July 5, 2001
Athletic Director Tom Stanton sat down Thursday afternoon and chatted with fans online. The following is a transcript of the chat session.
For archived transcripts of earlier chats, click here.
Geoff (Copper Canyon): How will the Big 12 change with Bobby Knight in Lubbock?
Tom Stanton: I think Bob Knight will bring an increased level of exposure to basketball, particularly when Texas Tech goes on the road in the Big 12. I think that there will be a lot of media excitement regarding his initial tour of the league, and then it will settle. I also think Knight's involvement will obviously not only sell more tickets in Lubbock, but bring additional fans and revenues to the other Big 12 institutions.
Steve -- San Jose, CA: The last four Football have been quite painful to endure. As best I can tell, Coach Steel is doing the right things, but when can we expect the turnaround? What do you expect from the program?
Tom Stanton: I'm in total agreement that Kevin is laying the appropriate foundation. I think we all should expect more wins this season and a more competitive football team. To put any set number of wins at this point is inappropriate. I think recruiting continues to play a big part. The expansion of our strength and conditioning, training and locker room areas will be a boost. None of us has seen the incoming juco class to know what impact they actually will make. I'm sure we'll have more information once we are finished with two-a-days.
David Gibson (Waco): Do plans exist to brick Floyd Casey Stadium to match the other athletic venues on campus? Also, if Floyd Casey ever needed to be expanded, do plans already exist to do so, and, if so, would those plans include a small upper deck on the student side?
Tom Stanton: There are masterplan concepts being discussed for various renovation components. Internally, our priorities are to walkway areas, restroom and concession amenities, before any significant, highly expensive cosmetic changes. We believe we can dramatically improve the cosmetic look by eliminating the chain link fences, finalizing the building of the Grant Teaff Plaza, and continuing the I Believe walkway around Floyd Casey. Those will be the priorities for the next 18 months.
John (Arlington, TX): What is the status of a new scoreboard for the football stadium. I think it would be nice to have one that kept track of the statistics as the game progressed such as the one at Oklahoma.
Tom Stanton: We currently are attempting to sell four anchor sponsorships in hopes of bringing the necessary $ 2.5 million for the following: instant replay board for Floyd Casey, instant replay and statistical boards for the Ferrell Center, a relocation of the current football display board to Baylor Ballpark, and a new scoreboard/display board for Getterman Stadium.
Houston: What is the expected year that Coach Steele has to have a winning record to keep his job?
Tom Stanton: I have not set an expected year. Let me give you two statistical examples. 1) Dan McCarney at Iowa State, 2) Bill McCartney at Colorado. I believe in Bill McCartney's 4th year at CU he was 1-10. Dan McCarney at ISU suffered through five losing seasons before they broke through with last year's 9-3. The key questions tie to the increasing competitiveness of our program, the status of and ability to draw recruits who will change the trend, and the courage to hang on while the process is occurring. I believe without reservation that Kevin has the character, commitment, and integrity to lead our football program out of its current doldroms. He will have every opportunity to do so.
David Gibson(Waco): The plans for the golf course look incredible. Congratulations to you and whoever else is responsible for bringing such a quality golf course to Waco.
Tom Stanton: You're kind. People like Harold Cunningham, Bill and Roberta Bailey, and Jim Stewart deserve the visionary credit for not only believing in the concept, but exercising the tenacity to forge through negotiations of approximately 40 separate contracts, not to mention the legal meetings to create such a partnership. People will absoutely be amazed at the course once they've seen and played Bear Ridge. We will be equally as proud of the course and the Bill and Roberta Bailey Golf Center as we are of Getterman Stadium, the Ferrell Center and Paul J. Meyer Arena, the Baylor Ballpark, and our tennis facility. More to come.
Seark: Mr. Stanton, is there going to be some effort put forth, to get Big 12 Baseball more T.V. coverage? Talk was the Big 12 office, did not push for more baseball coverage. Thanks, our son will be a freshman at Baylor next year.
Tom Stanton: Television coverage for Olympic sports is a fascinating question. We all would like to expand the number of appearances, but the networks are experiencing extremely limited viewership. Miniscule ratings make it incredibly difficuly from a business standpoint to justify TV exposure without financial sponsorship dollars. The SEC does have a stronger package, relative to the number of baseball games televised, only because they divert additional football TV revenue money to subsidize it. The Big 12 will continue to assess this issue in the months ahead.
Steven (Houston): Can you pinpoint exactly what caused the demise of Baylor football?
Tom Stanton: I think it's a combination of a lot of things. The major points are leadership, character issues relative to student-athletes recruited, and the documented fact that close to 50% of the top 20 recruiting classes signed never academically qualify. My hire of Coach Roberts proved ineffective, which is my fault, and coupled with the junior college players who did not remain with the team, further contributed to our inability to be competitive at the line of scrimmage. I believe Kevin is taking the appropriate steps to recruit character, both at the h.s. and juco level, and what's needed is time to put 2 or 3 recruiting classes together to change the imbalance on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Also, the Joe Jacksons and Jon Ericksons are now bigger and stronger, and should not have been forced to play before their natural times due to strength and size.
Waco: I'm really confused with the release of Baylor's softball catcher, Ryan Stukel. I am wanting to know why, with her receiving 3 awards and was a main stay with the team this year, how she could be let go? There has not been enough explanation...please respond..Thanks
Tom Stanton: Glenn inherited a team which he had not seen perform in any fashion, on the field, in the classroom, or from an attitude and team chemistry perspective. At the beginning of any coaching transition, coaches have their respective meetings with the players, as did Glenn. At that time, they were encouraged to exhibit their best efforts in impressing him over the balance of the entire year regarding their abilities and levels of commitment. He also made them aware that he would be making assessments in all the aforementioned categories and would be making future decisions regarding the team and its chemistry, which he has done. He has handled the matters in appropriate fashion by setting the standards of accountability well in advance of his final decision-making days. I believe his decisions will bode well for the growth and development of our softball program, based on Glenn's style of management and motivation.
Chris (Waco): Tom, you have done a great job building the athletic facilities at Baylor. Why do you have difficulty maintaining positive relationships with your coaches?
Tom Stanton: I have outstanding relationships with our staff. In athletic administration, sometimes the perceptions are because coaches or staffs don't receive a "yes" to every request that there are possibly poor relationships. Poor relationships only occur when there are a lack of communication and an unwillingness to discuss issues and establish priorities. I am in constant communication based on the organizational structure of the department through coaches' direct reports to me personally regarding priority needs and wants of each and every coach for each and every sport. We have committed ourselves to working those lists and giving each and every coach as much as we possibly can, as fast as we possibly can. Sometimes there are not enough dollars available to grant each and every request. As in every family situation, sometimes the answer one would like isn't always able to be granted at a particular point in time, but it's never due to a lack of communication, willingness to listen or lack of platform. The coaches always have the ability to express themselves and their needs.
Steve (Dallas): As an alumni, how did you contribute to Baylor's athletic department prior to becoming the AD? How important is it for current alumni to financially support the athletic department?
Tom Stanton: Great question. Without getting into dollar specifics, which I think is inappropriate, I was involved in the Letterman's Association and with a scholarship program for men's basketball. I actually was only approached three times in 22 years to donate or support Baylor athletics. I think the foundation of the building successes that our coaches and student-athletes have benefitted from are based on an increased willingness to be much bolder in our asking than we have been before. My experience is there are a great many people who want us to be successful, have put forth financial support for us to do so, and are pleased with the degree of success we've had in virtually all sports. We all look forward to the winning days of football, as the final piece to add expanded legitimacy. With that, I believe financial support will geometrically jump, as it has in the last three years for various projects.
Tim Sisson (Columbus, Ohio): Would you approve of an idea that would put a new FB stadium on campus? SMU just completed their first season at a new on-campus stadium, and the school went from an empty Cotton Bowl to a sold out Ford Stadium with an excitement that the school had not seen in years. An on-campus stadium would rejuvenate the student support of our football team, bring life to campus on beautiful Saturdays in the fall, and it would show a commitment to the young men on our football team. What can we as fans and alumni do to help this happen?
Tom Stanton: I personally like the concept of a stadium on campus. There are many questions associated with yours that we'll consider as a topic of this nature moves forward. Yes, SMU did open with one sellout, and four games into the season I believe they had only 5000 people at a game. Their attendance was dismal in spite of the $54 million facility. Secondly, we are showing the commitment that we have to our current players by the weight room, training and state of the art locker room facilities, which needs to be done in the short term to give Coach Steele an opportunity to have an immediate recruiting impact over the next 2-3 years. Thirdly, I assume it would take approximately $100 million to build a new 50,000 seat stadium on campus. A more pressing need for that $100 million currently would be the athletic endowment, to insure consistency of winning and benefits derived from all 17 sports, not just football. What I'd like to see is the first $100 million going to the endowment, then focusing the second $100 million raised on relocation someday to campus.
Dale (Waco): I am a big fan of Steele, and I was wondering what was the characteristic about him that told you he was the right man for the job? Also, had you ever heard of him before Kevin Green choked the daylights out of him on national TV, or was that notoriety a determining factor in him getting an interview?
Tom Stanton: I was aware of Kevin long before his "date" with Kevin Green. His name was on the initial list of candidates when Dave Roberts was hired. The major question at that point was his departure from Nebraska to the pro ranks, therefore, he didn't make the final interview list. In Kevin's official interview, he totally captivated each and every individual involved in the interviewing process. His intellect, ability to communicate, understanding of the game, and determination to take on what obviously was going to be a difficult challenge was evident. Kevin knew the depths to which our program had sunk, and because of his spiritual beliefs -- which matched Baylor's missions and values -- he believed, and still does, that Baylor's football program can produce wonderful results and memories as it has in the past. He's not the kind to back away from a challenge, but above and beyond everything else mentioned prior, the key elements of character and integrity were unbelievably evident in the interviewing process.
Doug: How much emphasis, if any is there on trying to harvest and keep good relationships with former Baylor athletes that have been successful in the pros? I would think that for recruiting and noteriety sake that Baylor would try to have athletes like M.Singletary, C.Carlson, D.Gardner, R.Crockett, B. Skinner,D.Wesley, K. Wells, M. Johnson and others front and center and more visible on campus to drive recruiting and to promote sucess within the BU Family. Could this be an avenue worth exploring for the sake of "self promoting" or marketing of BU athletics ?
Tom Stanton: We are absolutely exploring that, as you mentioned, through the Letterman's Assoc. Two weekends ago, I was a facilitator of a B Assoc. meeting with approximately 25 former letterwinners to discuss these and other strategic issues involving the future direction of the B Association. I believe the B Assoc. leadership will begin to take an expanded role and establish a concentrated gameplan in the near future to accomplish what you suggest. Please don't hesitate to send any thoughts/ideas you have to Dutch Schroeder, Executive Director, or Pinkie Palmer, this year's president.
BaylorStudent&Fan: What are your thoughts about Steve Smith talking to other schools? And after this lackluster season, do you feel that Smith is the coach to take that program to the next level and win us a national title?
Tom Stanton: I think Steve is an excellent baseball coach. One of the natures of this industry is the dynamic of "coach recruitment" when an institution is trying to fill a vacancy. Steve, President Sloan and I have agreed not to discuss our current situation, but all should know of Baylor's commitment to Steve and our appreciation for his leadership, integrity, and the quality of product he has created in Baylor baseball.
Pat(Waco): There is disapointment that the current women's admistrator will step down due to health concerns. When do you expect to have a replacemnt, and what qualifications will you seek?
Tom Stanton: We, too, are disappointed in very difficult health circumstances which led to Jeanne Nowlin requesting a transfer. This SWA role is a key executive position within Baylor athletics. I have asked Paul Bradshaw, who has served as interim SWA for quite a period of time, to remain administrating our women's sports programs as we begin our evaluation and search process. We need an individual vibrant, who has a vision for development and expansion of women's sports, and who would be recognized as a leader for the enhancement of women's competition and who has been experienced in marketing and fundraising.
Tom Stanton: Sorry I have to run now... Thanks for the opportunity to spend time. We'll get another chat set up soon, if you like. Thanks for supporting the Bears!
Jeff Brown -- Admin: I'll answer a few more of these questions, if I can.
BU Football Fan, Ennis: Mr. Stanton, To date we have yet to see an online store. All we get are excuses about lawyers. When will our online store be up and running? I am looking for a target date, not a vague answer like "soon." Thank you.
Jeff Brown -- Admin: The store is nearly ready to go. We are talking with the Baylor bookstore to make sure that the items fans want will be availble online. We fully expect the store to be launched before the beginning of the football season.
BaylorStudent&Fan: When does the Big 12 Conference announce the mens and womens basketball conference schedule?
Jeff Brown -- Admin: That varies, as the league tries to work the men's and women's schedules together while also working in TV schedules. For a reference point, last season, the schedule came in mid-July. I would expect them between then and the first of August.
Thanks to all for your questions, and for your support of Baylor Athletics!
