Sept. 28, 2005
FALL SPORTS CONTINUING SUCCESS
We are off to fantastic year with our fall sports programs at Baylor. Check out http://baylorbears.collegesports.com to get updated on all sports-related news. As many of us anticipated, the football team has improved this year. Congratulations to Guy Morriss and his staff for getting off to the best start in nearly 10 years. They have a tough road ahead, but I'm convinced this will be a year of positive change for the football team.
ONLY AS STRONG AS THE WEAKEST LINK
As the momentum continues to build in our sports programs, let's also do our part in making our association stronger. If you are not an active (dues paying) member, I urge you to join today. Now is the perfect time. Annual dues are only $75, if you live in Texas and less than that if you live out of state. The benefits of becoming an active member of the "B" Association are well worth it, especially now that ticket prices have increased. Among the many benefits of your membership, you receive 50% off one season or individual game ticket price. Also, you and your family can enjoy pre-game meals and fellowship in the "B" Room at Floyd Casey Stadium on home game days. Additionally, I am pleased to announce that beginning in 2006, after the new basketball facility is completed, we will have our own "Letterwinners Room" at the Ferrell Center for socializing during pre-game and half-time of designated men's and women's basketball games.
The costs associated with having an organization like ours are growing, so your dues and contributions are needed more than ever before. Remember the old team motto: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link." For us to be the nation's top letterwinners' organization, everyone must get involved. You can make a difference.
GARY JOE KINNE RECEIVES LEGENDS HONOR
The "B" Association honored former Baylor Linebacker Gary Joe Kinne as a 2005 Football Legend on September 2 in Canton, Texas. Gary Joe (FB, '89), head football coach at Canton High School, was brutally shot last April by an angry parent of one of his players. Several Baylor representatives traveled to Canton to make the presentation in front of Gary Joe's home crowd. Assisting me in the presentation were Coach Grant Teaff, Baylor Athletic Director, Ian McCaw, Coach Bill Lane, "B" Association Board member and former teammate Robin Jones and recent basketball letterwinner, Kevin Henry.
JEFF JUMONVILLE'S CHANCE AT THE BIG TIME
Who hasn't thought about it? You, on your best day, against a tour pro on what you'd hope would be his worst day since grade school. Former Baylor golfer Jeff Jumonville (GLF, '95) earned himself just such an opportunity. Playing on his home course in Austin, Texas, 32-year-old Jumonville took on PGA Tour pro Justin Leonard in a made-for-television Match Play battle that was recently aired on ESPN. The only problem... Leonard definitely didn't have his worst day. The 1997 British Open Champion birdied the final four holes to beat Jumonville 4 and 3 in the People versus the Pros Grand Prize Match. You can watch the match tonight (Tuesday, September 27, 2005) on ESPN 2 at 6:30pm CST. Click here for the complete story about this event.
2005 BAYLOR FOOTBALL LEGENDS
The "B" Association will honor the following 2005 Football Legends at the remaining four home games this season. Please join us at the games to say hello to and pay tribute to this new class of Baylor Football Legends.
Mike Singletary - October 15, BU vs. Nebraska
Dennis Gentry - October 29, BU vs. Texas Tech (Homecoming)
Vann McElroy - November 5, BU vs. Texas
Jay Jeffrey - November 19, BU vs. Oklahoma State
Note: Gary Joe Kinne was the first 2005 Football Legend recognized this year on September 10 at the BU vs. Samford game. Unfortunately, Gary Joe was unable to attend the game due to health complications from the injury he sustained early this year. Please continue to keep Gary Joe and his family in your prayers.
2005 HALL OF FAME AND WALL OF HONOR BANQUET
Mark your calendars now to attend this year's Hall of Fame and Wall of Honor Banquet scheduled for November 4, 2005. The banquet will be held at 7:00pm in the Galloway Suite of Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco. I hope you will make plans to attend the banquet and show support to these deserving honorees. Next week, you will receive an invitation to this event. In the meantime, if you would like to RSVP early for the banquet, please contact Reba Cooper at the "B" Association (254) 710-3045 or email her at reba_cooper@baylor.edu.
The 2005 inductees will be:
Hall of Fame:
Ray Berry (FB '86)
Bruce Davis (FB `83)
Babette Metcalf Eikenberg (Women's BSK, '78)
Glynn Fields (TRK, 63)
Luke Prestridge (BB, FB, '79)
Wall of Honor
David Alexander (TRK, '62)
'79 & '80 BOWL TEAM REUNION
If you were a member of the 1979 Peach Bowl or the 1980 SWC Championship team, please make plans to join us in Waco on October 14 & 15 to celebrate your 25th year reunion. Team members, coaches, trainers, managers, athletic staff, and family members are all invited to attend. For reunion details or to RSVP, please contact Reba Cooper at (254) 710-3045, or email her at reba_cooper@baylor.edu.
'85 & '86 BOWL TEAMS HONORED IN 2006
The "B" Association will host a reunion in honor of the 1985 Bluebonnet and 1986 Liberty Bowl teams next fall in celebration of their 20th anniversary. Mark your calendars now and be on the lookout for more information about that reunion in the months ahead.
FORMER LADY BEAR AND BEARETTE REUNION
All former Baylor women's basketball players are invited back to a Lady Bear and Bearette reunion on Friday, November 18, 2005 as the Baylor Lady Bears take on UCLA in their home opener. As a celebration of more than 30 years of women's basketball at Baylor, the "B" Association will honor all former Bearettes and Lady Bears and will recognize them at the game. The game will also feature a special ceremony at which last year's National Championship banner will be unfurled. Prior to the game, a social/reception will be held in the Cashion Building of the Hankamer School of Business for all former Lady Bears and Bearettes. If you are a former Baylor women's basketball player, please help us get the word out about this historic event. For more information, contact Reba Cooper at (254) 710-3045, or email her at reba_cooper@baylor.edu.
ANNUAL LETTERWINNER'S DAY
Please plan to participate in the Annual Letterwinner's Day "Human Tunnel" on Saturday, November 19, 2005 at the BU vs. Oklahoma State football game. All Baylor Letterwinners -- past and present -- will receive "on field" recognition just before kickoff at the game. We will then form a human tunnel through which the football team will run onto the field. Last year, more than 300 former and current athletes representing every sport participated in the Letterwinner's Day event. Also, great door prizes will be given away in the "B" Room during the pre-game festivities. Don't miss out on the fun this year!
WHAT A PARTY!
I want to personally thank those of you who attended Dary Stone's pre-game party in Dallas on September 3. Letterwinners young and old came out and enjoyed delicious BBQ and a great social atmosphere. I don't know how it happened, but even the elusive Tommy Tabor attended with his beautiful family. Thanks for coming out T2. President Bill Underwood, Baylor regents, coaches, athletic administrators, and others from the Baylor family joined nearly 100 ex-letterwinners for the fun and relaxing afternoon. In total, nearly 300 people attended to party. We all had a great time and we owe much gratitude to Dary and Lindy for their generosity in hosting this fantastic event. To top the day off, we beat SMU. Although the win wasn't pretty, it was still a Victory, baby! If you attended the event and you would like to express thanks to Dary and Lindy, you can write them at Dary and Lindy Stone, 3600 Marquette, Dallas, TX 75225.
SPONSOR A GAME DAY MEAL IN THE "B" ROOM
The cost associated with providing game day meals in the "B" Room for letterwinners and family members has risen sharply in the past two years and we are seeking sponsorships to assist with the rising costs. If you would like to sponsor a meal yourself or join together with a few of your former teammates to sponsor a meal, please contact me or Reba Cooper at the "B" Association. The cost of sponsoring a game day meal is $500. The name(s) of meal sponsors will be prominently displayed in the "B" Room during each game. Many thanks to our generous members who have already stepped forward to sponsor meals this year and in the past. There are four remaining home games this season. We need two more sponsors in order to have all the meals sponsored this year. Please let us know if you would like to help.
CONVERTIBLES NEEDED FOR HOMECOMING PARADE
The "B" Association is seeking three (3) convertibles to carry 2004 Hall of Fame and Wall of Honor inductees in this year's Baylor Homecoming Parade. If you have a convertible (that you wouldn't be embarrassed to drive in a parade) let me know. For those of you who are fans of old muscle cars, I'll be loaning my '72 Chevelle SS convertible again to use for this purpose in the parade this year. Also, Gary Luft (Tennis, '68) has again offered his beautiful red Miata. Two down, three to go.
NFL JERSEYS REPLACED
Finally, I want to again thank John Adickes, Ray Berry, Jay Jeffrey, John Breit, Tim Purselley, Ervin Randle, and Vann McElroy for joining me in contributing toward replacing the NFL Jerseys that were removed from the walls at Floyd Casey Stadium during the tenure of our previous football staff. Thanks to those former players and the tireless efforts of Baylor alum and friend Phil Dorr, the jerseys have been reframed and now hang proudly in the hallway leading to the football locker rooms at the stadium.
