Nov. 7, 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
WACO-DALLAS TRADE - The Baylor University campus is losing one of the school's most rabid sports boosters, but soon will be welcoming another. Kyle Penney, who lettered as a Baylor student manager before graduating with both his BBA and MBA degrees, has exited his position with the Baylor Alumni Association to take a job in the Development Department at Children's Hospital in Dallas. Penney, currently co-chairman of the Baylor "B" Association's Communications Committee, began his fifth year with the BAA in June of this year. His official title was Director of Operations/Regional Services, but he had taken on additional responsibilities since BAA Executive Vice-President Randy Lofgren resigned to join Baylor's new Department of Alumni Services. Prior to joining the BAA Penney was involved in marketing for the Baylor Athletic Department and later was employed as a consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Coming back to his old school to serve as interim executive vice-president of the BAA is Os Chrisman. A retired district judge in Dallas, Chrisman is a past-president of the BAA, a former member of the Baylor Board of Regents and a recipient of the BAA's Distinguished Alumni Award. And BU athletes from the mid-1950s will remember Os as a cheerleader, an endeavor he has never abandoned while gaining the reputation of being a Baylor Super Fan. Chrisman has agreed to fill the BAA vacancy until a permanent executive VP is chosen . . .
HOUSTON CLASSIC - It's not too early to start making plans for the 2003 Astros College Classic in Houston. The Feb. 14-16 event at Minute Maid Park will feature a number of baseball teams from schools that once made up the Southwest Conference. Baylor's first game in the Classic will be against the University of Houston at 3 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday the Bears play Rice at 7 p.m. and close with Louisiana Lafayette at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Baseball letterman James K. "Chip" Hubbard is already making plans for a "B" Association-sponsored buffet honoring the Baylor team prior to Saturday's game. The event will be held at 4:30 p.m. at Houston Center Club, 1100 Caroline, the same location where almost 200 letter-winners, fans and school officials showed up for a January luncheon to honor Coach Steve Smith and his team. Helping Hubbard make arrangements for the 2003 reception are Faith Beaty, Art Whitmer and Bill McCleary. More details on the event will be sent to all "B" members, as well as being published in a future "B" Line column . . . In case you have not been counting, when Baylor meets No. 4-ranked Texas in Austin on Saturday the game will mark the 21st time in the last 50 years that the Bears have taken on a Longhorns team ranked among the Top 10 in the Associated Press football poll. On four occasions, 1961, 1963 1970 and 1977, UT was ranked No. 1 when playing Baylor . . .
JENNINGS TOP ROOKIE - As expected, the Baseball Writers Association of America this week selected former Baylor pitching ace Jason Jennings for its National League Rookie of the Year Award. Jennings, 24, won 16 games and lost eight for the Colorado Rockies, a fourth-place finisher in the NL Western Division. The balloting was not even close. Jennings received 27 of the 32 first-place votes, winding up with a total of 150 points. Montreal outfielder Brad Wilkerson picked up two first-place votes and 57 points to finish second. The top rookie in the American League was third baseman Eric Hinske of Toronto . . . . Jennings' latest award is his third post-season honor. He earlier received a Players Choice Award, as voted by his peers, and was selected by The Sporting News as the NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Thomas Harding, who covers the Rockies for the Major League Baseball's website (www.mlb.com), said Jennings avoided addressing his chances of winning the awards during the season. On pitching at Denver's Coors Field, a spot that is as comfortable to hitters as Las Vegas is to high-rollers, Jennings told Harding: "My formula is just to keep it simple. Limit your walks and keep an open mind. Everybody knows it's an offensive park. I just expect the worst and hope for the best. If you give up five runs and you win, 7-5, you have to be just as happy with that as with a two-hit shutout." . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CO-CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
