Submit your questions for Ian now!
Ian,
How does the nomination process for Coach of the Year work? I think Baylor should nominate Scott Drew as Coach of the Year. Look at what he's done! I'm so impressed and so proud of him. So, what can we do as fans and as a university to make sure he gets nominated or even considered for that award?
Grady J. Crowson
Waco, Texas
Grady,
Thank you for the kind words about the outstanding work of Coach Drew and his staff. They have done a remarkable job in all phases of the program especially in light of the circumstances. Coach Drew has demonstrated exceptional coaching, recruiting and program management skills during his six months at Baylor.
I agree that the job that Coach Drew has done this year is worthy of Big 12 Coach of the Year consideration. The selection process involves the conference providing ballots to each head coach inclusive of all 12 candidates for Coach of the Year and affording each coach one vote. The head coach receiving the most votes is chosen as Coach of the Year. In addition, the Associated Press also conducts its own Coach of the Year vote among members of the media who cover the conference on a regular basis.
The best way to express our support of Coach Drew, his staff and student-athletes is to come to the Ferrell Center and cheer loudly for the team. For those fans interested in financially supporting the men's basketball program, you can join the Fast Break Club by contacting the Bear Foundation office at 254.710.2582.
Ian
Dear Ian: First of all I will say that overall the Turner Athletic Complex is one of the better facilities in the country. However, the facilities for the women's soccer team are well below the other sports located in the complex and also well below those of the other Big 12 schools. What plans do you have to enhance our women's soccer venue?
John Mayers
Cedar Hill, Texas
John,
Baylor enjoyed some immediate success with its soccer program, including winning the 1998 Big 12 championship. We are confident that under the leadership of first-year head coach George Van Linder the program is again headed in the right direction.
We are in the process of developing an athletics facilities master plan as part of the department's strategic planning process. There have been some recent modest improvements to the soccer locker room and we anticipate further improvements that will benefit soccer in the near future.
Thank you for your interest and support of Baylor soccer!
Ian
Dear Ian, No question. Just want to tell you I like the deep green and old gold with the addition of black in the Baylor uniforms. Wow!! The basketball team's uniforms looked good on television. I hope the other sports teams take on this look.
A Baylor Parent who believes in all you are doing ...
Steven Hewes
Arlington, Texas
Editor's Note: Questions about uniform colors were also received from James Perry (Dallas, Texas), Nancy Hidy (Houston, Texas), David W. Hardage (Sulphur Springs, Texas) and Chuck Douglas (Belton, Texas).
Steven,
Thank you for your feedback on the uniform colors.
This issue has received a great deal of attention based upon the poll results on the website and the number of posts on various websites. Clearly, there are divergent opinions when it comes to fans preference for using the color black in association with Baylor team uniforms. Moreover, Baylor coaches have chosen different paths in this issue as well.
We appreciate your support!
Ian
Dear Ian, I am glad to have an Athletic Director who is willing to listen to what the public and students have to say. Thank you and the job you have done thus far is outstanding. I was wondering if Baylor ever plans to use the old sailor bear on any other their apparel. It is impossible to find unless you live in the Waco area. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Sic'em Bears!
Brian Jennings M.
Bullard, Texas
Brian,
The Sailor Bear logo is a part of the officially licensed marks for the University. It is particularly popular among students and student groups, so I expect that you will continue to be able to find Baylor apparel with this mark on campus.
The athletic department will be using the interlocking BU and the Baylor script as the marks that will be most closely associated with the athletic teams. With that, I suspect that most of the merchandise templates that we will be selling locally, regionally and nationally will have these marks.
We have some upcoming meetings with our licensing vendor Collegiate Licensing Company and are making progress in improving distribution and sales of Baylor merchandise.
Sic 'em Bears!
Ian
Ian, With the many changes taking place at Floyd Casey Stadium this off-season is there a way for us outside of Waco to monitor the progress via a Floyd Casey Cam? Also, when are we going to have all paved parking lots on the student side?
Robert Schornack
Birmingham, Ala.
Robert,
This is an excellent question and suggestion.
We will work with our media relations office to provide photos of the improvements as they take place on the BaylorBears.com website. We will provide periodic updates on the synthetic surface installation in the coming weeks and do the same with progress on the Grant Teaff Plaza.
The roadway and parking lot improvements are underway as well. We are excited about how all of these projects will improve the fan experience at football games for visitors to Floyd Casey Stadium next fall and in the future.
We appreciate your interest and support!
Ian
Dear Ian, It's sad to see Coach Goodner retire without much "fanfare". He strikes me as a man of great character and he was obviously a superior football coach. Do you have an address where we can write him to say "THANKS!!!
Wallace A. Pennington
Helotes, Texas
Editor's Note: Similar questions and comments were received from Rick Smith (Dallas, Texas) and Quoc Nguyen (Houston, Texas).
Wallace,
Thank you for the comments about Coach Goodner.
We were sorry to see Coach Goodner leave Baylor and wish him and his family much happiness. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the interaction that I had with him.
Coach Morriss is in the process of identifying Coach Goodner's successor and reorganizing the defensive coaching staff prior to the team beginning spring practice in mid-March.
You are welcome to send Coach Goodner a note of appreciation that we will forward to his attention at: Football Office, Baylor Athletics, 150 Bear Run, Waco, TX 76711.
Ian
Dear Ian: It's a small thing really, but I'd like to see Baylor adopt an "official" color green. We use every shade of green known to man. Last year the football jerseys were one color green while the green on the helmets was another shade of green. You don't see different shades of colors on other teams. I realize that it might take a few years to get this done, but perhaps we can start now towards a goal of getting this accomplished by, say 2007. I'm excited about the future of Baylor sports.
Paul Underwood
Brownwood Texas
Paul,
I am excited about the future of Baylor Athletics as well and feel that we are experiencing great momentum thanks to the outstanding work of our coaching staff and student-athletes. At this point, eight of our winter and spring teams are ranked in the Top 35 nationally and we have the opportunity to have as many as 12 teams advance to NCAA postseason competition this year.
Baylor does have an official PMS color of green. The color is referenced as PMS 560. The official gold is PMS 1235 (coated) or 1225 (flat). We attempt to match those colors as closely as possible whether it is reproduced on a uniform, in a media guide or at a facility. Due to some manufacturers limitations this is not always possible, however, we strive to be as consistent as possible with uses of both green and gold.
Ian
Ian, I appreciate your efforts to upgrade the entire athletic program. There is one aspect of the highly essential football program that needs some change: the post-game radio call-in program. How can Baylor exert more positive influence in this type of program--to make sure that it includes more game analysis, more complete stats, and more information about both teams that have just competed?
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Thomas L. Charlton
Waco, Texas
Editor's Note: Similar questions about Baylor's radio broadcasts were also received from Dusty Mcginty (Houston, Texas), Arthur D. Lasseter (Houston, Texas), Tom Carpenter (Humble, Texas), Robert A Schornack (Birmingham, Ala.) and Bill Whitmire (Cameron, Texas).
Dear Thomas,
I appreciate the many comments and questions about radio broadcasting and we certainly will be attentive to providing high quality programming. We are currently looking into future improvements with our website, video streaming as well as other broadcast properties and media.
In the future, we hope to utilize our broadcast properties, web site and other media to further promote Baylor's educational mission and the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff. Our broadcast properties provide the Department with a unique opportunity to showcase this wonderful University and its achievements.
The bottom line is to deliver the best programming possible to Baylor fans!
Have a great week everyone and thanks again for your questions!
Ian
