Kicking Off Big 12 Play — and Something Greater, Together
9/22/2026 11:40:00 AM | General, Fan Experience, Athletic News, Desk of the AD
Baylor Family,
As Fall swings into full gear, let me start by saying how good it has been to see so many of you again. Whether Soccer, Volleyball, in Atlanta, or at McLane Stadium, being with you has been energizing and encouraging. Thank you for allowing me to connect personally with you.
Big 12 Football
We have a pair of wins on the board and are just a foot away from entering conference play undefeated. We look ahead to what our season was always going to hinge on – this upcoming slate of nine Big 12 games. I am energized to share in upcoming special memories with our Baylor fans at McLane Stadium. Our home slate features four great matchups at McLane Stadium: this weekend against Colorado, two historic in-state rivals and Homecoming with Iowa State.
To put my fan hat back on for a moment … I share your disappointment with another midday game on Saturday; knowing the limitation that places on pregame tailgates compounded with the relentless heat we've faced this summer in Texas. Too often as administrators we point the finger back at the networks, but TV schedulers are merely using timeslots we agreed to in media contract negotiations. Our industry must be more mindful in future media agreements around start times – especially as it relates to this past weekend's non-conference game – with fans prioritized.
In the near term, we'll continue to do all we can to make the heat more tolerable with intentional efforts at McLane. We are coming off two wins, a fun matchup and a ton planned to make it a memorable day at McLane. Bottom line ... HYDRATE EARLY AND OFTEN and be there. Because a full McLane Stadium matters. A loud McLane Stadium matters. And each of us has a part to play in how we do this together!
Fan First Momentum
The feedback on many of our new initiatives from our first two home games has been encouraging. We want more people to enjoy the experience in our venues, and we want to keep improving. So please come, please participate and please share your feedback, through the post-game surveys emailed, or at FanFirst@baylor.edu.
The list of perks and experiences new to McLane Stadium is too long to list. However, this rundown this month is a great primer on everything, check it all out.
Fall Sports Delivering
No. 17 Volleyball had a strong showing in the non-conference schedule, opening up 8-2 with just a pair of losses vs. teams currently ranked in the top 10. They begin conference play with a challenging road swing to the Utah schools this weekend, including a test at No. 22 BYU on FS1, before coming back the following weekend for two home matches against UCF and Colorado. If you are within driving distance, get to the Ferrell Center to support these young women.
No. 12 Soccer began conference play with an impressive 1-1 draw at perennial Big 12 power, and No. 9 West Virginia on Friday. The Bears are 7-1-1 so far this season, are undefeated against power-4 conference opponents, and host two Big 12 games this week at home on Thursday vs. Oklahoma State and Sunday vs. Cincinnati. Remember admission is free so come on out!
Equestrian, Golf, Tennis and Cross Country are also all underway as we fully get the fall schedule rolling.
Fan First Spotlight
Captain Sherwin "Weezer" Anderson brought his wife and three children to the Aflac Kickoff Game hoping for a fun night of college football and a chance to make family memories. With Captain Anderson preparing to deploy for six months very soon, the outing also served as an early birthday celebration for his son – a birthday he'll miss while away.
They arrived in Atlanta without a team to cheer for, but they left as Baylor Bears.
Throughout the day, members of our Baylor Spirit Squad went out of their way to welcome the Anderson children. They talked with them, included them, made them feel special and even gave the kids their spirit towels, which quickly became treasured souvenirs.
Captain Anderson later wrote to thank the squad and shared photos of the students who made such an impression on his family. He said it was our people, and the genuine kindness and hospitality they showed his children, that made the Andersons such fans.
No doubt our Spirit Squad considered these relatively minor gestures, but to the Anderson family, they were anything but small. They turned a fun family outing into a memory that will last a long time.
Well done, Baylor Spirit. That is a memory created we can all be proud of.
Something Greater
When you are blessed to sit the role I do, you are consistently encountering the limitations of language. How do you describe a game-clinching moment, a history-making performance, a student-athlete making the academic honor roll after initially struggling to adapt to the academic rigors of Baylor, an entire team going on a mission trip together, or a player coming to a coach and asking to be baptized?
We call it Something Greater.
At Baylor, whether in athletics or the academy, it is our belief competitive ambition and Christian purpose don't conflict with each other but in fact were designed to strengthen one another. As the Baylor family, we all have a shared role in pursuing Something Greater – our student-athletes, our staff, our campus, our fans and donors. And ultimately, together we reflect to the world around us that there is truly Something Greater.
Something Greater is not a slogan or catchphrase but rather the capturing of Baylor's essence. Our one-of-oneness combine R1 Academics, power-4 Athletics, and a distinctively Christian mission. And as part of Something Greater, wins are cherished, losses are felt, and commitment to excellence is strengthened with the unwavering clarity that comes an eternal mindset.
Thankful to take part in Something Greater with each of you.
See you this weekend!
Sic 'Em!
Doug
As Fall swings into full gear, let me start by saying how good it has been to see so many of you again. Whether Soccer, Volleyball, in Atlanta, or at McLane Stadium, being with you has been energizing and encouraging. Thank you for allowing me to connect personally with you.
Big 12 Football
We have a pair of wins on the board and are just a foot away from entering conference play undefeated. We look ahead to what our season was always going to hinge on – this upcoming slate of nine Big 12 games. I am energized to share in upcoming special memories with our Baylor fans at McLane Stadium. Our home slate features four great matchups at McLane Stadium: this weekend against Colorado, two historic in-state rivals and Homecoming with Iowa State.
To put my fan hat back on for a moment … I share your disappointment with another midday game on Saturday; knowing the limitation that places on pregame tailgates compounded with the relentless heat we've faced this summer in Texas. Too often as administrators we point the finger back at the networks, but TV schedulers are merely using timeslots we agreed to in media contract negotiations. Our industry must be more mindful in future media agreements around start times – especially as it relates to this past weekend's non-conference game – with fans prioritized.
In the near term, we'll continue to do all we can to make the heat more tolerable with intentional efforts at McLane. We are coming off two wins, a fun matchup and a ton planned to make it a memorable day at McLane. Bottom line ... HYDRATE EARLY AND OFTEN and be there. Because a full McLane Stadium matters. A loud McLane Stadium matters. And each of us has a part to play in how we do this together!
Fan First Momentum
The feedback on many of our new initiatives from our first two home games has been encouraging. We want more people to enjoy the experience in our venues, and we want to keep improving. So please come, please participate and please share your feedback, through the post-game surveys emailed, or at FanFirst@baylor.edu.
The list of perks and experiences new to McLane Stadium is too long to list. However, this rundown this month is a great primer on everything, check it all out.
Fall Sports Delivering
No. 17 Volleyball had a strong showing in the non-conference schedule, opening up 8-2 with just a pair of losses vs. teams currently ranked in the top 10. They begin conference play with a challenging road swing to the Utah schools this weekend, including a test at No. 22 BYU on FS1, before coming back the following weekend for two home matches against UCF and Colorado. If you are within driving distance, get to the Ferrell Center to support these young women.
No. 12 Soccer began conference play with an impressive 1-1 draw at perennial Big 12 power, and No. 9 West Virginia on Friday. The Bears are 7-1-1 so far this season, are undefeated against power-4 conference opponents, and host two Big 12 games this week at home on Thursday vs. Oklahoma State and Sunday vs. Cincinnati. Remember admission is free so come on out!
Equestrian, Golf, Tennis and Cross Country are also all underway as we fully get the fall schedule rolling.
Fan First Spotlight
Captain Sherwin "Weezer" Anderson brought his wife and three children to the Aflac Kickoff Game hoping for a fun night of college football and a chance to make family memories. With Captain Anderson preparing to deploy for six months very soon, the outing also served as an early birthday celebration for his son – a birthday he'll miss while away.
They arrived in Atlanta without a team to cheer for, but they left as Baylor Bears.
Throughout the day, members of our Baylor Spirit Squad went out of their way to welcome the Anderson children. They talked with them, included them, made them feel special and even gave the kids their spirit towels, which quickly became treasured souvenirs.
Captain Anderson later wrote to thank the squad and shared photos of the students who made such an impression on his family. He said it was our people, and the genuine kindness and hospitality they showed his children, that made the Andersons such fans.
No doubt our Spirit Squad considered these relatively minor gestures, but to the Anderson family, they were anything but small. They turned a fun family outing into a memory that will last a long time.
Well done, Baylor Spirit. That is a memory created we can all be proud of.
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Something Greater
When you are blessed to sit the role I do, you are consistently encountering the limitations of language. How do you describe a game-clinching moment, a history-making performance, a student-athlete making the academic honor roll after initially struggling to adapt to the academic rigors of Baylor, an entire team going on a mission trip together, or a player coming to a coach and asking to be baptized?
We call it Something Greater.
At Baylor, whether in athletics or the academy, it is our belief competitive ambition and Christian purpose don't conflict with each other but in fact were designed to strengthen one another. As the Baylor family, we all have a shared role in pursuing Something Greater – our student-athletes, our staff, our campus, our fans and donors. And ultimately, together we reflect to the world around us that there is truly Something Greater.
Something Greater is not a slogan or catchphrase but rather the capturing of Baylor's essence. Our one-of-oneness combine R1 Academics, power-4 Athletics, and a distinctively Christian mission. And as part of Something Greater, wins are cherished, losses are felt, and commitment to excellence is strengthened with the unwavering clarity that comes an eternal mindset.
Thankful to take part in Something Greater with each of you.
See you this weekend!
Sic 'Em!
Doug
Friday, September 25
Friday, September 25
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
