WACO—Baylor University's athletics program ended 2011 with unprecedented success—the football team's first bowl victory since 1992, the school's first Heisman Trophy to quarterback Robert Griffin III and undefeated records for both the men's and women's basketball teams.
Robert Griffin III won the 77th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award—the first Heisman recipient from Baylor University. (Baylor Photo)
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The Baylor Bears defeated the Washington Huskies 67-56 in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. The Bears' victory marked the highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history and the second-highest scoring bowl game ever.
Less than three weeks earlier, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the 77th recipient of college sports' highest award. Heisman voters selected Griffin over Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Louisiana State cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and Alabama running back Trent Richardson.
RG3, as Baylor fans know him, wore a new suit and brightly colored Superman socks for the occasion at Best Buy Theater in Times Square.
During the regular season, Griffin passed for a school-record 3,998 yards and 36 touchdowns with just six interceptions. In addition to the Heisman, he also received the Davey O'Brien Award and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
As of Jan. 5, both the Lady Bears women's basketball team—ranked No. 1 nationally—and the Baylor men's basketball team, ranked No. 4 nationally in the Associated Press poll, each held 14-0 records.
