By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
There are versions of Sleigh Ride and then there’s LeRoy Anderson’s version of Sleigh Ride. The RJB has been take it or leave it with the sung with lyrics version over the years. It probably depends on who is doing it. Johnny Mathis? No thanks. The Carpenters? Yes!
But Anderson’s rendition captures the imagery without a note to be uttered. The snow evenly aligned by the path where the horse drawn sled is making its way through the countryside.
Here’s the story to the song that was composed in 1948: In 1947 he began writing "Sleigh Ride" during a heat wave. Completed in 1948, Sleigh Ride was not written as a Christmas piece, but rather merely described an event that took place in winter. Nonetheless, it has since become a Christmas classic. Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1950.
There is a wholesomeness to it. It just feels like you’re in the Christmas season. No more talk. The show is yours, Mr. Anderson. The Boston Pops put its spin on this.
*****
It’s a volatile time for Baylor’s 2023 class. It’s lost three since the middle of October and really been impacted in one position of need, linebacker.
Linebackers Christian Brathwaite and Taurean York are both gone. Brathwaite flipped to LSU. York should be going with Duke. That leaves them with only 4-star Corey Kelly left in the class.
What’s bothersome about these losses is that Baylor had them committed since late January and early February. These two really curious losses because they were core members.
Baylor’s national ranking with 22 commits drops it slightly to No. 18. But this is a situation where the coaching staff now has a problem and may have to change the strategy on how it needs to build the 2023 roster.
The other loss occurred last week in offensive lineman Calvin Clements. Clements decided to stay home and in Lawrence, KS when he committed to Kansas.
We’re at a point where the high school choices at this part of the recruiting calendar aren’t optimal choices.
Let’s give you a sense as to where Baylor’s 2023 linebacker offers are. There were 12 offers extended. Prior to October, Baylor had secured one-fourth of them between Kelly, Brathwaite and York.
Unless the staff is able to flip somebody, the chances of filling with high school players is a little daunting. Rivals 100 Anthony Hill from Denton Ryan is open. He de-committed from Texas A&M in November. But the odds favor him going to Texas.
There could be a chance the Baylor pursues Thousand Oak, CA linebacker Chase Martin. Time will tell where that goes. Finally, there’s Arlington Martin’s Javien Toviano, the Rivals No. 25 overall prospect. Everything points to LSU.
This Baylor staff is going to have to reassess if it looks a little harder into the transfer portal or JUCOs. The headache from this time period is that late decommitments always put a program in a tough spot. There’s always a recruiting board. But the board always changes. Being nimble is key. There are likely prospects the staff has talked to besides Martin.
At this point, I can’t see them adding another linebacker for this early signing period. The window to the early signing period is inside of 10 days. You don't just want to add just to add.
A good strategy is to do nothing. Never let the opposition see you sweat. Given the second signing period the first Wednesday of February (remember that one?) and the second portal window in May, there’s always going to be player movement. It’s not as rigid as it used to be.
Consider that Baylor really didn’t use LSU transfer Josh White this year. He suffered a concussion early in the season and just wasn’t the same. You could consider him a fresh face for 2023. Carmello Jones went through a redshirt freshman season.
Jackie Marshall showed some glimpses of what he could become in future years. The ceiling is pretty high for him. Tyrone Brown’s health could be his biggest detractor. Don’t forget Jeremy Evans just went through a redshirt. Tony Anyanwu needs to make a move this spring.
This 2023 linebacker group is going to be young. It could be very talented. It’s just going to need experience.
I don’t consider the loss of Clements major. Baylor can find other linemen similar to him in other locations. But given how inexperienced the 2023 group is going to be, the staff may be pressed to go to finding more than one portal offensive lineman. Baylor likely needs two. That wasn’t all that surprising in 2021 when it found Grant Miller and Jacob Gall. That turned out to be a gold mine.
What you need to watch is what BYU NCAA portal candidate Campbell Barrington does. He left Baylor without committing which isn’t horrible but also isn’t reassuring.
If he visits UCLA, then Baylor is in trouble. If he doesn’t visit the Bruins, then everybody should feel better. Just keep an eye on Michigan State and if the Spartans become a factor.
We all know recruiting is weird. It’s cyclical. There are periods where you’re hot and periods where you’re cold.
But we also know that it’s like sales. You’re only as good as your last commitment. Baylor recruiting really needs something good to happen for it in the worst way.
*****
Now, a look at other Baylor sports…
Not much happening with finals week. But let’s wrap up the volleyball season.
Baylor volleyball finished their season in the Sweet 16 against Louisville, falling in a 3-0 bout with the top-seeded Cardinals in the KFC Yum! Center.
The Bears (25-7) fell to UofL (29-2) in three – 25-23, 25-16, 25-17.
Ranked 17th by the AVCA, the 15th overall seed and seeded fourth in the regional, BU took the No. 4 ranked, fourth seeded and No. 1 regional seed to the wire in the first set and fought for the next two but couldn't close.
The Cardinals beat Oregon in games to advance to the Final Four along with Texas, Pittsburgh and the University of San Diego.
It was BU's seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 11th overall, and fourth-straight Regional Semifinal appearance. Baylor is now 20-11 in postseason matches including an NCAA record of 15-11. The Bears are 12-7 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Ryan McGuyre.
BU is one of just seven teams who reached the Regional round in the past four years, joined by Florida, Louisville, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin.
Carlson was named the AVCA's Southwest Region Freshman of the Year on Tuesday, while McGhee was named first team All-District by the organization.
Let's make it a great week!
Publisher
There are versions of Sleigh Ride and then there’s LeRoy Anderson’s version of Sleigh Ride. The RJB has been take it or leave it with the sung with lyrics version over the years. It probably depends on who is doing it. Johnny Mathis? No thanks. The Carpenters? Yes!
But Anderson’s rendition captures the imagery without a note to be uttered. The snow evenly aligned by the path where the horse drawn sled is making its way through the countryside.
Here’s the story to the song that was composed in 1948: In 1947 he began writing "Sleigh Ride" during a heat wave. Completed in 1948, Sleigh Ride was not written as a Christmas piece, but rather merely described an event that took place in winter. Nonetheless, it has since become a Christmas classic. Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1950.
There is a wholesomeness to it. It just feels like you’re in the Christmas season. No more talk. The show is yours, Mr. Anderson. The Boston Pops put its spin on this.
*****
It’s a volatile time for Baylor’s 2023 class. It’s lost three since the middle of October and really been impacted in one position of need, linebacker.
Linebackers Christian Brathwaite and Taurean York are both gone. Brathwaite flipped to LSU. York should be going with Duke. That leaves them with only 4-star Corey Kelly left in the class.
What’s bothersome about these losses is that Baylor had them committed since late January and early February. These two really curious losses because they were core members.
Baylor’s national ranking with 22 commits drops it slightly to No. 18. But this is a situation where the coaching staff now has a problem and may have to change the strategy on how it needs to build the 2023 roster.
The other loss occurred last week in offensive lineman Calvin Clements. Clements decided to stay home and in Lawrence, KS when he committed to Kansas.
We’re at a point where the high school choices at this part of the recruiting calendar aren’t optimal choices.
Let’s give you a sense as to where Baylor’s 2023 linebacker offers are. There were 12 offers extended. Prior to October, Baylor had secured one-fourth of them between Kelly, Brathwaite and York.
Unless the staff is able to flip somebody, the chances of filling with high school players is a little daunting. Rivals 100 Anthony Hill from Denton Ryan is open. He de-committed from Texas A&M in November. But the odds favor him going to Texas.
There could be a chance the Baylor pursues Thousand Oak, CA linebacker Chase Martin. Time will tell where that goes. Finally, there’s Arlington Martin’s Javien Toviano, the Rivals No. 25 overall prospect. Everything points to LSU.
This Baylor staff is going to have to reassess if it looks a little harder into the transfer portal or JUCOs. The headache from this time period is that late decommitments always put a program in a tough spot. There’s always a recruiting board. But the board always changes. Being nimble is key. There are likely prospects the staff has talked to besides Martin.
At this point, I can’t see them adding another linebacker for this early signing period. The window to the early signing period is inside of 10 days. You don't just want to add just to add.
A good strategy is to do nothing. Never let the opposition see you sweat. Given the second signing period the first Wednesday of February (remember that one?) and the second portal window in May, there’s always going to be player movement. It’s not as rigid as it used to be.
Consider that Baylor really didn’t use LSU transfer Josh White this year. He suffered a concussion early in the season and just wasn’t the same. You could consider him a fresh face for 2023. Carmello Jones went through a redshirt freshman season.
Jackie Marshall showed some glimpses of what he could become in future years. The ceiling is pretty high for him. Tyrone Brown’s health could be his biggest detractor. Don’t forget Jeremy Evans just went through a redshirt. Tony Anyanwu needs to make a move this spring.
This 2023 linebacker group is going to be young. It could be very talented. It’s just going to need experience.
I don’t consider the loss of Clements major. Baylor can find other linemen similar to him in other locations. But given how inexperienced the 2023 group is going to be, the staff may be pressed to go to finding more than one portal offensive lineman. Baylor likely needs two. That wasn’t all that surprising in 2021 when it found Grant Miller and Jacob Gall. That turned out to be a gold mine.
What you need to watch is what BYU NCAA portal candidate Campbell Barrington does. He left Baylor without committing which isn’t horrible but also isn’t reassuring.
If he visits UCLA, then Baylor is in trouble. If he doesn’t visit the Bruins, then everybody should feel better. Just keep an eye on Michigan State and if the Spartans become a factor.
We all know recruiting is weird. It’s cyclical. There are periods where you’re hot and periods where you’re cold.
But we also know that it’s like sales. You’re only as good as your last commitment. Baylor recruiting really needs something good to happen for it in the worst way.
*****
Now, a look at other Baylor sports…
Not much happening with finals week. But let’s wrap up the volleyball season.
Baylor volleyball finished their season in the Sweet 16 against Louisville, falling in a 3-0 bout with the top-seeded Cardinals in the KFC Yum! Center.
The Bears (25-7) fell to UofL (29-2) in three – 25-23, 25-16, 25-17.
Ranked 17th by the AVCA, the 15th overall seed and seeded fourth in the regional, BU took the No. 4 ranked, fourth seeded and No. 1 regional seed to the wire in the first set and fought for the next two but couldn't close.
The Cardinals beat Oregon in games to advance to the Final Four along with Texas, Pittsburgh and the University of San Diego.
It was BU's seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 11th overall, and fourth-straight Regional Semifinal appearance. Baylor is now 20-11 in postseason matches including an NCAA record of 15-11. The Bears are 12-7 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Ryan McGuyre.
BU is one of just seven teams who reached the Regional round in the past four years, joined by Florida, Louisville, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin.
Carlson was named the AVCA's Southwest Region Freshman of the Year on Tuesday, while McGhee was named first team All-District by the organization.
Let's make it a great week!
