• Why I’m looking forward to Baylor’s bowl game

    Baylor in the 2016 Cactus Bowl

    Sunday, we learned that Baylor football will face Boise State in the 2016 Motel 6 Cactus Bowl in Phoenix (Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m. CT, ESPN).

    Over the last couple of weeks, some questioned whether or not Baylor should accept this bowl bid, wondering aloud if we might be better off just moving our focus on to other things (like our pair of top-10-ranked basketball teams, or the 2017 football season). As for me, I’m glad that our Bears are going to play their bowl game.

    Why? Because of our students. Most importantly, because so many members of this year’s team are excited to play one more game with their brothers, wearing the green and gold.

    “This is what we worked for,” junior Travon Blanchard told the Waco Tribune-Herald. “We worked hard to get to that bowl game.”

    “I think it’s something we’ve earned,” echoed senior Aiavion Edwards. “It’s something we look forward to playing in each and every year.”

    And the players aren’t the only Baylor students who get the unique experience each bowl trip provides. There’s also the Golden Wave Band, the Baylor spirit squads, and the students who take advantage of whatever crazy road trip Student Activities puts together this year. (Last year’s trip included a 20-hour bus trip each way to and from Orlando, a ticket to the game, one night at a hotel, and a day at Walt Disney World — all for just $150.)

    Then, of course, we as fans get to enjoy seeing these guys — particularly the seniors, who we have cheered on for four years — play one more time. (If you want to join our students in Phoenix to root on our Bears, tickets are available through the Baylor Ticket Office; find all the details on tickets, travel options, events around the game and more at BaylorBears.com’s Bowl Central.)

    Sic ’em, bowl-bound Bears!