July 8, 2005

• Archive of past Q&A's
  
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Ian,

I am just really depressed about this basketball/NCAA decision. I don't see the justice in it. I am having a hard time putting into words what I feel. I hope that none of the guys we have here now feel cheated out of their college experience because of things that occurred while other people were here before them at Baylor.

Dusty McGinty
Houston, Texas

Dusty,

Thanks for the e-mail and please don't let the NCAA infractions ruling cause you to be depressed. The men's basketball staff uses the slogan "Stay Pawsitive" and that is what we are going to do. Baylor men's basketball has a very bright future under the leadership of Coach Drew and his staff. We will get beyond the non-conference game prohibition this season and make the most out of the year.

One of my favorite verses of scripture is James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." This is a trial that we will persevere beyond.

Ian

Is it possible to have a special promotion for season tickets for the upcoming men's basketball season? I can think of no better way to support Coach Drew, his great staff, and the players than have the men sell out all of the home games, which I know will be limited to Big 12 games this coming season.

Coach Drew, his staff, and his players need, now more than ever, complete support for the courage they have shown, the great job they have done, and the goals they will accomplish.

Stan Perry
Houston, Texas

Stan,

Thank you for your confidence in Coach Drew and the men's basketball program. They are doing a great job and we look forward to an exciting season.

We want to make the opening game in men's basketball this year a special event and fill the Ferrell Center. We have begun to work with the conference and our television partners in an effort to have this game nationally televised. I am calling upon all Baylor fans to be a part of this event and show your support of the coaches and student-athletes at a time when they will be especially appreciative.

Ian

In one on your previous Ask Ians you mentioned that the football team was going to get new uniforms for this season. Has some one in the media relation office suggested setting up a media day to preview the uniforms similar to what Texas Tech did when they got new uniforms back in 2003? I just noticed that when our uniforms came out in 2003 they appeared with little fanfare.

Thanks the hard work that you and your staff does!

Brandon Boyd
Dallas, Texas

Brandon,

Thank you for the excellent suggestion about having a media day when the new football uniforms can be shown to fans for the first time. I will ask our media relations staff to work on holding this event.

Ian

Congratulations on a job well done this spring. With all our success this spring with different teams, the one common denominator these teams have is the strength and conditioning program. I remember the announcers in the women's national championship game commented in the final few minutes that the Michigan St. players looked worn out but that our players appeared like it was still the first part of the game.

The baseball team also had no problem playing four intense games in five days in the Omaha heat without missing a beat. I hope all Baylor fans recognize the great job our strength program does.

Marcus

Marcus,

I really appreciate this e-mail and your recognition of the outstanding job that our strength and conditioning staff at Baylor does for each of our teams. John Williams and his staff are tremendous professionals who work tirelessly with our student-athletes to enable them to reach their peak athletic performance.

I am certain that all of our coaches and student-athletes join me in expressing appreciation to John, Shaun McPherson, Tanna Burge and Torre Becton for their outstanding work.

Ian

I just wanted to say, what an incredible year we're having, and you've done an excellent job with promoting Baylor sports. I was in Omaha this past weekend for the opening of the CWS, and I was completely awed by how popular the BU athletic program is becoming. Since we're having phenomenal success in tennis, basketball and baseball, what steps are being taken to promote and improve Football?

I think we've got the momentum now to make things happen for all BU sports. Would a new campus stadium not create major buzz for football? I think that would help tremendously with recruits, considering the incredible media coverage Baylor has received with this year's incredible success.

Keep up the GREAT work.

Andrew Del Toro
Irving, Texas

Drew,

Thank you for this positive e-mail. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the successful year that we have recently completed. Baylor finished 25th in the NACDA Directors' Cup, its highest finish ever with a school-record 12 teams advancing to NCAA post-season competition. Baylor won a school-record six Big 12 championships and had three teams finish in the top three in the nation including national champion women's basketball, national runner-up men's tennis and baseball's third-place finish at the College World Series.

As I have traveled to various conference and national meetings in recent weeks I have been overwhelmed with comments about the success of Baylor Athletics. We are enjoying a great deal of momentum as an athletic program and university at this time.

Ian

I heard that Coach Hart was retiring; what an icon for BU, he will be missed! I hope that his able assistant, Danny Brabham, will be considered in his replacement.

Thanks for your leadership and positive outlook for BU!

Vickye White
Waco, Texas

Editor's Note: Similar e-mails were received from Brett Farnum (Waco, Texas), Shirley Gill (Roswell, N.M.), Jack Batson (Roswell, N.M.).

Vickye,

Thank you for the kind e-mail and comments about Baylor track and field.

We are very fortunate that Coach Hart has decided to remain at Baylor as Director of Track and Field. He is truly the finest 400 meter coach in the world and his experience and expertise will continue to serve Baylor well into the future. In this new capacity he will continue to work with our 400 meter athletes, raise funds for the program, recruit and be an invaluable resource for our new head coach Todd Harbour.

I have great confidence in Coach Harbour's leadership of our track and field program and am confident that he will build upon the incredible legacy of Baylor track and field. He embodies the attributes that we desire in a head coach at Baylor. He is an excellent technical coach, outstanding recruiter and a person of great character and faith. Todd also enjoys tremendous respect from the student-athletes.

We are also fortunate to have a strong coaching staff including Danny Brabham, Michael Ford, Stacey Smith and Jon Capron.

Ian

We are longtime Baylor fans that recently relocated to San Antonio. We were surprised to discover that BU sports events are not on the radio in San Antonio. San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas and my guess is that there is a large BU fan base here. Are there plans to add SA to the BU radio network? I think this is a good way to keep BU fans connected and interested in the programs.

Congrats on a great spring season!

Lynn Higgs
San Antonio, Texas

Lynn,

I have some great news for you. Thanks to the efforts of Nick Joos and John Morris along with our new multi-media partner, ISP Sports, we expect Baylor Athletics to return to the airwaves this year in San Antonio during the football season. We will make a formal announcement at a later date and appreciate the incredible support that we receive from Baylor Bears in San Antonio.

Ian

As we draw the curtain on the 2004-05 season, I want to congratulate our coaches, staff and student-athletes on a year of truly special and unprecedented accomplishment. When the entire spectrum of the department's performance is considered, 2004-05 will be regarded as the greatest year in the history of Baylor Athletics.

This success would not be possible without a commitment to excellence on the part of Baylor's Board of Regents and senior administration. Moreover, we are grateful to our alumni and friends along with our generous athletic donors who provide the financial resources that have fueled these incredible achievements.

One of the best aspects of the success of our athletic program is how the Waco community has embraced Baylor Athletics like never before. We have experienced record attendance, parades, extensive media coverage, and new signage and billboards in the City.

When Baylor wins, Waco wins. We conducted an economic impact study last year that showed Baylor Athletics impacts the local economy to the tune of more than $100 million per year. When Baylor hosts regular season competition, Big 12 championships and NCAA regionals and super regionals we attract teams and fans to our community and they stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and shop in retail stores. This activity contributes to businesses and families throughout Waco in a powerful way!

Football season ticket sales for 2005 are going very well and I encourage each of you to purchase your tickets today if you have not already done so. We have a limited number of premium seats still available by contacting the Bear Foundation at 254-710-4214, or the ticket office at 710-1000. We are looking forward to an exciting season!