Tag Archives: Baylor Spirit

Get Up Baylor, It’s GameDay!

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By Laura Teague

First of all, thank y’all so much for voting! I was able to win the VIP tailgate experience for GameDay – and as promised, here is the inside scoop! First of all, let me explain – GameDay is a TV show that chooses the biggest game of the week and visits the campus to film the show live and discuss the games for the week. The fact that they chose Baylor is a huge honor and gave the university tons of publicity!

Most of my friends went to the stadium around 4 or 5 p.m. on Friday to get a good spot to camp out in line for the student area behind the host’s desk. My friends and I went over that night to see the line and everyone’s tents and signs. Since I won the VIP passes, I, and 10 of my friends, didn’t have to get a tent (#blessed) and were able to just show up the morning of the show. I wish I had taken pictures of everyone’s signs – people are so creative! Most of them were poking fun at KSU and TCU, as well as their respective coaches. After a few pictures with the GameDay bus and our beautiful stadium, my group of friends and I got to go home and sleep before a big day!

The Night Before!

The Night Before!

We got to the stadium around 7:30, and it was already packed. Students had stayed there all night and then more poured in to fill the rest of the plaza in front of McLane Stadium.

On the bus heading to the show!

On the bus heading to the show!

 

Arriving at the Stadium!

Arriving at the Stadium!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our tailgate area was directly behind part of the set, and a local BBQ place called Viteks had been preparing food for us all morning, so we had plenty to eat! Before the show started, one of the hosts, David Pollack, came to our area and hung out with us! Here is me attempting to teach him how to do a Sic ‘Em!

Teaching David Pollack how to Sic 'Em!

Teaching David Pollack how to Sic ‘Em!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the actual show, we got to meet Coach Art Briles, and we even ended up on TV!

TV Time!

TV Time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the show was over and we were stuffed with food, we got to go on set and take a picture with the rest of the hosts. Then, it was home for a quick nap and off to win our second Big XII title! Overall, it was one of the most incredible weekends I have ever had and a huge positive image for Baylor.

Picture on the set with the hosts!

Picture on the set with the hosts!

Such a fun morning!

Such a fun morning!

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After the game - One True Champion.

After the game – One True Champion.

March Madness

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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.

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 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!

Thankful for Family Time

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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!

“Pain is temporary, glory lasts forever.” (By Sophia Cooper)

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That one cliché pretty much sums up my family’s trip down to the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl over Christmas break. Pain came from sharing the back seat of our cramped Volvo sedan for an 8 hour drive with my sister. But the glory came from Baylor wrecking UCLA 49-26, and that is much more memorable than driving.

Our family of four started our trip early on December 26, driving from our home in Saratoga down to San Diego in hopes of making it in time for the Baylor Pep Rally. There was the obligatory stop at In-N-Out for lunch (a California tradition), and we rolled in with just enough time to settle into a beautiful view at the hotel before heading down to the pep rally.

Amanda Tran (junior), Cody Wetsel (senior) and me at the Pep Rally!

Even so far away from Waco, there was so much green and gold spirit as there is at Floyd Casey Stadium! The Baylor University Golden Wave Marching Band did a great job of keeping the music loud as the spirit squads led us in cheers. Finally, the football team walked in and we all got an inspirational talk from Coach Art Briles. In a very packed ballroom, filled with green and gold, there was one sign for a specific football player – my sign! My friend Cody plays safety, so I worked hard the night before to make him a great (and very glittery!) green and gold sign to cheer him on during the game. He really appreciated the extra support.

 

Before the game, my family had quite a morning adventure. About 300 Baylor students were being bused from Waco out to San Diego for the game, and some of them had volunteered to hold the Baylor balloon in the Holiday Bowl parade! However, a series of unfortunate events made the buses arrive late to San Diego, so my family literally got roped into helping walk the balloon through the streets of downtown San Diego. My dad got really into high fiving the children along the side of the road, my mom was trying hard not to float away, and Katrin and I were just laughing.

Mom, Dad, Katrin and me walking the huge Baylor Bear Balloon through the Holiday Bowl Parade!

Finally, it was time for the game. We put on our green and gold, bundled up for the cold evening weather, and headed out to Qualcomm Stadium. It was so great seeing all the Baylor fans that made the pilgrimage from Texas to California! Even though there were more UCLA supporters than Baylor fans in the stands, we were louder cheering. It was so great to see our defense come together, Nick Florence throwing amazing passes, and our offense blowing past UCLA in every way. Our team played so strong, and they deserved that win!!

Tired as cold as we were, we headed back to the hotel late that night and got up early the next morning to trek back home. We flung our green and gold afar down in San Diego and helped bring home another bowl game win to Waco!

Reflections (by Grant Siluangkhot)

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I’m finally home for the winter break. I’m done with studying for finals and I’m done with cleaning my dorm room. Sitting alone in the den of my home in Houston has really given me a chance to realize how much has changed in such short time.

I’m staying in the room where a church friend lived for a couple of years. Since I’ve left for Baylor, he’s moved to Dallas for work and the room’s been converted to a toy/storage room of sorts. Here, I sleep on a futon while my two younger brothers stay in my old room. In the guest room this year our family is hosting a student from Germany rather than last year’s Japanese student.

One of my brothers is now in high school and nearly taller than me. I’m surprised by how well my other brother can read. At home, there are Baylor green and gold t-shirts, flags, hats, cups, and bags everywhere. I’m the only one in my entire family who’s ever gone to Baylor, but it seems like my family embraces the Baylor Bear-ness. It’s pretty cool. I found this little note that my 6 year old brother was doodling:

Gotta love that intricate Pat Neff Hall doodle.

A lot has changed since I left for Baylor, but it isn’t so bad. I suppose it’s a part of growing up.

Although I really wanted to go to the bowl game in San Diego, I’ll have to settle for cheering my head off for the Bears over here and spending time with family and friends. I’m anticipating my next semester at Baylor, and I wonder what’s to come for the upcoming year.