• Super Bowl features two ads produced by young Baylor alum

    Those of you who follow Baylor Proud on Twitter were reminded Sunday of Baylor’s connections to this year’s Super Bowl: Indianapolis Colts deep snapper Justin Snow is a Bear (BA ’99, MS ’03), while New Orleans Saints quarterback (and Super Bowl XLIV MVP) Drew Brees comes from a Green and Gold family that includes his brother Reid (BBA ’05), his stepmother, two aunts, an uncle and two grandparents.

    I just learned of one more connection — this time, for those of you who pay more attention to the commercials than the action on the field. Matt Hunnicutt, BA ’99, produced not one but two commercials that aired during this year’s Super Bowl. As senior producer in charge of Nike and Coca-Cola at the firm Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Oregon, Hunnicutt led production for two Coke ads — one featuring the Simpsons, and a second entitled “Sleepwalker.” The Coke/Simpsons ad is the sixth most popular Super Bowl ad this year, according to voting on Hulu.com; it’s embedded below.

    This wasn’t the first go-round for Hunnicutt and the Super Bowl, either. Two years ago, “It’s Mine” featured parade balloons of Underdog and Family Guy’s Stewie fighting over a Coke bottle balloon that ends up in the hands of Charlie Brown; the commercial was named Super Bowl Spot of the Decade by AdWeek. Then last year, “Heist” showed the work of a group of insects who teamed to steal a Coke from a napping picnicker; Hunnicutt won an Emmy for that one.

    Sic ’em, Matt!

    [We learned of Matt’s success from a Bear who shared her Baylor pride. Do you know of an inspiring story, news item, or just a fun link that makes you proud of Baylor and the Baylor family? Let us know! Click on the “Submit Your Point of Pride” button in the top right corner!]