Oct. 3, 2002
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 Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu), Kyle Penney,(Kyle_Penney@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
UP AND RUNNING - When members of the Baylor team that defeated Tennessee in the 1957 Sugar Bowl take bows at halftime of Saturday's game against Kansas, the spotlight will remain on one Bear in particular: legendary lineman Bill Glass. Now almost completely recovered from a minor stroke that slowed him down a bit during the summer, Glass' career highlights will be featured on the BaylorVision screen as part of BU's Locker Room Legacy campaign. Former BU running back Walter Abercrombie, now a member of the Bears broadcast team, and Joe Jack Pearce, a star athlete from the 1930s, were earlier honorees this season. Pearce also is the gentleman who has been shooting film and video of games from atop Floyd Casey Stadium since before Beta sounded like a wise investment. (More on Pearce in an upcoming "B" Line column.) Glass, who had an outstanding professional career with Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati after helping No. 11-ranked Baylor defeat the No. 2-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, 13-7, is today an evangelist who spreads the gospel nationally and abroad - including heading special programs to help rehabilitate errant youths. He now lives in Waxahachie, Texas, not too far from Baylor, but a good distance from his hometown of Corpus Christi. Glass likes the small-town lifestyle while still being close to an international airport (D-FW) for his evangelistic missions . . .
CLEVELAND FAN - Although residing near the Heart of Texas, Glass says he still pulls for the Cleveland Browns instead of rooting for the near-by Dallas Cowboys or climbing aboard the brand-new Houston Texans bandwagon. He had his greatest years with the Browns, from 1962 through 1968, after spending four seasons with the Detroit Lions and one as a Cincinnati Bengal. Glass says his playing weight at Baylor, where he excelled at guard, center and tackle during the one-platoon era, was around 215, but he increased his bulk to 270 within two years after reaching the NFL. "I couldn't play college football today at my Baylor weight," Glass says, "but at 270 I could still compete at defensive end in the pros." In regard to Saturday's honor, Glass quickly points out that there were any number of other players on the Sugar Bowl team as deserving as he. But few ever recorded a record to match that of Glass. In addition to a 12-year career as a professional, Glass was a three-year BU letterman, a 1956 All-American, a member of an All-Decade (1951-1959) Baylor team, All-Southwest Conference in 1956 and a 1969 inductee into the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame. Other honors include his being inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 . . .
A REMEMBERANCE - It now looks like a hundred or more will be in attendance at Friday night's team-reunion dinner in the "B" Association Room at FCS. The Rev. Bill Anderson of Florida, one of the Sugar Bowl champs, will give the invocation and lead the group in paying tribute to deceased teammates, coaches and administrators. The players are Charlie Bradshaw, Buddy Humphrey, Bobby Jones, Clyde Letbetter, Reuben Saage and David Spears. Deceased coaches are Head Coach Sam Boyd, Harden Cooper, Luke Welch, Buddy Parker and Bob Barfield. Also deceased are Athletic Director George Sauer, Assistant AD Uncle Jim Crow and Publicity Director George Wright. On a brighter note, Charley Driver, the lone surviving 1956 coach, will be present at the dinner . . . The Sugar Bowl match between Baylor and Tennessee marked the only meeting between the two schools. While the Vols were favored by 7 ? points, they were outplayed throughout the game - as evidenced by the statistics. Baylor led in first downs, 14-11; rushing yardage, 275-146; and passing yardage, 24-16. Baylor intercepted four of 10 passes attempted by Tennessee while allowing only one competition. The Bears also featured a low-key passing game with a trio of quarterbacks - Bobby Jones, Buddy Humphrey and Doyle Traylor - completing only three of 11 attempts. All of the catches were made by end Jerry Marcontell, including one for a second-quarter touchdown. Marcontell remembers telling Jones he had been open on the previous passing play, so Jones called the same number and this time connected with Marcontell for 12 yards and the TD . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CO-CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
