Dec. 11, 2000
Each week, GoBaylorBears.com features a different guest in "Ask the Bears." This week's guest was head track and field coach Clyde Hart. Next week's featured guests are golf coaches Sylvia Ferdon and Tim Hobby. To submit a question for either of them, click here.
Coach, I realize that recently, Baylor has spent a lot of money on the track facilities... resurfacing the track, the scoreboard, etc. On a longer term view, would you like to one day make the move to an on-campus track and field complex or do you prefer the current location?
Jim Wright, Dallas, Texas
It would be nice to have an on-campus facility. I believe that an on-campus facility enhances any athletic program because it's more available to both students and alumni, plus it allows visitors as well as prospective student-athletes to see your facility in conjunction with our beautiful campus. If a comparable facility could be located on-campus, I'd certainly be in favor of this.
Coach Hart, Thank you for all the years of success that you have given to Baylor. Has being in the Big 12 helped recruiting, or has it made it more difficult? Also, will you please groom someone to take your place when you are ready to retire so that we can enjoy success even after you are gone? Sic Em Coach Hart!
David Gibson, Waco, Texas
Being in the Big 12 has probably enhanced our recruiting nationwide because it has allowed us to be visible in more areas of the country. Whether or not it has made it more or less difficult, I can't answer. Recruiting is always difficult regardless of what conference you are in.
I will never make a conscience effort to groom someone to take my place. I would hope that the assistant coaches I now have, or have had in the past, have been to some degree influenced by my presence and it's been a positive experience for them.
Would Baylor benefit from having an indoor track and field facility?
Ellis Hathaway, Bisbee, Arkansas
Yes, we would benefit from having an indoor track & field facility. Not having an indoor facility does make it difficult to train, particularly during inclement weather. We really have no place to properly train during heavy rain, freezing weather, etc. Over the years we have been able to find a vacant building where we have set up an area for pole vaulters to vault. At the present time, nine of the Big 12 schools have some sort of indoor facility to train and compete in. It is interesting to note that other than the University of Arkansas, which has two indoor track facilities and has been the perennial national champions in indoor track & field for the past decade, we have the second-best record in indoor track & field among NCAA schools.
The NCAA limits the amount of track and field scholarships and partial scholarships are necessary. Since Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12, it would seem our athletes are at quite a financial disadvantage in the matter of partial scholarships that are necessary in your sport. What does Baylor, and other private schools, do to combat this disadvantage?
Dan Jensen, Claremore, OK
Since our scholarships are over twice as expensive as the state schools, it is true that any youngster we recruit on a partial scholarship will have to pay more than they would at a state school. However, I feel that in track & field, particularly on the national level which is our primary goal, that the best way to be competitive is with quality athletes. Thus we'll continue to recruit the very best student-athletes which, in most cases, will require full scholarships. This ultimately puts us at a disadvantage at conference level because we will not have the depth that the state schools will have.
But again, over the last decade, we have consistently finished higher at the NCAA Championships than other Big 12 schools. We have also produced more NCAA individual champs than most of the other Big 12 schools.
