Feb. 26, 2003
This is another "B" Line column, a periodic collection of news items of particular interest to members of the Baylor "B" Association. Contribute news about you or your teammates via e-mail to Lee Harrington (leenelaine@281.com), Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
COACH AND PLAYER - Former Baylor quarterback Hayden Fry, whose coaching resume includes being a football assistant at Baylor and head coach at North Texas, SMU and Iowa, is on the ballot to become a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Also under consideration for the same honor is Jerry LeVias, who played for Fry at SMU. Those pushing for LeVias' induction correctly point out that he was a three-time All-Southwest Conference receiver and a 1968 All-American. It also has been noted in print that he was the first African-American to play in the SWC. Granted, he was the first to hold a starting position and go on to stardom, but Baylor's John Westbrook was the first player to break the SWC color barrier when he entered the Bears' game against Syracuse on Sept 10, 1966 - a week before LeVias and his SMU teammates opened their season. Westbrook, who became a minister before his death several years ago, went into the game as a substitute running back and did his part in the Bears' 35-12 victory over Syracuse and their All-American running back Floyd Little . . .
FAMILY MATTERS - Funeral services for Hale Johnson, who lettered in football for Baylor in 1946 and 1947, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 27) at the Daisetta Methodist Church. Visitation for the 1949 BU graduate was scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Allison Funeral Home in Liberty. Johnson played for Coach Frank Kimbrough's last Baylor team (1-8) and Bob Woodruff's first (5-5) . . . Condolences also should be expressed to former Baylor football great Roger Goree following the death of his brother Steve in Baton Rouge last week. Dutch Schroeder represented the "B" Association at the Feb. 21 funeral. Adding to the family's concerns was the terrible news that Roger and Steve's father suffered a seizure in a VA hospital about the time of Steve's death. Latest report has the senior Goree making improvement. Roger, of course, is the support services coordinator for the BU athletic department . . . Mark Cochran, who was an All-Southwest Conference tackle for Baylor in 1985 and went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers in 1987, has moved his family from Omaha to The Woodlands, north of Houston. He is managing a YMCA facility in Montgomery County after launching his "Y" career in Waco several years ago . . .
CLASSIC LEFTOVERS - In case you missed it, six Baylor players were named to the all-tournament team following the Feb. 14-16 Astros College Baseball Classic in Houston. The complete list of honorees included: Catcher- Josh Ford, Baylor; First Base - Vincent Sinisi, Rice; Second Base - Paul Witt, Baylor; Shortstop - Trey Webb, Baylor; Third Base - Scott Beerer, Texas A&M; Outfield - David Murphy, Baylor; Chris Durbin, Baylor and Beau Hearod, Alabama. Designated Hitter - Brett Cooley, Houston. Pitchers - Logan Kensing, Texas A&M; Brian Reed, Alabama; Danny Zell, Houston and Zach Dixon, Texas A&M. Most Outstanding Player - Michael Griffin, Outfield, Baylor . . . Former BU football and baseball player Pat Sisk of Mount Pleasant has been to all three Astro Classics and has been accompanied each year by the legendary O. L. Colley, a former Rice University athlete. Colley played second base for Rice in the late '30s and early '40s. After graduation he taught school and coached in his native Mount Pleasant. The school system there recently named its new baseball stadium for him. Colley took a minor spill while leaving Minute Maid Park after Rice's 4-3 win over Baylor. Sisk reports all is well and the two returned the next day to watch Alabama hand Colley's beloved Owls their first loss of the season . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
