Our hearts and prayers go out to friends and loved ones who have been affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. Over the last few days, I have talked with letterwinners who live in that region of Texas and many of them have suffered home and auto damage, but they are safe and thankful to be alive. Please continue offering your prayers for them.
Many of you have expressed interest in assisting the hurricane victims. In Tuesday’s weekly football press conference, Coach Matt Rhule laid some of the efforts taken by Baylor to aid those families in need. For details, please refer to Baylor’s Efforts to Assist Hurricane Harvey Victims in this newsletter.
Congratulations to the fifteen former Baylor greats who will be enshrined in the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame on Friday, September 8, 2017. I couldn’t be prouder of this year’s honorees because they represent the very best of what Baylor produces as athletic letterwinners. I hope you will join me at the induction luncheon on September 8th to pay tribute to these outstanding athletes. For more details about the luncheon, see Southwest Conference Hall of Fame Induction.
The “B” Association recently established an endowment named in honor of beloved former baseball coach Dutch Schroeder. The purpose of the Dutch Schroeder Letterwinners Legacy Endowment is to create means by which the “B” Association will have a stronger future by growing its programs while ensuring the association will be well-equipped to continue its mission in perpetuity. This permanent endowment’s principle, which will be enhanced by annual reinvestments, will ultimately provide the “B” Association with the power to support Baylor’s athletic programs and student-athletes in ways currently unimaginable. I invite you to give what you can to this worthy endeavor. No individual gift is too big or too small. With our collective contributions, together we have the opportunity create a lasting-legacy while honoring a man who helped make our association a reality. Please consider making your contribution today. To make a gift online, go to baylor.edu/giving > Athletics > Dutch Schroeder Letterwinners Legacy Endowment. For more information, please contact Nick Florence at nick_florence@baylor.edu or (254) 710-7557.
Finally, in addition to the start of a new era with Baylor football, there are plenty of other exciting fall sports to follow this year. Don’t forget to show your loyal support for Baylor Soccer, Volleyball, and Cross-Country. Baylor Soccer’s match with the Ball State Cardinals, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 3, at noon, will now kick off at 11:30 a.m. at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field. The Bears (2-0-1) got a rare weekend off, with the team’s last competition coming against the Rice Owls in Houston on Thursday, Aug. 24, ending in a 0-0 draw. The Sunday match with HBU in Houston was relocated and rescheduled to Waco for Monday evening, but flooding led to the match being cancelled altogether.
Baylor Volleyball will hit the road for the first time this season as it travels to Pullman, Washington, to face Washington State, Quinnipiac, and College of Charleston at the Cougar Challenge Tournament at Bohler Gym. Redshirt senior Katie Staiger will play in her 100th career match against Washington State tonight as the Bears face the Cougars at 10 p.m. CT.
After making their ninth NCAA Appearance in 2016, Cross Country Coach Todd Harbour and the Bears are aiming to improve upon that achievement beginning at home in 2017 with the Bear Twilight Invitational on Friday, Sept. 1, at the HOT Soccer Complex. The women’s squad will begin their season competition at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 23 in College Station. We wish these teams the very best this season.
Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Sic ’em!
Walter Abercrombie
Executive Director, Baylor “B” Association