Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future

wa-photoDear Baylor Letterwinners,

As we near the end of what has been a very challenging fall season, we are thankful for the lessons learned and for the positive achievements of our student-athletes from all sports who have bravely endured it all. Despite all the distractions they faced, I am quite amazed at their resilience. We are also grateful to the coaches in all of our sports programs who continued to be faithful to Baylor and to their student athletes. They have refused to allow the media and the public to define who we are as Baylor Bears.

We wish to congratulate Coach Jim Grobe and Baylor football for earning a bowl invitation to the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl on December 27, 2016, in Phoenix, AZ. It will be the program’s 7th consecutive bowl appearance and will be bittersweet for many, as this will be the final game at Baylor for the current football staff. Baylor’s new head football coach, Matt Rhule, and his staff will begin transitioning into their roles immediately following the bowl game. Rhule was introduced to Baylor Nation at a campus celebration Wednesday afternoon in the Ferrell Center.

Also, congratulations to Baylor volleyball for earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. It is the team’s fifth NCAA tourney berth in program history. After upsetting 14th-ranked San Diego in five sets in the first round, the Lady Bears (22-12) fell to 10th-seeded UCLA in the second round. Kudos to the Baylor women’s cross country team for advancing to the NCAA Championship this season at the LaVern Gibson Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was Baylor’s 16th NCAA appearance and the ninth under head coach and Baylor letterwinner Todd Harbour.

Two of Baylor’s 2016-17 spring sports teams are off to a fantastic start. The Baylor Lady Bears basketball team (10-1) continued their winning streak Tuesday evening in the Ferrell Center, coasting to a 90-24 victory over the Texas State Bobcats and earning the #3 spot on the AP and USA Coaches Poll. With last week’s win over Xavier, Baylor men’s basketball (8-0) secured their fourth comeback win of the season and third win over a top-10 team for the first time in program history. The Bears are currently ranked 4th in the country. Speaking of men’s basketball, one of Baylor’s finest former players, Isaiah Austin, has been cleared to play basketball again following his Marfan Syndrome diagnosis. Austin was diagnosed with the rare connective tissue disorder as well as an abnormally large heart just prior to the 2014 NBA draft, which appeared to end his playing career prematurely. After an ongoing series of tests since then, he announced he has received clearance to return to competitive basketball. We wish Isaiah the very best.

Your “B” Association continues to advance as well. I am thankful for your continued support over the past 12 months. Our association is blessed to have talented and dedicated leaders serving on our Board of Directors. I am especially grateful for the leadership of 2016 “B” Association President, Don Riddle. Don has been an engaged and strong leader who has provided tremendous credibility and stability to our association. Serving as past-president in 2017, Don’s experience with Baylor and the “B” Association will be vital to us as we move into this new era of change in Baylor Athletics.

The “B” Association engaged in yet another robust schedule of social events in 2016. These events not only provide “B” Association members with opportunities to reunite, network, and fellowship, they are also an effective means by which we are able to attract new members. Below is a list of the social events hosted in 2016:

  • All Women’s Sports Reunion Weekend (Feb)
  • 21st Annual Fightin’ Bear Golf Classic (Apr)
  • 2016 Track Reunion – Michael Johnson Invitational (Apr)
  • Baylor Night with the Texas Rangers (Jun)
  • Houston-area Letterwinners Dinner at Champps, Houston, Texas (Jun)
  • Big Cat’s Fishing Trip, Galveston, Texas (Jun)
  • Football Game Day Tailgate and Lounge Events (Sep-Nov)
  • 2016 Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame & Wall of Honor Banquet (Oct)
  • General Membership Meeting (Nov)
  • Student Athlete Gift Night (Dec)

The Board of Directors for 2017:
At the 2016 General Membership meeting on Saturday, November 19, our membership approved the following officers and directors:

Officers: President- Mr. Dusty Sanderson (Trainer/Mgr), President-Elect- Mr. Pat Combs (Baseball), Vice President- *Mr. Ken Buckley (Football), Treasurer- Mr. Phil Duren (Track), Past-President- Mr. Don Riddle (Baseball)

Directors: *Mr. Cody Carlson (Football), Mrs. Kathi Jones Childers (Volleyball), Mr. Jeff Cunningham (Track), *Mr. Santana Dotson (Football), *Mr. Wayne Dunlap (Track), Mr. Brad Goebel (Football), Ms. Chanelle Fox (W. Basketball), Mr. Rick Fox (baseball), Mr. Ted Gillum (football, track), Mr. Mike Johnson (Football, Track), Mr. Neil Luft (Trainer/Mgr), *Mrs. Jennifer Putty Martinsen (Volleyball), *Mr. Richard Naylor (Trainer/Mgr.), *Mr. Jon Topolski (Baseball), and Mr. Darrell Ward (Track)

* New Officers/Directors

As we welcome our new directors, we owe a debt of gratitude to the officers and directors who will complete their terms of service on December 31, 2016. They are Mr. Bill Bain (Baseball), Mr. David Jones (Football), Mr. Larry Smith (Baseball), Mr. Ralph Stockemer (Football), and Mrs. Debbie Bradley Mann (Track) who rotates off as Past-President. We are a better letterwinners organization today because of these individuals.

Acknowledgments & Appreciation:
Finally, I want to thank the “B” Association’s loyal and dedicated team members, Tammy Hardin, Lauren Sanderson, and Nadia Jones. These outstanding talented young ladies regularly go the extra mile to “get the job done.” It is a privilege to work alongside them daily.

In closing, as we approach the new year, let us commit ourselves to working harder and smarter to become the strongest, most active letterwinners association in the nation.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Respectfully,

WA's signature

Walter Abercrombie
Executive Director, Baylor “B” Association

One thought on “Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future

  1. Interesting update on Baylor Athletics with achievements of student-athletes amidst challenges. The detailed account of social events and leadership transitions within the “B” Association. I study at college and I love to use a website that types essays for you which provides valuable insights into platforms where students can get help and aspiring writers can showcase their skills and potentially earn income. It offers a curated list of websites across various niches, catering to writers looking to monetize their work.

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