Baylor Proud

Apr

2013

Baylor/Vitek’s GutPak named the nation’s top college dish

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Just for Fun, Student life

Vitek's GutPak

It’s official: Baylor/Waco is the home to the nation’s top “college eat” — Vitek’s GutPak!

That’s according to almost 300,000 total votes cast online in a “March Madness”-style bracket conducted by a Food Network spinoff, Cooking Channel. From 32 school/dish combinations, Baylor and the GutPak beat out NC State’s sausage dip, Duke’s gyro, Illinois’ stuffed pizza, Montana’s breakfast burrito and Marquette’s chili-topped spaghetti to be named the No. 1 College Eat in the Nation.

Bet you didn’t realize you had it so good right in your own backyard!

Sic ’em, Vitek’s!

[Oh, and for those of you far from Waco who are now pining for a GutPak of your own, the Food Network kitchen worked up an at-home version of the Vitek's special (and all the dishes in the competition).]

Apr

2013

Baylor Men’s Basketball: Your 2013 NIT Champion!

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors, Photo Galleries

Baylor NIT Champs! In the last five years, Baylor men’s basketball has two NCAA Elite Eight appearances, one NIT runner-up finish, and now an NIT title. Head coach Scott Drew’s Bears romped all over Iowa Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, 74-54, to claim the 2013 National Invitation Tournament championship — the program’s first-ever postseason tournament title.

In one of the team’s more complete games of the year, Baylor shot 54% from the field while holding the Hawkeyes to just 26% shooting. In the seniors’ last game in the green and gold, Pierre Jackson (the NIT’s Most Outstanding Player) scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists, and A.J. Walton (the winningest player in program history) had 6 steals and 5 assists. Junior Cory Jefferson led all players with 23 points, and freshman Isaiah Austin added 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.

[LINKS: Highlights from ESPN || Pictures from Baylor Photography and the AP || Get your official 2013 Baylor NIT champions t-shirt from the Baylor Bookstore || ESPN: Baylor 1 of 5 teams primed to break out next season]

Jackson finished his senior season tops in the Big 12 in both scoring (19.8 points per game) and assists (7.1 per game), the first player from a power-6 conference to lead in both categories since current Boston Celtic Jason Terry in 1998-99. He also broke LaceDarius Dunn’s Baylor records for points in a season and consecutive games with a 3-pointer. Jackson concluded his career as a Bear 14th in career scoring, having passed Baylor all-time greats David Wesley and Vinnie Johnson in his final game, and third in career assists — all despite having played just two seasons at Baylor after transferring from a junior college.

Drew’s Bears are now 15-3 in the postseason over the last five seasons. For the second straight year, Baylor was the last Texas Division I team (out of 21) playing postseason basketball. The Bears finish the year at 23-14, their fifth 20-win season in the last six years (after just three 20-win seasons in program history prior to Drew’s arrival) and gave the Big 12 its first-ever NIT championship.

[Want to show your thanks to the Bears for their NIT title run? Back the Bears with a gift of $5, $15 or $50 to the Baylor Bear Foundation Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund!]

Fans can congratulate the team Saturday afternoon at Baylor football’s spring game; the controlled scrimmage starts at 1 p.m. at the Highers Complex practice fields. Admission is free, and all fans in attendance will receive a 2013 Baylor football schedule poster. Fans are asked to park in the Ferrell Center parking lots; a shuttle service will run from there to the complex.

Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!

Apr

2013

Baylor prof testifies before Congressional subcommittee as expert on Gulf War Illness

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Research, Videos

Dr. Lea Steele For years, many veterans of the first Gulf War have suffered from a mysterious, multi-symptom sickness known as “Gulf War Illness.” Recently, allegations have been made that the Department of Veteran Affairs has not done everything possible to aid veterans suffering from the illness, which is still not fully understood even two decades after the conflict began.

As the director of Baylor’s Veterans Health Research Program and an expert on Gulf War Illness research, Dr. Lea Steele was called to testify last month before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations related to these allegations. Steele told the committee that the VA has been slow to clearly and accurately acknowledge the problem and has failed to establish an effective and strategic scientific research program to address Gulf War illness research questions. [Watch Steele's testimony here, beginning at the 1:35:38 mark, or read the transcript of her appearance here.]

Steele, who is also a research professor in Baylor’s Institute of Biomedical Studies, later was a guest on NPR’s “Science Friday” to discuss current research on the causes and possible treatments for Gulf War Illness. (She was able to appear live on the radio program from the studios of KWBU-FM on the Baylor campus.) [Click here to listen to the show.]

Baylor’s research on Gulf War Illness (led by Steele) last fall was awarded a grant of $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to address multiple aspects of the syndrome, from studies on the biological processes causing the varied symptoms to development of a nationwide network that would advance health research on the issue.

Sic ’em, Dr. Steele and Baylor researchers!

Apr

2013

Men’s hoops to play for NIT championship!

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors

Isaiah Austin Baylor fans will get to enjoy watching seniors Pierre Jackson and A.J. Walton in the green and gold for one more game.

Jackson’s 24 points and 10 assists led Baylor men’s basketball past BYU Tuesday night, 76-70, in the NIT semifinals. [See photos from Baylor Photography and the AP.] The Bears will now face Iowa for the 2013 NIT championship Thursday night (8 p.m. CT, ESPN).

Head coach Scott Drew’s squad is in the NIT title game for the second time in five years; Baylor lost in the 2009 championship game to Penn State, 69-63; that game was the last at Baylor for Curtis Jerrells, Kevin Rogers, Henry Dugat and Mamadou Diene. But it also featured freshmen Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones and sophomore LaceDarius Dunn, players who would lead the Bears to two NCAA Elite Eights in the following three years.

[Want to show your support for the Bears as they aim for the NIT title? Back the Bears with a gift of $5, $15 or $50 to the Baylor Bear Foundation Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund!]

Overall, the last five years under Drew have seen the Bears reach two NCAA Elite Eights and two NIT championship games. The Bears’ postseason record in that time is 14-3.

Baylor fans in Dallas (Christie’s, 2811 McKinney Ave.), Houston (Champps Americana, 1121 Uptown Park Blvd.) and other cities can gather with other Bears for watch parties Thursday night; to find out if there’s a gathering in your town, contact the Baylor Alumni Network.

Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!

Apr

2013

Lady Bears’ loss brings out showings of support from Baylor family

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Alumni, Athletics, Student life

If anything good came from the Lady Bears’ stinging one-point loss to Louisville on Sunday night in the Sweet 16, it was seeing how the Baylor family rose up together in support of the program and its student-athletes.

In fact, in the 48 or so hours since the loss, I have yet to see a single person knocking the women in any way. Instead, I’ve seen hundreds of tweets, Facebook posts, etc. commending the Lady Bears for their efforts — including comments from some of Baylor’s most prominent alumni.

NFL Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, BA ’10, went off in defense of his fellow Bears via Twitter, attracting even the attention of Texas Monthly (who described RG3′s comments as “unfiltered, angry and fiercely Baylor proud”). For example:

Whew…..ok I took my time to calm down and not go off on twitter about the Baylor Girls Basketball game….BUT I CAN’T DO IT!!!!!

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 1, 2013

NBA first-round pick Perry Jones III was in attendance at the game and was comforting the Lady Bears in person after the game (that’s him with Odyssey Sims at right in a great photo taken by the Dallas Morning News‘ Vernon Bryant).

ESPN studio host Trey Wingo, BA ’85, kept it short and sweet Sunday night:

Baylor, we are. Forever proud of @brittney4griner and @kimmulkey

— trey wingo (@wingoz) April 1, 2013

University President Ken Starr was among those in Oklahoma City cheering loudly for the Lady Bears, and he, too, joined the voices of support in an email to the entire Baylor family. “We salute this magnificent team,” he wrote. “These student-athletes — and their coaches — will forever be remembered by Baylor Nation — and indeed, the entire country.”

HLN anchor Richelle Carey, St. Louis Ram Terrance Ganaway, Seattle Mariner Kelly Shoppach, and others were also vocal in support of the Baylor players and coaches. This tweet from a current Baylor student seemed to sum up the night:

SO much baylor love on my TL right now. Just goes to show how much of a family we are and how all students will always be @baylorproud

— Tessa Espinoza (@tesshuhh) April 1, 2013

Sic ’em, Lady Bears and the entire Baylor family!

[Another way to show your support for the Lady Bears? A gift of $5, $15 or $50 to the Baylor Bear Foundation Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund.]

Mar

2013

Students host annual Easter egg hunt for Baylor community kids

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Photo Galleries, Service, Student life

Baylor Easter Egg Hunt

Every year, the ladies of Kappa Kappa Gamma host an Easter Egg hunt on Founders Mall (between Pat Neff and Waco Hall) for the children and grandchildren of Baylor faculty and staff. [Click here for pictures from this year's event, thanks to Baylor Photography.]

Hundreds of plastic eggs stuffed with candy and other goodies are distributed across the grounds, as the children (ages 9 and under) wait for the signal to begin a mad dash of egg collecting. The “hunt” doesn’t take long — usually five minutes or less — but the squeals of joy ring in parents’ ears for far longer. (My three-year-old thanked God that night for “the Baylor Easter thing.”)

Of course Easter is primarily about our Savior’s death and resurrection, but it’s also enjoyable around such holidays to celebrate with family — be they flesh and blood, or members of the larger Baylor family. As both an alum and a parent, I’m thankful to be a part of the community here and to those who bring us together for such events.

Sic ’em, KKG!

Mar

2013

Men’s hoops headed to NYC, Madison Square Garden and NIT Final Four

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors, Photo Galleries

Cory Jefferson vs. Providence For the second straight year, Baylor is the last Texas team standing in both men’s and women’s basketball.

One night after the Lady Bears won at home to advance to the NCAA’s Sweet 16, head coach Scott Drew’s men defeated Providence in the Ferrell Center, 79-68, to move on to the NIT semifinals. The Bears will face BYU on Tuesday, April 2, in Madison Square Garden (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2), with the winner playing for the title two days later.

As has been the case so many times this season, Wednesday’s win was keyed by senior guard Pierre Jackson (20 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds, 0 turnovers) and junior forward Cory Jefferson (26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks). Freshman Rico Gathers added a tough 8 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and played a season-high 27 minutes. [See pictures from Baylor Photography and the Associated Press.]

[Want to show your support for the Bears and Lady Bears during their postseason runs? Back the Bears with a gift of $5, $15 or $50 to the Baylor Bear Foundation Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund!]

Baylor has a limited number of tickets available for the games in New York City; fans can also purchase tickets through Ticketmaster. Fans in NYC can join the Baylor Alumni Network for sendoff parties at the team hotel (the Marriott Marquis) 90 minutes prior to each game; fans at each sendoff party will also receive a free t-shirt (while supplies last).

NOTES: The Bears’ three NIT wins so far have improved their record to 21-14, marking the fifth time in the last six years that Baylor has won 20-plus games. In the previous 101 years of Baylor basketball, the Bears had just three 20-win seasons. … Baylor has already faced BYU once this season; the Bears beat the Cougars 79-64 in Waco back in December behind double-doubles from Jefferson (13 points, 16 rebounds) and freshman Isaiah Austin (14 points, 10 rebounds).

Sic ’em, Baylor basketball!

Mar

2013

Griner’s 3 dunks lead top-ranked Lady Bears to fifth straight Sweet 16

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors, Photo Galleries, Videos

Brittney Griner waves to fans after final game in Waco

From the outset Tuesday night, it was clear that Brittney Griner wanted to put on a show in her final game in the Ferrell Center — especially after learning there was a special guest in the house.

With former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, in attendance, Griner scored 33 points, pulled down 22 rebounds, and became the first woman in NCAA history to dunk three times in a game as the No. 1-seeded Baylor women’s basketball team beat Florida State, 85-47.

With this victory and the Lady Bears’ opening round win over Prairie View A&M, Baylor advanced to a fifth straight Sweet 16 (the eighth in Kim Mulkey’s 13 years at Baylor).

[LINKS: Highlights from ESPN, including Griner's 3 dunks || Photos from Baylor Photography and the AP || Griner & Mulkey reflect on the seniors' final home game || President Obama picks Baylor to win it all || Players do their best Mulkey impersonations || Jalen Rose on Brittney Griner's numbers || Griner's 15th career dunk || Baylor/Sweet 16 t-shirt available from the Baylor Bookstore]

Over the last four years, Baylor’s senior class of Griner, Nae-Nae Hayden, Jordan Madden, Brooklyn Pope and Destiny Williams led the Lady Bears to an astounding 72-2 record in the Ferrell Center. But their final goal still awaits; they hope to leave with back-to-back national championships — something only three other schools have ever accomplished (Southern Cal, Tennessee and UConn).

Next up for the Lady Bears: 16th-ranked Louisville on Sunday in Oklahoma City, with the winner of that game facing either Tennessee or Oklahoma Tuesday in OKC. Baylor has sold-out of its allotment of tickets for the regional, but fans may purchase seats directly from the Chesapeake Energy Arena web site. Gameday bus trips from Waco to OKC and back are also available for both games from Anthony Travel.

In Oklahoma City, Baylor fans can join the Baylor Alumni Network for send-off parties at the team hotel (the Skirvin Hilton) 90 minutes prior to each game, as well as a pep rally at the hotel from 8-9 p.m. April 1 if the women advance to the Elite Eight.

Sic ’em, Lady Bears!

Mar

2013

Top-ranked programs helping Baylor prepare tomorrow’s healthcare industry leaders

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Academics, Alumni, Honors, Student life

Hilary Griffin From individual honors to national rankings, Baylor continues to make its name known among universities preparing tomorrow’s healthcare industry leaders.

Just this month, Baylor MBA candidate Hilary Griffin placed second in the 2013 Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition in Healthcare Management, sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Her essay outlines a possible solution to obstacles that hinder more than 11 million children with chronic conditions from getting the medical care they need.

Griffin (pictured) is a graduate student in the Robbins MBA Healthcare Program in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business, which ranked 25th nationally in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent graduate school ranking of healthcare management programs. Another Baylor graduate offering, the Baylor-U.S. Army master’s program in health administration, was ranked No. 11 in the nation by U.S.News.

Of course, Baylor isn’t only preparing tomorrow’s healthcare industry leaders — they’ve also prepared many of today’s, including the CEOs of both Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, the president of a leading network of rehabilitation and long-term care providers, and a top Army medical reserve commander.

Sic ’em, Bears in healthcare!

Mar

2013

Men’s hoops continues postseason roll into NIT quarterfinals

Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in Athletics, Honors

Men's basketball postgame prayer

If you’ve been following Baylor men’s basketball the last few years, you’ve probably picked up on two things.

One, the Bears have an interesting pattern going. 2008, 2010, 2012 — NCAA tournament appearances. 2009 (NIT), 2011 (nothing, following Perry Jones’ suspect suspension), 2013 (NIT) — elsewhere.

Secondly, head coach Scott Drew’s team has a pretty impressive record in the postseason. Over the past five seasons (including this year), Baylor has a combined NCAA/NIT record of 12-3, including two NCAA Elite Eight finishes (2010, 2012) and a run to the NIT championship game (2009). And you’ll have to go back to 2008 to find the last time the men were knocked out of the postseason by a team that didn’t end up winning the tournament.

The Bears are working on another such run, having defeated Big West Conference regular season champ Long Beach State (112-66!) and Pac-12 at-large bid Arizona State (89-86) in the first two rounds of the 2013 NIT. Baylor will host ~~the winner of tonight’s Robert Morris/~~Providence ~~game on~~ at 8 p.m. Wednesday night. [Check out BaylorBears.com's digital postseason guide for a pretty sweet preview, complete with video links and more.]

Win or lose, that will be the final game in the Ferrell Center for seniors Pierre Jackson, A.J. Walton and Jacob Neubert; the loser of that quarterfinal match will go home, while the winner will move on to New York City and Madison Square Garden for the NIT semifinals and finals, April 2-4.

Got your tickets? Got your gear? Then I’ll see you at the Ferrell Center Wednesday night!

Sic ’em, Bears!