July 24, 2005
Ian,
My question is about the scheduling of conference games. How are the dates of the games determined? Also, why do we tend to put our off week between the last non-conference game and conference play? Wouldn't somewhere after the fifth or sixth game be better to let players heal from injuries? Just wondering.
John Ferrell
Hurst, Texas
John,
Thank you for the question. The Big 12 sets the conference dates beginning in the fifth week of the regular season which allows for non-conference games and an open week during the first four weeks of the season. This year, we play the first three weeks and then have an open week prior to the start of the Big 12 schedule.
Scheduling football games is complicated. We endeavor to schedule preferred opponents on desirable weeks and provide the team with an open date toward the middle of the season according to Coach Morriss' desires. However, other factors including television and the goals of our opponents come into play when building a schedule.
Ian
Ian, I noticed that San Antonio has been added to the list of cities that will broadcast BU football on the radio. Any chance that we can get on the radio in Austin? I realize we are in Longhorn country, but I think it would be well received. We used to be on KIXL 970 and then it was gone overnight. I will be at all of the home games, but can't make it to all of the away games.
Special thanks to all of the coaches and players in our sports programs this year...what an outstanding year!
Darin Upchurch
Austin, Texas
Darin,
Thank you for the kind comments about our teams and student-athletes. It was a great year and it is a special time to be a Baylor Bear!
We will be making an announcement on the Baylor Radio Network next week. I want to commend Nick Joos, John Morris and ISP for their outstanding work in enhancing the network for the upcoming year. We will have much improved coverage throughout the state of Texas this year and believe it can be even better in years to come.
Ian
Ian, Many people I know, and many people on BaylorFans.com, have commented on how nice it would be to once again have a sign in the stadium that reads "This is Bear County." A while back it hung on the press box, and was a source of pride for the Baylor fan base. I have yet to hear a single person who doesn't love the idea.
For future reference, it would be great if this became a permanent fixture of the stadium, much like A&M's "Welcome to AggieLand." As for now, perhaps the first home game, homecoming, or at game that could give us a winning seasons would be opportune times to replace the sign.
Thank you for your time.
Larry
Waco, Texas
Larry,
Thanks for sharing the comment about the "This is Bear Country" slogan. I realize that it is very popular among our base and without giving away the details we are working on incorporating this slogan into some of the aesthetic improvements that will be made at Floyd Casey Stadium. Many of the improvements planned will be in place as early as this season. Stay tuned!
Ian
Ian, Could we please play Houston for a pre-season football game next year? There are a lot of Baylor fans in Houston. Thanks.
Rick Anderson
Houston, Texas
Rick,
Thank you for the e-mail. We are currently working on a football series that will bring Baylor football to Houston. We view this opportunity as very positive in terms of outreach to our strong alumni base, recruiting and media exposure. It is premature to tell you more at this point, however, we will make an announcement at the appropriate time.
Ian
Ian, Congratulations of a FANtastic year.Baylor Vision was first class. It appears that the online store is being used----hope y'all are stocking up. Keep up the good work.
Mike Kirkwood
Huntsville, Texas
Mike,
Thank you for the positive comments about BaylorVision. Bryan Bray and his staff do a tremendous job and it has been very well received by our fans. We will actually be making several upgrades in our equipment and technology over the summer that will make BaylorVision better than ever. I am confident that you will notice the improvements next year.
The on-line store has been a great success and we have been pleased with the improvements and responsiveness that Follet has made this year. We look forward to another great merchandising year given the strong response to the new logos and success of our programs.
Also, this summer we have upgraded the system that the Baylor ticket office utilizes. We believe that this will make a significant improvement in the quality of service that we are able to provide our season ticket holders and single game purchasers beginning this year.
Ian
Ian, What does the NCAA report on the basketball program mean in practical terms, i.e. will there be any kind of games played before conference play? Wouldn't it be better to get the penalty out of the way this year so as not to put players in limbo for another season?
Richard L. Davis
Clemmons, N.C
Richard,
The most practical impact of the NCAA sanctions in men's basketball is that Baylor will be unable to play 11 non-conference games this season. We have successfully worked with our contracted non-conference opponents to rescind all of the game contracts without any financial penalty to Baylor.
We are beginning to work with the Big 12 and member institutions in an effort to move a conference game into December. This would reduce the wait for the team to begin competition and afford us a terrific marketing opportunity to start the season with what we hope to be a nationally televised game from the Ferrell Center. I am certain that our fans will show up in great numbers to support Coach Drew and the team if we are able to put this event together.
Ian
Ian, What a great year for Baylor sports!Your positive and effective leadership is clearly contagious, and has been a catalyst for success.
I read about women's equestrian being added as Baylor's 18th varsity sport. I only see 16 listed on the website. What are the other two varsity sports?
Has men's lacrosse ever been seriously considered for varsity status? The sport has really exploded over the past few years in Texas at the youth league and high school levels.
Thanks,
Damon Andrews
Austin, Texas
Damon,
I appreciate the kind remarks and your support.
On Baylor's website we do list all 18 intercollegiate sports. The confusion arises from track and field (indoor and outdoor) counting as two sports for both men and women.
Men's lacrosse is a sport that is growing rapidly at the youth, high school and college level across the country and in Texas. We do not have plans to add any men's intercollegiate programming at this time. Baylor's Board of Regents has approved adding an 11th women's sport for the 2010-11 year.
Ian
Ian, I'd like to praise Baylor athletics. This year has been overwhelmingly phenomenal.
I have a follow-up question for one posed in the last session of "Ask Ian." You mentioned there was a foundation to get signs erected at the north and south entrances to Waco on I-35. Can you please put me in contact with somebody so that I can see what I could do to help?
Thanks again for your service and such a great year.
Jeremy Sweek
Mesquite, Texas
Jeremy,
Thank you for the question and positive comments.
We have a proposal before the Baylor/Waco Foundation for signage recognizing the success of Baylor Athletics to be erected adjacent to I-35 near the entrance to campus. We are always appreciative of alumni and friends who want to support the many worthwhile projects that we undertake on behalf of Baylor Athletics.
There are several ways to support Baylor Athletics through the Victory With Integrity campaign as well. More information is available on our website or by calling the Baylor Bear Foundation at 254-710-4214.
Ian
Closing Comments We just received notification from Collegiate Licensing Company that the second quarter of this year (April - June) was the best in Baylor's history. This is not surprising giving the outstanding performances of Lady Bear basketball and our spring sports. Thank you to all of our fans for supporting Baylor Athletics by purchasing officially licensed merchandise.
Baylor's record finish of 25th in the United States Sports Academy NACDA Director's Cup has been a point of pride for the university, athletic department and Baylor fans. Our staff decided to go beyond this number and calculated Baylor's finish on a per sport offered basis and in relation to overall budget to determine how Baylor stacked up nationally in these measures. On a per sport offered basis, Baylor (which offers only 17 intercollegiate programs) ranked 16th in the nation in these standings. When we broke it down based on overall budget which measures return on investment, Baylor was 9th in the nation. No matter how the 2004-05 year is measured, it will go down as one of the greatest years in the history of Baylor Athletics.
Last week was a very special week for the Lady Bear basketball team as they traveled to the White House to meet President Bush. The President was very generous with his time to have his photo taken with the team in the Rose Garden and then speak to the group in the Oval Office for nearly 30 minutes. He discussed leadership, decision-making, faith and values with the Lady Bears along with expressing his appreciation for them as role models. This visit was followed by a reception hosted by U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and several of the Texas' congressmen at the Indian Tready Room in the Eisenhower Building on the White House grounds. The Lady Bears then toured the Capitol guided personally by Congressman Louie Gohmert from Tyler, a Baylor Law School graduate. It was another day of great national exposure for Baylor and an incredible honor and experience for these student-athletes.
Football season ticket sales for 2005 remain well ahead of the same time last year. We look forward to providing Baylor fans with a much improved game day experience with the Grant Teaff Plaza construction nearing completion along with several other exciting amenities that fans will learn about in the coming weeks. If you have yet to purchase your season tickets, please call the Bear Foundation at 254-710-4214, or the ticket office at 710-1000.
Thank you for your incredible support of Baylor Athletics!
