Michigan State University Athletics
Baker Steps Out Of Shadows, Into Spotlight
9/29/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 2000
By Colleen Tvorik
Sports Information Student Assistant
With big-play wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Gari Scott getting much of the attention last year, Michigan State junior tight end Chris Baker took opponents by surprise.
Although much of the hype centered on MSU's wideout tandem, the 6-foot-3, 259-pound Baker was able to wreak havoc of his own on opposing defenses. Baker used his athleticism and size to finish second on the team in receptions last year (38) and third in receiving yards (391).
Baker admitted that he didn't mind playing in the shadow of Burress and Scott last season.
"I'm not one to crave a lot of public attention," Baker said. "I kind of liked being in the background. It was sort of nice having those guys taking up all of the spotlight with me sneaking in and doing my damage to teams."
It will be harder for Baker to avoid the hype and coverage sure to follow him heading into his third season as a starting tight end for the Spartans. Last season, Baker was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media.
This year, with Burress and Scott off to the NFL, Baker will be viewed as one of the Spartans' primary receiving threats. Prior to the season, Baker was tabbed as an All-America candidate by Athlon Sports and was a preseason second-team All-Big Ten selection by both The Sporting News and Lindy's.
In MSU's first game of the 2000 season, defending Mid-American Conference champion Marshall found out how much of a threat Baker is after he led the team in receiving with eight catches for 93 yards. He also hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke in the first quarter.
Still, Baker refuses to let his growing list of accolades allow him to lose focus.
"It's nice to be a go-to-guy, but I've still got the big Duck (MSU running back T.J. Duckett) here, so I get to hang behind him a little bit," said Baker. "Teams have to focus on stopping him, so then I can jump up and bite them by making a play here and there."
One of the ways Baker keeps the stress and pressure of the season in perspective is by partaking in a favorite pastime - fishing.
"It just relaxes me and you can get away from not only football, but also school," Baker explained. "I go to Portland on Sundays with Nate Keusch, a friend on the team. I play video games and watch TV, but fishing is my main hobby. Whenever I get a chance, summer or winter, I'm out fishing."
Although Baker has developed into a key component of the Spartans' offense, the route he took to East Lansing was circuitous. Baker lived with his father in Queens, New York, for 13 years before moving to Saline, Mich., to live with his mother and stepfather after his sophomore year in high school. He says his parents have both been the most influential people in his life.
"My father is a police officer in New York and he taught me how important discipline and hard work are," Baker said. "My mother and stepfather go to all of my games and gave me a larger sense of a family environment after I moved to Saline, which was the most important event in my life, because although I liked sports, I didn't really get into them until I moved to Michigan."
Specifically, Baker's interest in football began after coming to Michigan. In New York, his focus centered on basketball, although he says he doesn't regret making the switch.
"I had fun playing basketball, but I have a lot of fun playing football too, and I can still play basketball whenever I want," Baker said.
Baker's football career didn't start until the end of his junior year at Saline because of a broken arm suffered during a scrimmage just before the start of the season. Although he had 20 receptions for 989 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, Baker wasn't recruited heavily because of his late start learning the game.
"I knew I was going to have a lot of things to work on coming out of high school such as blocking the defensive ends and linebackers," Baker said. "I didn't really envision myself going this far so soon but, at the same time, I knew I had a lot of goals within my reach."
When Baker arrived at Michigan State he was plagued by injuries again and, after tearing cartilage in his left knee during an August practice, he redshirted as a freshman, spending four weeks on crutches and six weeks away from active duty.
"It was tough, but I think it was a blessing in disguise because it gave me time to mature because I was only 17 when I got here," Baker said.
He might have had a slow start to his football career, but now that Baker is on a roll, he may have to get used to spending some time in that spotlight.
