Nov. 5, 2003
This is another "B" Line column, a 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.
Congratulations are in order for Baylor "B" Association Executive Vice-President Emeritus Dutch Schroeder. The popular Waco resident will receive the Baylor Alumni Association's W. R. White Meritorious Service Award during Homecoming activities this weekend.
The award is named for the former Baylor University president and is given annually to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to BU. And in Schroeder's case, his list of qualifications runs off the page: coach, teacher, campus and letterwinners association volunteer, civic booster, fundraiser, mentor and a friend to all in the Baylor Family.
White Awards for 2003 also will go to Glenn Hilburn, Ed Kinkeade, Joan Trew and Tommy Turner. The presentations will occur during the BAA's annual meeting at 3 p.m. Friday (Nov. 7) at Jones Theater in the Hooper Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
And those coming back to the campus this weekend might want to include a stop at THE DEN, that tent located next to the pizza concession on the East Plaza of Floyd Casey Stadium. The facility has noting to do with pepperoni, but a lot to do with pep.
It's the brainchild of Mike Beane, who lettered as a defensive back for the Bears in the late '60s and early '70s - the Bill Beall Era.
The purpose of THE DEN - and Beane prefers the name be capitalized - is three-fold: (1) To show athletes who may someday become Bears that they will have the support of former players, (2) to be visible to current Bears as they leave the field 20 minutes before kickoffs and (3) to boost fan morale.
Plug from Morriss . . .
In a letter sent early in the season to former Baylor football players, coach Guy Morriss expressed support for the program and said it would be helpful for the current team to know that ex-BU players are in attendance and watching each and every move on the field.
"THE DEN will also serve as a boost to our fans," Morriss said. "Baylor fans have
been through a long dry spell and it will take some time to get the program back to where
we all want it to be . . . competing for a championship. Seeing former players gather in support of the team before each game will serve as an encouragement to our faithful Baylor fans as well."
Beane, a native of Marshall, is associated with a company that develops and protects turf
for collegiate and professional playing fields. He says he got the idea for THE DEN after visiting numerous campuses and observing the impact that former players have on the ones currently representing their alma maters.
"In my opinion, we have never had a cohesive focus on getting the former football players to support the program and raise money for the program," Beane said. "Those functions have been left up to the (Bear) Foundation. If those of us who played at Baylor are not willing to step forward and give money at the levels necessary to keep us up with the other Big 12 schools we will lose our status in a few years and find ourselves where SMU is today."
Beane emphasizes that THE DEN focuses on the pre-game period. "We open 1 1/2 hours before the game and stay open through the first quarter," he said.
And how well has THE DEN done in attracting former players? The answer to that is not so good earlier in the season, but the optimistic Beane issued a special invitation to his peers prior to the Texas game. "There were approximately 50 there," he said. "That is not many considering our total numbers, but it is an indication the concept is a good one."
Possible conflict? . . .
Does Beane think THE DEN will distract from the Baylor "B" Association's facilities on
the west side of the stadium? "No," he said, explaining that since the public cannot enter the "B" Room and meet former players, the concept of THE DEN makes good sense.
"The intent is to be an outdoor 'B' Association area so . . . those at THE DEN can feel the atmosphere of a college football game," he said. "I have been a member of the 'B' Association since 1972 and I love the room, but you cannot see the game or any of the halftime activities from there."
Beane admits wishing THE DEN could be located on the west side of the stadium, but
that is not possible because Baylor is using that space to host prospective athletes. However, if THE DEN were located on the west side, Beane reasons, "B" Association members could enter and leave the tent without walking through the stands.
Prior to the 2003 football season, Beane approached the "B" Association, asking for
financial support. His request was turned down initially by the board of directors, but "B"
members attending the organization's annual meeting on Oct. 4 agreed to take a wait-and-see
position.
"After the season, we will have a full evaluation with the 'B' Association, (athletic director) Ian McCaw, the coaching staff and THE DEN regulars to determine the best way forward," Beane said.
(The "B" Line column is produced by Jack Loftis, editor emeritus of The Houston Chronicle
and chairman of the Baylor "B" Association Communications Committee.)
