Sports Briefs

Bears featured in ESPN.com commercial

Baylor mascot Bruiser and the Baylor spirit squads are featured prominently in an ESPN.com commercial that began airing in July on the ESPN family of networks. 

The TV spot urges fans of the "Lions, Tigers and Bears" to "follow your sports." Penn State's Nittany Lion and the Clemson Tiger join Bruiser in the 30-second commercial. 

To see the ad, visit www.baylor.edu/baylorproud and search "commercial."

Baylor to add varsity competitive cheer

In its continued commitment to Title IX compliance, Baylor University has selected competitive cheer to become its 11th women's intercollegiate athletics program, effective with the 2010-11 academic year. The Baylor Board of Regents approved the addition of competitive cheer during its July 22-24 meeting in Waco.

Baylor, which currently fields 18 varsity teams, 10 of which are for women, will become the first Big 12 institution to implement a varsity competitive cheer program and one of three Bowl Championship Series (BCS) members nationally, joining Maryland and Oregon.

A recent survey of Baylor's female undergraduate students revealed that competitive cheer was the overwhelming choice to become the school's next varsity sport for women. Nationally, 24 state high school athletic associations currently recognize competitive cheer as an interscholastic sport and offer a state association sponsored athletic championship. Competitive cheer has the ninth-highest number of high school participants of all female sports nationally, and club participation throughout Texas and the nation is strong.