 | | Director of Athletics Ian McCaw will stop by for a live chat Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. CDT. |
Ian McCaw assumed the leadership of Baylor's 18-sport, Big 12 intercollegiate athletics program on Sept. 8, 2003. Baylor has experienced unprecedented success under McCaw in 2005. The women's basketball team captured the program's first NCAA championship and three teams - women's basketball and men's and women's tennis - captured Big 12 regular season titles, the most in the history of the school. Baylor enjoyed one of its most comprehensively successful years in 2003-04 including winning the first NCAA team championship in school history along with five NCAA individual titles. The men's tennis team captured the NCAA team championship, while Benjamin Becker won the NCAA men's singles title, Jeremy Wariner won the NCAA indoor and outdoor 400 meter titles and the 4x400-meter relay team captured the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. Baylor had 10 teams advance to 2003-04 NCAA postseason competition including women's cross country, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's basketball, softball, men's and women's golf and men's tennis. An 11th Baylor program, women's tennis, had an individual participate in the national championships. In the final NACDA Cup rankings, Baylor finished 47th, and seven of its programs were ranked in the nation's top 25 at season's end. A five-year strategic plan for intercollegiate athletics was developed and implemented inclusive of department goals and objectives. Issues relating to the student-athlete experience, enhanced program competitiveness, equity, diversity, rules compliance, sporting conduct, external support, facility improvements and long-term financial stability were addressed. |
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 |  | Ian McCaw: Good morning. We are looking forward to another outstanding year for Baylor Athletics. Thank you for stopping by to participate in this morning's chat. |
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| Adam Kaye (Katy, TX): Ian, thanks for all you've done with the atletic department in the short time you've been here. I think it's been a long time since an athletic year has been met with such high expectations by the coaches, athletes, students, and alumni. My questions are about the men's basketball schedule. Has there been any indication that a conference opponent may be willing to move a game up to December to allow Baylor to play a game before the Spring? Also, when can we expect to see a formal announcement either way? |
| | Ian McCaw: Adam, thank you for the kind words. We have asked every Big 12 men's basketball team to consider moving its game with Baylor. There has been only one institution that has expressed a willingness to do so. In this instance, we have some complications regarding television that we are still attempting to work through. Bottom line: we should know shortly whether or not we will be able to have this game moved up to start the season. Once this process in complete, we will announce our 2005-06 men's basketball schedule. |
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| Dr. Frank Ward, Bakersfield,CA: Ian, we are all extremely proud of the progress in Baylor Athletics. Please tell us if we are going to get an on-campus football practice facility. Is it a certainty? |
| | Ian McCaw: Frank, thank you for the question. We have been fundraising for the football practice facility for more than a year. To date, we have more than $5 million in commitments. However, we remain approximately $10 million away from the goal. Both Coach Morriss and I view this project as a high priority, however, we need to secure the funds from our football base in order for this project to proceed. We are grateful to the several donors who have made generous gifts. Clearly, we need many more before this project can begin! |
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| Jon (Irving): Why is nobody mentioning the baseball teams success. They had their best year in their programs history, but it wasn't mentioned anywhere in the lariat or above. |
| | Ian McCaw: Thanks for the question. The Baylor baseball team had its best year ever in winning the Big 12 regular season championship and advancing to the College World Series. There was tremendous coverage in the media during the team's incredible post-season run. Since most of the team's post-season play took place after Baylor's graduation, the Lariat was no longer publishing on a regular basis. |
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| Haines (Dallas): What is the status on David Gettis playing football at Baylor? Do we have a time frame on when the NCAA might have a resolution? |
| | Ian McCaw: This has been a frequently asked question over the past several weeks. At this time, David Gettis has not been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. There has been additional information submitted on his behalf and that will be reviewed and considered as part of his file. This situation must be resolved in his favor very soon, otherwise he will not be admitted to Baylor by the 12th class day (next Tuesday) which is necessary in order for him to enroll. |
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| John (Waco): Mr. McCaw. I love the signs on I-35 coming in to town. Is there any chance that they could be re-configured. They are almost impossible to read more than a few words while driving 60 miles per hour because the writing is fairly small for a billboard. It's a great idea, though. |
| | Ian McCaw: John, thank you for the question. We have had many favorable comments about the signs along I-35 commemorating the Lady Bears national championship. These signs were donated by Lamar Advertising and we are grateful for their support. Recently, we have made a proposal to a local foundation to consider funding a large sign on I-35 adjacent to campus that would recognize the success of Baylor Athletics. We believe that this would be attractive to the thousands of people who drive past Baylor each day on I-35. |
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| Kit-- Tyler: Ian--it appears you're captaining our ship very well since your arrival. Keep up the good work! Where do we stand on the proposed new football and basketball practice facilities? How large a priority is it? What comes first--football or basketball? |
| | Ian McCaw: Good morning Kit and thanks for the comments and questions. Both of these project rate as high priorities and are identified as such in the Victory With Integrity Campaign. I provided an update on the football practice facility project a few questions ago. The basketball practice facility project has had overwhelming support from many Baylor alumni and friends. We are very close to raising the necessary funds to complete this project. This project costs nearly $8 million and we are almost there. If you have not already made a gift to these projects, please consider doing so today by calling the Bear Foundation at 254-710-4214. Thank you for your support! |
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| Jim (Dallas): Ian: Once the Teaff Plaza and chairback projects are completed at Floyd Casey, what are the next improvements you have planned for FCS? Will our fundraising efforts be geared toward stadium projects since they are smaller, less expensive projects that are more easily achievable or will the on-campus practice facility take precedence? |
| | Ian McCaw: Jim, this morning I have been watching some of the finishing touches being put on the Grant Teaff Plaza project out my window. I think our fans are going to be thrilled with the outcome when they arrive for our home opener on September 10. In addition to extending the walkway around Floyd Casey Stadium, we have made several other improvements during the off-season. The new Bear Club seating is currently being installed; the visitor's locker room was renovated; there have been improvements to the scoreboard including enhancements to BaylorVision; new directional signage has been added; and the interior of the stadium has been painted. We will be added some additional signage components to the facility as well including some this season. We are looking forward to continuing the make progress at Floyd Casey Stadium to enhance the experience for our fans and make it more impressive for recruits. With that, the on-campus practice facility, as I mentioned above, is a critical project for the future of our football program. |
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| gregory/katy: ian, what is being done in the endzone? i have heard there will be a tarp, i heard it was just being re-painted. Have you ever thought of putting grass in that area, and selling cheap tickets for that area to get more people in the stands, and to make it look better on tv? |
| | Ian McCaw: Thank you for the question Greg. We have repainted the seating areas in both end zone sections and they look much better. We will continue to sell tickets in the North End Zone and we are exploring adding a cover to the South end zone. I appreciate your comments. |
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| Bobby D. (Houston): Mr. McCaw, I don't really have a question, but rather a statement. You have done an unbelievable job in your two years of service to my beloved university. I just want to say thank you and please continue the great work that is going on in Waco. I coach (HS) in Houston now (I left that horrible place in Austin and got out of compliance)and hope one day to get another interview with you someday. Good luck this year. Sic 'em Bears! c/o '01 |
| | Ian McCaw: Bobby, thanks for the kind words. We can always use loyal and enthusiastic Baylor Bears here in the athletic department! |
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| chris/waco: Ian, thanks for all your hardwork. You have mentioned before the changes planning to be made inside our football stadium. What changes will be done INSIDE, and what will be done to make our pre-game atmosphere to make it feel like a big-time college football atmosphere. |
| | Ian McCaw: Thanks for the questions Chris. I detailed several of the improvements at Floyd Casey Stadium in one of the above questions and you will be able to see them first-hand on September 10. We have added a number of promotions for each game this year that you can find on BaylorBears.com. We have enhanced Snickers Touchdown Alley that will include an autograph signing by the national champion Lady Bears for the home opener. The student tailgate area on Dutton Street was a huge success last year and will be bigger and better this year. The added amenities from the completion of the Grant Teaff Plaza project will add a great deal to the fan experience as well. Not the least of which is being able to cross over from the East to West side and vice versa during games. |
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| carlos/corpus: what home games will be provided to us by this new baylor all-access. Will ALL home games be shown on live video? |
| | Ian McCaw: Carlos, thanks for mentioning this exciting new feature for Baylor fans. All of our home games will be available through Baylor All-Access. Due to Big 12 television restrictions, they will be put up on a delayed basis beginning at 10:30 p.m. on game night. |
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| Thomas: I've been trying to find "Guy Talk" archived on the web site but it doesn't seem to be on any longer. I know this Tuesday (8/30) was the first show. Wednesday there was a link to the live show but no archive content. Today (Thursday) there is no link at all. Are you planning for "Guy Talk" archives to be available this year? I hope so. Thanks. |
| | Ian McCaw: Thomas, starting next week, all Guy Talk shows will be archived. We understand that CSTV will be making an announcement today detailing some of the improvements in Bearcast for this year. |
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| Jim (Dallas): Ian: There is a webpage link, complete with video, on the Baylor University website that is dedicated to the proposed Immortal Ten statue. The statue appears to be partially finished, but the page states that all of the necessary funds have not yet been raised. Obviously, this monument will be a great addition to the Ferrell Center. Will funds for the completion of this project be included in the fundraising efforts for the practice facility? |
| | Ian McCaw: Thanks for the question. The Immortal Ten Statue project has been on-going for several years. At this time, approximately 60 percent of the funding is in place, however, additional monies are needed to complete the project. I agree that this monument is a wonderful way to honor these former Baylor student-athletes, however, we will use the gifts for the basketball practice facility to complete that project and not re-direct them. I am hopeful that we will be able to identify other donors interested in supporting the Immortal Ten project. |
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| Mark (Seattle): Ian, what about parking at Floyd Casey? Have/will any of the dirt lots be paved? Will any of the old, pot-holed lots be improved? I think this would greatly improve the look and feel of the stadium. |
| | Ian McCaw: Mark, I hope that you can make it to a couple of games this year from Seattle to see first hand. We have been fortunate that Lindsey Construction, the general contractor for the Grant Teaff Plaza project, has been very generous in doing some paving and additional improvements above and beyond the scope of the project. Parking at Baylor football games will be better this year and we look forward to continuing to make improvements in the future. As a point of reference, Baylor offers the least expensive and some of the closest parking to fans of any school in the Big 12 conference. |
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| John (San Diego): Ian, congrats on the tremendous success with BU athletics. Are there any strategic initiatives in place to get more fans from the Waco community to the football games? |
| | Ian McCaw: John, thanks for the question. We have had a great couple of years and are looking forward to continued success in the years to come. We have been pleased with the response from the Waco community. We had much improved fan support this past year in a number of sports including football, women's basketball, baseball and softball. The Waco community understands that when Baylor succeeds, Waco succeeds. We have received very strong support in our fundraising efforts locally, and our new ISP marketing relationship has led to a new level of corporate sponsorship revenues. We have also realized a tremendous gain in merchandising sales and licensing royalties that includes improvement in the local market. We are grateful to the strong support that Waco is offering the Baylor Bears! |
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| | Ian McCaw: Time is up for the chat. Thank you for the comments and questions and let's get the 2005-06 year off to a great start! Sic'em Bears! |
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