National Attention on Baylor Sports
Every Baylor team draws elite rankings
Pick a team sport. Pick an individual sport athlete. If they are wearing a Baylor jersey then they are competing as one of the best in the country. Men’s tennis #4, women’s basketball #6, women’s track #8, softball #8, women’s tennis #11, men’s track #13, baseball #15 and men’s basketball #32 all can claim high national rankings. Never in the history of Baylor have so many sports programs been so prominent at the same time on the national landscape.
Four full pages in Sports Illustrated and one full page in USA Today on men’s basketball last week speak to the national attention Baylor is receiving. Twenty years ago Coach Grant Teaff was recognized nationally for his success as a Baylor coach but most households outside of a 100 mile radius of Waco could not identify another Baylor coaching personality. Today, ask someone in Michigan who Kim Mulkey is. Ask someone in South Bend, Indiana if they have heard of Scott Drew. Ask the California tennis crowd who Matt Knoll is. Ask track fans in Europe who Clyde Hart and Todd Harbour are. Check with the Omaha, Nebraska sports writers about Steve Smith and Glenn Moore. Is there another coach in the country that you would trade one of these outstanding Baylor coaches for? We think not.
Any day of the week there is an outstanding Baylor team to follow. The sports page, also everyday, is likely to report good news of some form about ol’ BU. It may be February, but its 70 degrees in most of Texas, and the sun is shining on all things green and gold.
Coach Briles can recruit!
Serious football talent headed to Waco
To put it succinctly, Coach Briles and his newbie staff, just delivered the best recruiting class Baylor has seen in easily a decade. Keep in mind that they did so with only about six weeks of actual recruiting period left. Further, they did so in an era where most good recruits commit many months before the actual signing date in February. Coach Briles is so persuasive that many of his best recruits “de-committed” from other schools to sign with Baylor.
At least half of Coach Briles recruiting class was ranked on one or another State Top 100 list. Several of our past year recruiting classes had few to “none” top 100 recruits. Even with such a short period to work with, Coach Briles surpassed the recruiting efforts of Tech and TCU based on the rankings.
Pick a good man who fits with and can sell the distinctives and mission of Baylor and good things will happen. This is just the start. Check out the full story on the Baylor Bears athletics site.
Sic’em Coach Briles!
Baylor Board of Regents Meeting
New academic programs, building projects, and policies approved
The Baylor Board of Regents convened in Waco last Thursday/Friday for their quarterly meeting. The furtherance of Baylor 2012 was served by the approval of several new academic initiatives as well as new building projects. The Board committee meetings began at the crack of dawn (7:00 am) Thursday and continued through dinner that night with student leaders and benefactors. Friends of Baylor benefactors present included Bill and Roberta Bailey, Rondy and Jackie Gray, Joe and Bessie Baxter, Ted Getterman, Coach Teaff, Bill Pratt and Paul McClinton.
Thanks to the Baylor Board of Regents and the hard working members of the Baylor administration and faculty who so faithfully pursue the excellence of Baylor 2012.
Philip M. Dorr Investment Fund
Large scholarship distribution to be announced at Baylor vs. Texas men’s basketball game
The distribution of $210,000 in athletic scholarship funds will be announced this Saturday by Dean Terry Maness and Friends of Baylor Steering Committee member, Phil Dorr at half-time of the men’s basketball game. Joining in the ceremony will be former BU greats Alfred Anderson, Erv Randle, James Francis and Michael Kota. The sons of Alfred, Erv and James all currently play football for the Bears.
This distribution, from the investment fund established in the Business School, will bring the total for awarded scholarships since inception 4 years ago to $910,000! Congrats and Sic’em Phil!