vocal he is, and how much of a leader he is, it's incredible. It really is inspiring to watch him.''
Ganaway last season played behind Jay Finley, who in his final season ran for a record 1,218 yards. They have combined to give Baylor 1,000-yard rushers in consecutive seasons for only the second time, joining Steve Beaird and Cleveland Franklin in 1974-75.
''As far as him running the ball, it's an amazing sight,'' Griffin said. ''I've had the experience of watching two premier backs at Baylor run. ... It was amazing to watch Jay run after you handed off the ball, and Ganaway's the same way.''
Ganaway ran for 120 yards in the season opener, a wild 50-48 victory over 18th-ranked TCU, the nation's top-ranked defense each of the three previous seasons. He followed with 89 yards in consecutive game after that before 200 yards against Iowa State and later 186 yards on only 12 carries against Missouri before his heavy workload against Texas Tech.
''I feel really good, my body's fine,'' Ganaway said. ''I'm ready to go.''
