NY Times- Baylor Has Built Texas Sized Athletic Program

[Aikbach]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/s...ize-athletic-program.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

 

[Future]

Interesting read, not sure I buy that their the "best athletic program in the country."

They're also reaping the benefits of having two major stars, Griner and RGIII playing at the same time. Let's see what happens next year when the football team isn't good anymore.

 

[Doomsday101]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/s...ize-athletic-program.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

If Baylor is willing to make a true investment in their athletic program as appears to be the case then they have a chance to be a factor in Big 12. For years OSU was down then T Boone Pickens came in made some major investments in the school and they have reaped the rewards.

 

[casmith07]

Interesting read, not sure I buy that their the "best athletic program in the country."

They're also reaping the benefits of having two major stars, Griner and RGIII playing at the same time. Let's see what happens next year when the football team isn't good anymore.

The next starting QB is basically RG IV, from what they've been saying.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Baylor caught lightening in a bottle with Griffin and Scott Drew who is either the best recruiter this side of Nick Saban or is flat out cheating. Their WBB team has been good to great for a while but honestly, who really cares? WBB operates in the red at every school but Tennessee and UCONN and routinely draws ESPN's lowest ratings.

 

[Future]

The next starting QB is basically RG IV, from what they've been saying.

Of course that's what they're saying...

 

[Doomsday101]

Of course that's what they're saying...

Give Briles track record with college QB I would not doubt they will get good production out of the QB spot.

 

[Cythim]

http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=205159948

So far they only have one Big 12 title this season out of the dozen that have been handed out. It is nice to see them be competitive (and get recognition in the NYT) but calling them "Texas" sized or best in the nation is a huge stretch. Good for Baylor, I hope they can keep it up and knock Tech down a peg or two.

And seriously, bragging about a nationally ranked equestrian team? I don't think there are 25 teams to have a complete ranking.

 

[trickblue]

Actually, and I've stated it here before, overall athletics may not matter to the Average Joe, but overall Baylor is one of the top in the country. While most of us just watch football and hoops, the other programs bring in money as well... a LOT of it. Baylor is a model for running top notch programs at every level.

They hired one of the the best young AD's a few years back in Ian McCaw and they have a solid supporting staff. They are just now getting recognized because of their football and hoops programs. The truth is that they have been an example of how to run things for quite a few years now...

 

[The30YardSlant]

While most of us just watch football and hoops, the other programs bring in money as well... a LOT of it.

Actually they don't. Football and men's basketball are the only two sports that actually bring in funds at most schools. All other sports typically operate in the red, though baseball programs in the south tend to come out about even. In fact, football and basketball are what allow those other sports to exist as they provide the funds.

For instance, women's basketball actually costs mosts schools millions of dollars to keep going. Only Tennessee and UCONN turn a slight profit from WBB. If not for Title IX, many schools would drop their women's program altogether because it isn't worth it. Track and field, lacrosse, soccer, swimming/diving, golf, etc. all cost schools money to run.

Television contracts and to a much lesser extent ticket and merchandise sales are what create funds, and only football and MBB routinely bring in profits. Statistically A&M has a top 10 athletic program that ranked the best in the Big XII the last two years according to the Sprint Cup or whatever they cll it these days, but 90% of the stuff we've been good at recently is irrelevant and nobody really cares.

 

[trickblue]

Actually they don't. Football and men's basketball are the only two sports that actually bring in funds at most schools. All other sports typically operate in the red, though baseball programs in the south tend to come out about even. In fact, football and basketball are what allow those other sports to exist as they provide the funds.

For instance, women's basketball actually costs mosts schools millions of dollars to keep going. Only Tennessee and UCONN turn a slight profit from WBB. If not for Title IX, many schools would drop their women's program altogether because it isn't worth it. Track and field, lacrosse, soccer, swimming/diving, golf, etc. all cost schools money to run.

Television contracts and to a much lesser extent ticket and merchandise sales are what create funds, and only football and MBB routinely bring in profits. Statistically A&M has a top 10 athletic program that ranked the best in the Big XII the last two years according to the Sprint Cup or whatever they cll it these days, but 90% of the stuff we've been good at recently is irrelevant and nobody really cares.

The thing you aren't figuring in IS the Government subsidies... Title IX is all well and good, but these schools would have funds pulled away if they didn't support all of the sports... so it's worth a lot of money.

There is a LOT of money these schools get that they pretend they don't. Our state University system is a money sham if everyone knew what was going on on reality. Major schools aren't losing a penny...

 

[Cythim]

Actually, and I've stated it here before, overall athletics may not matter to the Average Joe, but overall Baylor is one of the top in the country. While most of us just watch football and hoops, the other programs bring in money as well... a LOT of it. Baylor is a model for running top notch programs at every level.

They hired one of the the best young AD's a few years back in Ian McCaw and they have a solid supporting staff. They are just now getting recognized because of their football and hoops programs. The truth is that they have been an example of how to run things for quite a few years now...

The Director's Cup tracks overall athletics and Baylor does not crack the Top 25. They are an example of turning a school around if it wants to compete at every level but they are not a top notch program. Unfortunately for Baylor, it will always be the 2nd best place to go when you cannot get into the best program.

 

[Cythim]

The thing you aren't figuring in IS the Government subsidies... Title IX is all well and good, but these schools would have funds pulled away if they didn't support all of the sports... so it's worth a lot of money.

There is a LOT of money these schools get that they pretend they don't. Our state University system is a money sham if everyone knew what was going on on reality. Major schools aren't losing a penny...

You are absolutely right, for schools to get their 85 football scholarships funded by the gov't they need to provide women's soccer, volleyball, and women's gymnastics/equestrian/rowing to meet the Title IX requirements.

 

[Aikbach]

Sports Illustrated joins NY Times in the accolades:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1195167/1/index.htm

 

[MC KAos]

thats good for Baylor, we need them to continue to ascend in football so the big 12 can maintain its status as the second best conference, and hopefully start competing for number 1 soon.

 

[Doomsday101]

thats good for Baylor, we need them to continue to ascend in football so the big 12 can maintain its status as the second best conference, and hopefully start competing for number 1 soon.

I agree. I do think some are quick to dismiss Baylor and the progress they are making. I don't see them competing for a National Championship anytime soon but I do think they can build that program into a respectable contender. It is not going to happen overnight

 

[The30YardSlant]

I agree. I do think some are quick to dismiss Baylor and the progress they are making. I don't see them competing for a National Championship anytime soon but I do think they can build that program into a respectable contender. It is not going to happen overnight

I think you're underestimating the impact of Robert Griffin. Baylor had one of the worst defenses in the nation and their special teams were statistically subpar as well. Griffin was the difference between 10-3 and 5-7.

No real reason to think they'll be anywhere near as competative next year.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think you're underestimating the impact of Robert Griffin. Baylor had one of the worst defenses in the nation and their special teams were statistically subpar as well. Griffin was the difference between 10-3 and 5-7.

I'm not saying it didn't make a differance I would also say the reason he went to Baylor was due to Briles. Briles has put some very good QB out on the field and I don't think it stops with Griffin. Yes Baylor has a lot of work to do. OSU had a lot of work to do years back but they continued to build and of course T Boone Pickens putting money into the program did not hurt.

If you want to dismiss Baylor fine I'm not I know it is doable to put together a program that is competitive.

 

[Aikbach]

Of course that's what they're saying...

RG4 maybe a stretch but Nick Florence has been compared favorably by scouts to Colt McCoy.

So with RG3 and Florence you may have the Baylor version of Vince Young to Colt McCoy.

One UT insider was supposedly so flabbergasted by Baylor's deep bench versus Texas' quarterback woes as to speculate that Florence would've had the 2011 Longhorns in a BCS Bowl if he had been their quarterback instead of Case and Ash.

Florence started the 2009 season as a true freshman after RG3 was hurt, so he isn't a rookie, and he's considered a player coach, RG3 would often confer with him on the sideline as Florence called in the plays and helped identify coverages.

 

[MC KAos]

I think you're underestimating the impact of Robert Griffin. Baylor had one of the worst defenses in the nation and their special teams were statistically subpar as well. Griffin was the difference between 10-3 and 5-7.

No real reason to think they'll be anywhere near as competative next year.

i think you are underestimating the impact of Robert Griffin on recruiting. To be able to tout that a heisman trophy winner recently played at your school, its a great tool for schools to use in recruiting. i think baylor is done being crappy for the foreseeable future. Tech might be taking over that role in the big 12