Waco's Mt. Rushmore
We start our Texas Mt. Rushmore series with the city of Waco. Located halfway between Dallas and Austin, Waco was once a bustling city in the early 20th century. Big 12 rivals Baylor & TCU once both occupied the city before the Horned Frogs moved to Ft. Worth. Although Waco has never had a major pro team, it was a big player in the Texas League, fielding minor league teams from the late 1800's to 1950's. Babe Ruth and the Yankees once came to town to play an exhibition game against the Waco Cubs in 1929. Today the local sports scene is dominated by Baylor University sports programs. Predominatly by Bears football which plays in a state-of-the-art new stadium located on campus right off I-35.
Robert Griffin III - Forget about what RG3 has or has not done in the NFL for a moment. For a football program that doesn't have much history, RG3 quickly became the greatest Bear of all-time, capped off with a Heismen win in 2011. What the Copperas Cove native did on the field help put Baylor football on the map & he will forever be cemented in Waco history.
Grant Teaff - The College Football Hall of Famer Teaff coached the Baylor football program for 20 years from 1972-1992. He won 128 games for Baylor(170 overall) and in a day were post season games were not easy to get into, he guided the team to 8 bowl games. Before taking over, the Bears struggled in the Southwest Conference for decades and last won the SWC title in 1924. Coach Teaff promptly turned the progam into a respectable program while winning the SWC in 1974 & 1980. He was notable for going 10-11 against the Texas Longhorns. In the 15 years before & 15 years after the Teaff era, the Bears were only 1-29 against the Longhorns.
Mike Singletary - Before being the leader of the Chicago Bears "Monsters of the Midway" in the mid-80's, Singletary honed his skills at Baylor. During his All-American years of 1979 & 1980, he averaged 15 tackles per game. He still holds the record for 232 tackles in a single season & single game record with an amazing 35 tackles against the Houston Cougars in 1980. He is also the only 2X winner of the Davey O'Brien Trophy before it became a quarterback only award. The Houston native was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1998.
Michael Johnson - Considered "The Worlds Fastest Man" at one point, the Dallas native attended Baylor and was coached by the legendary Clyde Hart. Johnson quickly became a world class sprinter, winning several NCAA titles in indoor & outdoor competitions. After graduating from Baylor in 1990, Johnson competed in 3 different Olympic Games. He won 4 overall gold medals & is the only male to win the 200M & 400M in the same olympics, accomplishing that feat in the 1996 Atlanta games. Johnson also won 8 gold medals in World Championships & is tied with Usain Bolt & Carl Lewis for most gold medals won by a runner in history.
Honorable Mentions
Kim Mulkey - The Lady Bears basketball coach has turned the team into a perennial powerhouse & has led the team to 2 NCAA Titles.
Paul Tyson - Knute Rockne called Tyson “one of the finest coaches I ever met, college or high school.” He led Waco High to 4 Texas state championships & 1 national title in 1927.
Jeremy Wariner - A former All-American for Baylor University in track and field and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Bill Glass - Former All-American at Baylor, he played 11 seasons in the NFL. Elected to College Football HOF in 1985.
LaDainian Tomlinson - The former NFL star grew up in Waco, and was a standout prep athlete at University High School.
