Submit your questions for Ian now!
Editor's Note:
We appreciate the overwhelming response we have received to our new feature, Ask Ian, and encourage Baylor fans to continue forwarding their questions and comments. Because of time constraints and the heavy volume of feedback, Ian is not in a position to answer every email. Your ideas are important, though, and all questions submitted are read by Ian. He then selects the questions he wishes to answer in a given week, and prepares his responses which are then posted at BaylorBears.com.
Ian: Mine is not so much a question as it is a compliment. Please let Scott Drew know that, as a Baylor Alum, I appreciate his dedication to the university. The circumstances that have unfolded (even since this summer) for the program would not be wished upon any new head coach. Furthermore, the Baylor Family has entrusted to you (Ian) the job of rebuilding our programs and pride. Please continue what I believe to be an excellent job so far.
Scott Dillow
Houston, Texas
Scott,
I couldn't agree more that Scott Drew is doing an outstanding job of leading our men's basketball under unprecedented and extremely challenging circumstances. He and his staff have been able to get our student-athletes to perform at a very high level. At the same time, they have directed incredible energy into the recruiting process and have an incoming class that is now ranked 14th in the country by hoopscoop.com.
We are indeed fortunate to have Coach Drew's leadership of our men's basketball program.
Ian
Ian: How does your administration intend to be similar / different from that of previous Baylor Athletics Directors?
Jo Oakley
Dallas, Texas
Jo,
We value all of the support that we receive from Baylor alumni and friends, and are especially appreciative of those who financially support our athletic program through the Baylor Bear Foundation, Excellence Funds, Capital Projects and Endowment or Planned Giving. There are many ways to support Baylor Athletics and we encourage all alumni and friends to contact the Bear Foundation at 254.710.4214 to learn how they can make a difference and at the same time enjoy the widespread personal and tax benefits that membership affords.
In my view, it is critical that we connect more Baylor people with the athletic program in order to increase the size of our base. With that, we are planning a spring tour where our coaches and staff will visit key markets around the state and meet our fans. In addition, the BBF fund drive begins in February and we encourage our current members to reach out to friends and other Baylor supporters to encourage their involvement.
Together, we will enjoy a very bright and prosperous future in Baylor Athletics!
Ian
Ian, Baylor appears to be in hot pursuit of some outstanding basketball talent and Coach Drew and his staff signed some great players in the fall. Do you know how the recruiting is going for the spring?
Eddie Aurispa
Austin, Texas
Eddie,
As you know, the men's basketball program signed two highly rated prospects to national letters of intent during the early signing period in November. Since that time, they have added another highly rated prospect who has verbally committed to Baylor. Due to NCAA rules, we cannot comment on this individual until such time as he would sign with Baylor. The coaching staff expects to sign one or two more prospective student-athletes in the late signing period which begins in April.
Thanks for your question.
Ian
Ian: With Baylor getting a new surface at Floyd Casey Stadium, will they keep the checkerboard pattern in the endzone (a la Tennessee?) I liked it!
J.B. Owen
McGregor, Texas
J. B.,
Great question and I have attached a link to the press release that went out last week announcing the new Prestige Infill System that will be installed at Floyd Casey Stadium in the coming weeks.
We are still in the process of designing the look of the field. We want to integrate our logos including the interlocking BU and appropriate graphics in order to make it attractive for recruiting, television and for fans who attend our games. We have not yet made a final decision on the end zone graphics, however, we appreciate your input.
New Surface Will Be Installed at Floyd Casey Stadium
Thanks for your support!
Ian
Ian, First of all, thanks for taking the time to answer so many questions! It is greatly appreciated.
As a BU Alum who lives in Oklahoma, it is nice to be able to see the Bears and Lady Bears play against OU and OSU. However, is there an easier way that those of us who would love to sit with other Bear fan would be able to do so? I often go to games but have to sit in the home team section and then cheer for Baylor unless it is a small crowd and then I can move. Would mail-outs to former students be possible to buy tickets ahead of time for BU seats?
Any help here would be appreciated! Keep up the good work!
C. Daniel Clark
Edmond, Okla.
C. Daniel,
Ticket policies vary by institution in the Big 12. Visiting teams are typically afforded a small allocation of tickets that go to student-athletes' friends and families. However, the home team does not necessarily reserve tickets for visiting team fans in adjacent sections.
Please feel free to contact the Baylor ticket office at 800.BAYLORU for information about any specific game that you plan to attend.
Also, remember that Baylor fans can subscribe to watch select out-of-town games via the BaylorBears.com website through video streaming. Information is available on the athletic website.
Ian
Ian: I am a huge Baylor fan and would love to attend some more football games. Maybe Baylor next season could start a charter bus system and try to get a bunch of Alumni and Baylor supporters to come up and help support.
Also, I am confused at to what the Grant Teaff Plaza project is at Floyd Casey. Another thing is the bathrooms and numerous areas at Floyd Casey Stadium seem very dark and gloomy. Maybe some lighting or painting can be done to create a better atmosphere for fans. Thanks for your time.
Sic'em
Parker Willis
Parker,
Thank you for your questions and comments.
The first phase of the Grant Teaff Plaza project was completed over the summer wherein improvements were made to east side restrooms and concession areas along with the aesthetic appearance at Floyd Casey. We intend to complete the next phase of the project this spring and summer in order to create a better environment and atmosphere for fans throughout the remainder of the facility. This project is also a wonderful testament to a man who has made a tremendous contribution to Baylor University and deeply impacted the lives of so many of our former football players as well as alumni and friends.
Ian
Dear Ian: I see that you have hired some new administrators. Do you have any plans to add more staff in the future?
Doug
Waco, Texas
Doug,
We have been fortunate to attract several outstanding administrators to our department in the past couple of months. Nick Joos has joined our department from the University of Minnesota and he heads up our media relations and broadcast properties area. Todd Patulski has come to Baylor from Northeastern University and has made a strong contribution in our financial area. We have also added Monica Love, formerly of Tulane, to our compliance services area.
We will be posting two additional administrative positions in the coming weeks. Regrettably, Darryl Lehnus will be leaving our department at the end of May to assume a full-time faculty position in the new Sports Sponsorship and Sales Center undergraduate program at Baylor. We will be looking to identify his successor sometime this spring. In addition, we will be creating a full-time position for an Executive Director of the B Association who will be charged with better engaging our former student-athletes with the athletic program at Baylor.
Ian
