You Are Entering Baylor Nation

Posted on October 1, 2014 by alicroom

By Frances George

Welcome to fall of your senior year in high school! A time filled with so many lasts (as my daughter called them back in the fall of 2010 when she was a senior in high school), so many memories and so many decisions to be made – some before the end of the semester. And amid all of the events of senior year, there is one overriding, all-consuming decision that you go to bed thinking about, wake up having dreamt about and go throughout your day pondering: “WHERE will I be next year at this time?”

___________ University

What institution’s name will fill in the blank? It is THE question on every Class of 2015 student’s mind. Overwhelmed? Don’t be. You see, there is an amazing school straight down I-35 South (or up, depending on which direction from which you originate!) in a wonderful college town in Texas, once known primarily as the birthplace of Dr Pepper but now known as the home of Baylor Nation. It is a school that has all the statistics to sufficiently impress you on every level: academically, socially, aesthetically, musically and athletically. But let’s be honest, there are lots of top tier schools that have a lovely campus and all of the bells and whistles to attract top scholars, athletes and artists. So what is it that sets Baylor apart?

Just last week my husband and I were in Dallas for a board meeting. Our daughter drove up from Baylor just for dinner and a quick visit (We are from North Carolina in case you are wondering). Three hours after she arrived, she was headed back down I-35! But in those brief moments, I caught yet another glimpse of what makes Baylor unique and why I am thankful our daughter is a part of this place called Baylor Nation.

When our daughter arrived in Dallas late in the afternoon, she read us the text sent from her professor, as she had to alert him that she would miss his mid-week class in order to join us for dinner. The response from the professor was astounding (An aside: That a upper-level course professor at a major university would take the time to text a student is rare, but what he wrote was even more unique). The professor texted our daughter this message before she headed to Dallas: “Don’t text and drive! Be safe. Have a great time with your parents. Don’t worry about missing class today. Being with parents is more important. Drive safely back to school and remember – don’t text and drive!”

That is Baylor Nation.

That night, we ate dinner with the full board and their spouses at a lovely uptown restaurant. Our daughter has met many of these board members, men and women from around the state of Texas and around the nation, multiple times over, during the three years she has been at Baylor. Somehow this night was different. Watching our daughter interact with financial officers, legal counsel, the chief executive officer and their spouses with ease, wit and grace that came as naturally as if she had known them her entire life was a joy to watch throughout the evening. Our daughter who came to Baylor three years ago as an out-of-state freshman, knowing no one, has been nurtured and taught life skills far beyond the scope of classroom and textbooks. She has grown into a dynamic young woman who seamlessly goes in and out of a variety of events with ease. Her regular exposure to and interaction with faculty and administration, her involvement and leadership role in her sorority house and her winsome group of close friends have helped shape her in ways that are a blessing to witness. She could learn all about journalism, public relations, communication and Spanish on any campus, but here at Baylor, something extra has taken place. She has become a young woman who will make a difference in her generation.

This is Baylor Nation.

The Baylor difference resides in the things you can see in your student as they go through their four years at Baylor: grace, poise and confidence in conversation. The Baylor difference resides in the big and little unseen things our students are taught by outstanding and uniquely gifted professors: “Don’t text and drive and have a great time with your parents” translates into “I care about you as a person, and I respect, admire and recognize the relationship you have with your parents.” What other major university professor says that? So, above all, the Baylor difference resides in not only the things you can see, but more importantly in the things you can’t see. It is reflected in the ever deepening character of your student and shaped by what takes place on campus and in the broader Baylor community. Growing up in a strong nation with strong leaders makes a difference. That’s the Baylor Nation difference. When you see the billboards as you enter Waco that read “You are entering Baylor Nation,” they are true. It is a place unlike any other. It is a nation building tomorrow’s leaders, leaders who will make a difference, rooted in Waco, changing the world.

March Madness

Posted on March 31, 2014 by alicroom

By Shannon Sandridge

I come from a basketball-oriented family, so this year I have been really looking forward to March Madness. And let me tell you, I now see so much more clearly why they call it “madness.”

On campus, it feels like most everyone has a stake in the tournament. Our men’s team was struggling for a while there, but the spirit on campus this past week has been almost palpable. Even people who normally aren’t that into sports have turned in brackets with different dorms or churches, so the outcome of the games are even more imperative.

Because the tournament is so critical, its presence is prevalent. Students were rushing out of class to catch the beginning of the first game. A friend of mine pulled it up on the computer, and we watched it in the dining hall, cheering over lunch and talking during commercials.

My friends and I watching the game at lunch.

I even had a professor, who had his teaching assistant updating the score on the whiteboard every few minutes. This was partially to ensure that we didn’t completely ignore his lesson to watch the games on our phones, but mostly because he’s as enthused as the students. He even led a Sic ‘Em when we got the final score!

My professor put the score in the upper right hand corner of the white board.

My first March Madness as a college student has definitely been crazy; I’m exhilarated by the school spirit around me. Sic ‘Em Bears!

Not Quite Waco

Posted on January 30, 2014 by alicroom

By Michael Allen

I spent a week in Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl this past Christmas break and enjoyed every second of it. Since this is my senior year, I was determined to make it to the bowl game. Like every other Baylor fan, I was hoping for a different outcome, but I still enjoyed getting to spend time in the Phoenix area.

I got to Arizona on the Sunday before the bowl game and immediately knew it was going to be a great week because of the beautiful weather. I spent the first day golfing in Scottsdale and soaking in the sunny, 75 degree weather.

On my second day in Arizona, I explored the Old Town Scottsdale area and drove through the Phoenix Mountains. Old Town Scottsdale had a lot of little shops and restaurants, so it was easy to spend time there looking around.

There were plenty of people out walking around the trails in the Phoenix Mountains, but I just drove through the area, because I was on a time crunch.

On New Years Eve, I stayed in Glendale, Ariz., at a hotel right next to the stadium. This was also a neat area, because there were a lot of restaurants in an area called Westgate right next to the stadium. There were a lot of Baylor fans in this area, which also made things fun!

The game day finally arrived, and there were Baylor and UCF fans all over the place. It was fun to see so many familiar faces in an area so far form Waco. This showed me how loyal Baylor fans were!

Despite Baylor losing the game, the Fiesta Bowl was a blast! I would have to say that I would recommend all students to go to future bowl games to get to experience a Baylor football game in a city other than Waco.

Thankful for Family Time

Posted on December 5, 2013 by alicroom

By Laura Beth Moore

Whew! Part of me can’t believe Thanksgiving break is already over so quick! My sister Mary Catherine and I enjoyed the beautiful Texas sunset as we headed to meet my parents at my Uncle Greg’s ranch in Edgewood, Texas. This year, there was a new addition at Uncle Greg’s, our new 7-week-old baby cousin Abigail Catherine! There may have been arguing over who got to hold her next.

When it comes to the Thanksgiving meal, my Papa Homer and Uncle Greg take the cooking seriously. My 76-year-old Papa stayed up all night smoking the turkey to perfection. Our Thanksgiving traditions start off with sleeping in and catching the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on television. Then, we eat. As we finish the meal, we all go around the table saying what we are thankful for. We all got choked up listening to my Uncle Greg talk about how thankful he is for the blessings of his new wife Natalie and their little girl Abigail Catherine. Both Natalie and my uncle had never married and were in their late 30s and early 40s when eHarmony matched them up almost 3 years ago. We joke with them saying, “Good things come to those who wait.” The special time wrapped up with my precious Papa Homer leaving us all teary-eyed at the end of his talk. “Take time every day to encourage someone,” he said.

Little did I realize, the weekend was just getting started as Mary Catherine and I traveled to Ft. Worth. Her boyfriend’s family treated us to dinner at Texas de Brazil before we headed to Billy Bob’s. This was our first experience at Texas de Brazil, and if you haven’t been before, they come by continuously with racks of meat for you to pick and choose from. My sister and I were in shock and a tad overwhelmed by all the food constantly coming our way. You have to understand we grew up without brothers…so we were introduced to a whole other world. Those boys can put away so much food! It was Thanksgiving Part Two. After dinner Mary Catherine, her boyfriend and I headed to the famous Billy Bob’s, located in the Fort Worth Stockyards. I had heard Baylor friends from the Dallas and Ft. Worth area talk about Billy Bob’s before. I always wanted to go, and as a fan of country music and two-steppin’, I quickly fell in love. We’re talking about taking a big group of friends up there sometime soon over dead days to go two-steppin’. Besides the dancing, I loved belting out some of my sister and I’s favorite Florida Georgia Line songs like “Get your Shine On” and “Cruise.”

The next morning was Game Day! We headed to tailgate with my sister’s boyfriend’s family, who are regulars at the TCU games. Our parents joined us to enjoy Chick-fil-A nuggets, Panda Express and several other tailgate take-out treats. Thankfully, one of our parent’s family friends grew up a TCU fan but now goes to Baylor, so we weren’t alone in our green and gold. As we walked to the stadium, we were shocked by all the green and gold sprinkled among the purple crowd. If you didn’t see the game, it was quite the nail-bitter! Mary Catherine and I cheered like crazy as Terrell Burt intercepted TCU’s hopes of tying the ballgame, but her boyfriend’s family turned to us stunned. While it was too close for comfort personally, it was good to see the Bears take home another win for the season!

What It’s Like to Be A Baylor Football Fan

Posted on November 27, 2013 by alicroom

By Emmy Edwards

Baylor football is number 4 in the nation. Number 4! In the Associated Press poll, the team is ranked number 3. This is a huge deal!

Watch this hype video. There are tons of them posted online. This one’s my favorite; it was posted before the OU game.

When I was in high school, my dad was a football coach. Growing up, I always liked football, and I thought it was really fun to go to all of the games. However, I was never really that into the sport itself. I did not get to excited when my team would win or lose, and I did not really get much school pride from watching them play.

Coming to Baylor, everything about football has changed for me. I LOVE football now! I have gone to all of the home games plus one game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. At Baylor, football is a community event, and everyone has his or her part to play. As Bears, we bring so much excitement into the games that it’s hard not to be a super fan. I thought that just the guys would be really into the games, but I was wrong. All of my friends—both girls and guys—get extremely excited during the games and enjoy themselves to the max.

Running the line is a hilarious but really meaningful experience for a freshman. After riding the bus to the game, we tailgate for a while. Several Baylor organizations have different tents that serve food, have fun games and hype everyone up. It’s great to walk around outside of the stadium and see different friends around the tailgates. It’s a real community feel. After that, freshmen in their yellow jerseys line up outside the gate.

The Chamber leads the Line in some fun chants to get us excited. There is always a really nervous feeling before we run, though. Everyone gets so much adrenaline that it feels like we are just a giant mob! Once we get down to the field and actually run across it, I can never stop laughing. It’s so intense. Everyone is screaming, and it’s such a great time that I just have to laugh!

Watching the game is great, too. We don’t sit down unless it is a major timeout or halftime. The fan section is very involved with lots of chants and LOTS of Sic ‘Ems. When we score, everyone goes crazy; my friends and I have a tradition of high-fiving everyone around us. Our little section always has some great camaraderie going on. Everyone seems to have a “Baylor forever” type of mood. It’s the best.

Last weekend, my friends and I drove up to Dallas to watch the game against Texas Tech. We had a great time in the car together, and we got to stay at my house outside of Dallas, too. The game was awesome in Cowboys Stadium, and it was great to see our school on such a big stage. Following the game, we met up with our guy friends in downtown Dallas at a late night restaurant. We were the only ones in there, and everyone was decked out in green and gold. Our alma mater says to “fling our green and gold afar,” so it was quite exciting to fling some Baylor spirit around DFW.

Being number four in the nation is incredible, too. Baylor has not been ranked this high in the BCS for about 50 years. It’s so great to see articles in major newspapers about Baylor football. It’s so surreal to realize that they are talking about my school. I go to that school! I am a Baylor Bear, too!

This is my favorite article about Baylor football. It was written in the New York Times after the OU game.

Sic ‘Em!

An Unstoppable Force

Posted on November 14, 2013 by alicroom

By Torie Abbott

A sold-out stadium, green and gold clothing explosions and a buzzing excitement; these are the typical things you can find in Waco on game day.

As a Baylor student, I came into this beautiful university thinking that I was going to have to sacrifice these wonderful elements of school spirit that football powerhouse like Ole Miss at the Grove and Bama with their Roll Tide pride themselves on.

However, Briles has taken this stereotype of Baylor and transformed it. For the past three years, Baylor has had three winning seasons! Robert Griffin III, or RG3, jump started this trend in 2011 with his Heisman trophy. That trophy represented more than RG3; it represented Baylor’s emergence as a football powerhouse. Since that season, Baylor has become a force to be reckoned with.

This past Thursday, Baylor fans young and old decked out in all black to support our players in their black uniforms. Campus was electric. The game had been hyped up to an unbelievable extent. We could not lose. It is hard to describe the feeling I had while in the student section as the Baylor Bears set forth to play, and ultimately embarrass, the Oklahoma Sooners. Check out this poem that was written just for the game.

Student of the present and of the future now have an opportunity that many Baylor students never had: to cheer on an AMAZING football team. With a new $260 million stadium and a top-notch coach that believes in his players, Baylor’s potential is endless. From this point forward, regardless of what the SportsCenter commentators or our opponents say, no one can stop Baylor. No one can crush our spirits. As RG3 famous said, “Baylor we are. Baylor we will always be.”

Game Day Schedule

Posted on November 12, 2013 by alicroom

By Mary Margaret Hambuchen

Baylor football is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Last week, we had the gracious privilege of beating OU on our own turf, 41-12. Baylor distributed more 10,000 student tickets (which are free by the way) and sold the game completely out. Coach Art Briles called for everyone attending the game to “black out” from head to toe. Baylor tweeted several days before the game that the university had apparently bought up every available long sleeve black T-shirt in the 8 surrounding states. Talk about dedicated!

Coming from SEC territory, football was something I was very concerned with when making my college decision (as shallow as it may sound). I wanted a large, growing program that had loyal, spirited fans and students. What I found was Baylor. And, let me tell you, in the past two and a half years we have come to be exactly that.

Let’s take a walk through my typical game day schedule, shall we?

9:30- Wake up, have a coffee and smile for the fact that it’s GAME DAY.

10:00- Run errands, shop for that last minute cute green top, sweater, dress, etc.

11:15- Do a little homework…if time permits. (I mean, it’s GAME DAY, OK?)

12:30- Shower, make-up, hair, try on shoes, pick jewelry…girls, you know the drill.

2:00- Meet up with the crew. Take pictures, grab a bite to eat, laugh and be merry.

2:45- TIME TO GET OUR TAILGATE ON.

3:00-Arrive at The Case (Floyd Casey Stadium). Hit up our favorite tailgates, take more pictures, say hello to every single person we know (or sometimes it seems like), get lost from each other and end up with an entirely new crew. Oh well.

4:45-Briefly find each other again and talk about what time we are heading into the game. Come to no conclusion. Socializing continues. Everyone gets lost all over again.

5:45- Head to stadium. Make sure everyone has ticket, wait in box office line with forgetful/lazy people who don’t.

6:15- FIND SEATS…and half of original crew members. Save a seat for so-and-so who had to go to the bathroom.

6:30- Realize you have to go to the bathroom. Ask friends to save two seats. Come back 15 minutes later to find neither. Find two friends and squeeze between them. Get comfortable.

7:00- GAME TIME. Running of The Line. National Anthem. Prayer. SIC ‘EMS.

8:30- Half time. Do we leave? NEVER.

10:00- BAYLOR WINS. End of story.

11:00- Make it back to house with whole original crew. Pizza is ordered. Sleep is had. Dreams of Sic ‘Ems, Brusier and Baylor football dance through our heads.

There you have it folks: Baylor Game Day. If you’re ever in town, grab some tickets and find me at the tailgate. Hey, we might even have a few gut paks, my treat.

SIC ‘EM BAYLOR NATION.

Homecoming (by Sophia Cooper)

Posted on November 2, 2012 by michellerava

Around this time, most North American black bears would be preparing for their hibernation. However, here at Baylor our bears, Lady and Joy, are stretching out and getting ready for the best weekend of the year: Homecoming!

The festivities started off on Wednesday with an All-University worship service featuring Josh Wilson on Fountain Mall and continued on Thursday with Freshman Mass Meeting. Freshman Mass Meeting is an event to learn the history of the Immortal Ten, ten basketball players and team support personnel who were killed in a bus accident on route to a victory against UT on January 22, 1927.

Friday night is when the fun really starts up. Pigskin Revue has two performances that evening, providing an opportunity for Baylor fans to see the top eight performances from All-University Sing the previous spring. Throughout the evening, Extravanganza fills Fountain Mall with green and gold. This is when the alumni come back to campus, the little children are decked in Baylor gear, and students get to celebrate this great university. My favorite part is not the huge ferris wheel, the delicious food, the free concert, or the green and gold fireworks over Pat Neff Hall. Every year, I am captured by the heat and size of our bonfire.

The bonfire tradition started in 1946 when freshmen would place small fires around the edge of campus to keep certain College Station students from vandalizing Baylor or kidnapped the then-mascot, Chita. All of bonfires were eclipsed Friday night of homecoming with the Extravaganza flames, and now it is the only bonfire lit and the climax of my homecoming experience.

Me at the bonfire. Sic ’em Bears!

Saturday morning starts off with a bang as the nation’s largest and oldest homecoming parade kicks off in downtown Waco and comes through campus along 5^th Street. This year, keep an eye out for Admissions and Campus Visits; we’ll be there in our green polos and awesome shuttles! There are also floats, homecoming queen nominees, and student organizations walking the route. This year, homecoming will conclude with the 2:30pm kickoff against the University of Kansas down at Floyd Casey stadium. Of course, we’re going to win.

None of these events could be possible without the dedication of the Baylor University Chamber of Commerce. They have put months of planning and hard work into this one weekend to ensure that everyone has the best homecoming experience possible. Thank you, Chamber!!

To me, homecoming is more than just a fun weekend to hang out with friends. It is an opportunity to fling our green and gold afar. We come together as the Baylor Nation. In the words of alumn Robert Griffin III, “We are Baylor, Baylor we will always be.”

Baylor Admissions

Who you will become, begins here.

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