Although our 1978 Baylor football season ended with an impressive victory over Texas in Waco, our overall record that year was an abysmal 3-8. We finished the year ranked 110 out of 138 schools nationally. The preseason rankings for the next year did not offer much hope for improvement. It was predicted that we would finish under .500 and remain in the cellar of the conference race.
In the late summer of 1979, my teammates and I reported two-a-day practices, determined to redeem ourselves and prove our worthiness to Baylor fans. Despite the intense summer heat, our practices remained upbeat and optimism for the approaching season filled the air. Unfortunately, things took a horrible turn, profoundly affecting our entire team. While making a tackle in our final camp scrimmage, my teammate, Kyle Woods, a talented defensive back from Dallas who was loved and admired by everyone, collided with a running back and sustained a broken neck. Sadly, the injury left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Kyle’s gregarious personality and contagious smile drew people to him like a moth to a flame. We loved that guy and it was extremely difficult for us to see him suffer such a horrible tragedy. Not only did the injury end his dreams and ambitions of playing football in the NFL, suddenly he was faced with the cold reality of never walking again. The ordeal was devastating to his family, teammates, and coaches. Between the emotion-filled hospital visits and the media attention given to Kyle’s injury, to say it was a major distraction to our team would be an understatement.
Members of our team could have retreated emotionally and quietly forgotten the goals we set for ourselves that year. Certainly, no one would have blamed them. Instead, we circled our wagons, picked each other up, drew closer as a team, and boldly faced the difficult challenge of moving forward. During that process, three important things happened. First, each of us reevaluated and renewed our relationships with God. Secondly, we discovered a team purpose that was bigger than ourselves individually, a cause for which to fight on. Thirdly, a strong leader began to emerged from our ranks. That year, we dedicated the season to Kyle. With him as our inspiration, we finished the season 8-4, including a season-ending victory over nationally-ranked Clemson in the Peach Bowl.
While the recent blow dealt to Baylor Football is different in many ways to the one we experienced during the summer of ’79, it nonetheless begs the question… How will this team respond? In the midst of adversity, uncertainty, disappointment, and disrupted dreams, the Bears must discover their own purpose. If they do that, they will establish a very special bond, leaders will emerge, and they will achieve something that has never been done before. That accomplishment will make us all proud.
Walter Abercrombie
Executive Director, Baylor “B” Association
Walter, you nailed it! Your words of wisdom are exactly what is needed for a time like this. The Baylor family is hurting, but what do leaders and champions do when things don’t go their way? They certainly don’t tuck tail and run or deny what has occurred. Your ’79 team provided us a great legacy. We must certainly come together as a Baylor family and not be ashamed by the actions of a few. I am a proud Baylor Bear and will stand tall, as we battle through these tough circumstances. I am pretty sure that God told us there would be trials and tribulations. How we react is and move forward the key. Your team did it in ’79, Robert Griffin did it in ’11-’12, and we will see it again.
Amen, Pat. What an exciting opportunity for us to stand together and help our entire athletics program recover from the recent problems and changes. We’ve experienced setbacks before and have endured. We will endure this too. There are some outstanding young people at BU and we should never lose sight of that. They need our support now more than ever. Baylor is still a very special place with a special mission. Thanks for your continued prayers and supports.
Walter, a wonderful testimony during a stressful and discouraging time. So many of us are praying our current and remaining Bears can close ranks and show the fortitude and strength that you and the team of ’79 possessed. You are playing a great role in how this team responds and we all feel you can bring out the best in this team. Again thanks and good luck with all your efforts.
Thank you, Tom
Well said Walter! Love you brother for sharing.
Troy
Walt…
Man I can remember that night in 79′ like it was yesterday…and that night I think we all realized how fortunate and blessed we all were and Kyle pretty much taught us all that this is just a game and our lives were much more important than football….and hopefully this 2016′ team will respond the same way and block out all of the distractions and and ask themselves…”Am I my brothers keeper”……
Phillip Ward-Midland
Excellent point, Phillip. We are our brother’s keeper.
Thank you for sharing that story Walter, it is one that all who were present have been impacted by since that night and the terrible injury that took place. However, the spirit, strength, and courage that Kyle exhibited during his life will always be an inspiration to us all. He is looking down upon this group of Baylor Bears that are going to take the field tomorrow and they too will gain strength, pride, and honor as they move forward into the season from his spirit that is forever present. May God bless each and every one of you! Sic Em
Thanks for your kind comments, Brent. See you soon.
Walter: very well stated and appreciated. The Sage and Davidson families support your efforts and will stand in unison with the Letterwinners as we kickoff this season ! You my friend make us Baylor Proud!
Randy, thank you brother.
Good word, Walter. I remember that loud cracking hit that night and the solemn waiting, as Kyle was tended to. He was, indeed, a special person. We connected during physicals our freshmen year; Kyle looked at me funny, (recognizing me from our All- Metro team get-together, our senior year), and said something to me. We became friends, and I often gave him and another Dallas teammate a ride home on the weekends. His mom would load us up with her great food for the ride back from Dallas to Waco, on Sunday nights. He was truly an inspiration, having him on the sidelines at the Peach Bowl, when many of us would never have expected that. His injury was so severe, I would not have expected him to bounce back that quickly. I lost track of Kyle, but heard about him. It seemed like he was looking forward and getting on with his life, making the most of what he had. Loss is tough to deal with, but it is twice as devastating if we wallow in regret, fixed on what might have been. So, I am with you; the team, and all of us, need to look ahead at the possibilities of the future, accepting the realities of our team/life as it is, not what it might have been. It is the only way toward a successful and regret-free future.
Micheal, thanks for sharing your memories of Kyle. I, too, remember very his presence on the sideline at the Peach Bowl game. I also remember his appearance in the locker room and the pregame speech he gave to the team. I still get goosebumps when I think of it. It was so inspiring. Kyle was a very special individual and we miss him dearly.