🐻 The Official Daily Newsletter For Baylor Athletics

Good Morning Baylor Fam. As the great philosopher Nelly, once said, “Batter Up!”

The nationally-ranked BU softball team opens its 2024 season in style to kick off a HUGE weekend for the Green & Gold that features, seven different nationally-ranked contests and the return of the Acrobatics & Tumbling squad to the mats in Waco for one of three home meets.

What all do we have stirrin’ in today’s Brew? Check it out!

🏈 Welcome To The Fam
🎉 The BIG Game
🏀 Speed Bump
🐻 And much, much more!

🎥 BAYLOR+: ALL BG, ALL THE TIME

In just 10 days, one of the greatest Baylor student-athletes of all-time will be honored when Brittney Griner has her No. 42 jersey retired at Foster Pavilion. 

Baylor+ is thrilled to be a part of the action as “Welcome Home BG” week will kickoff on Monday, Feb. 12 and run through the ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 18 when the Bears host Texas Tech. 

Throughout the week, Baylor+ will be your one-stop shop with rarely seen footage, highlights and interviews throughout Griner’s incredible four years in Waco. 

Baylor+ will also be along for the ride as the BU legend returns to campus for her special weekend.

All of this will culminate in a Baylor+ original film, “Bigger Than Life”, which will take an in-depth look at Griner’s time as a Bear and the impact she left on the program, athletic department and University as a whole. 

“Bigger Than Life” will be set to be unveiled in March. 

🎥 BAYLOR+: FOLLOW FRIDAY

In the past, Friday nights were saved for Family Matters, Step-By-Step and Boy Meets World.

Now, it’s Follow Fridays on Baylor+ that everyone schedules on their calendar.

This week’s special edition of the Follow takes you behind the scenes of a unique piece of Foster Pavilion that celebrates not only Baylor, but the Waco community.

You won’t want to miss this one.

📈 STOCK UP

🔺 Batter Up! Not that we were counting or anything, but when first pitch is thrown this evening at Getterman Stadium, we’d have waited 254 days, 14 hours and 36 minutes for the return of Baylor softball.

The nationally-ranked Bears are set to host a preseason favorite for a run at the NCAA title as #2 Tennessee comes to town for a season-opening three-game set.

👀: Previewing This Weekend’s Nationally-Ranked Showdown

🔺 Seat At The Table. The BU family got some exciting news this week as a seat at the table has been reserved a member of Green & Gold.

Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack B. Rhoades IV has been added to the 2024 College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
 
Rhoades, in his seventh year leading Baylor's athletics program, will join the committee for the 2024 season and will serve a three-year term. 

🏈: More on Rhoades’ New Role

🎙 INSIDE BAYLOR SPORTS

Feb. 9th Edition:
A Look Ahead

On today’s show we visit with Baylor Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach Alvin Brooks III to preview this weekend’s massive game versus Kansas.

We also sit down with Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling Assistant Coach Shayla Hutchins who was just named to Team USA’s Weightlifting team, and is in her first season back at her alma mater as an assistant.

🎟 THIS WEEKEND! DON’T MISS OUT!

Eight-time NCATA Champions.
Three home meets.

We promise, you DO NOT want to miss out! The Baylor Acrobatics and Tumbling squad is just a few weeks away from starting their 2024 season and BU fans will have three chances to catch the Bears in action at home this season.

Sun, Feb. 11 @ 3 pm vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor
Sun, Feb. 25 @ 3 pm vs. Oregon
Sat, Mar. 16 @ 5 pm vs. Gannon

Tickets are on sale NOW!

🎙 SIC ‘EM POD: LINDA LIVINGSTONE

From growing up in Oklahoma, to playing collegiate basketball, to now the President of Baylor University, sports has always been a huge part of Linda Livingstone’s life.

And still to this day, you would be hard pressed finding bigger fans at Baylor sporting events than President Livingstone and her husband Brad. 

President Livingstone is a dynamic leader both here at Baylor, and in the Big12 conference; a Christian, a mother, a daughter, a strong advocate for women in sports, and is proud to be Baylor University’s 15th President.

🤔 SIC ’EM TRIVIA

The 19th-ranked Bears are locked and loaded for a big 2024 campaign.

The task will not be easy as the Green & Gold have a schedule loaded with big time opponents.

How many of BU’s 2024 opponents are ranked in the preseason Top-25?

Got a guess?

Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

🎙 BAYLOR+: FACE-TO-FACE

He may have only been in Waco for one season, but Jeremy Sochan feels forever connected to the Bears and the Baylor fam.

Enjoy a special Face-To-Face on Baylor+ with the current NBA Spur as he reflects on his time at BU and about playing among the best in the world.

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Baylor Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every weekday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

🗓 ON THE DOCKET

Friday, February 9
👟 Track & Field at Tiger Paw Invitational (Clemson, S.C.)
🐎 Equestrian at #7 Oklahoma State @ 1pm
🥎 Softball vs. #2 Tennessee @ 5pm (DH)

Saturday, February 10
👟 Track & Field at Tiger Paw Invitational (Clemson, S.C.)
🥎 Softball vs. #2 Tennessee @ 2pm
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. #22 West Virginia @ 2pm
🏀 Men’s Basketball at #4 Kansas @ 5pm

Sunday, February 11
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Tulsa @ 12pm
🤸‍♀️ Acrobatics & Tumbling vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor @ 3pm

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Eight.

Baylor will face eight ESPN Preseason Top-25 teams this year, with four in the Preseason Top-10; Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and UCLA. The Bears will play 18 total games this season against preseason top-25 teams.

🐻 Let’s have a great weekend, y’all!

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