🐻 The Official Daily Newsletter For Baylor Athletics

Happy Wednesday Baylor Fam. Move over Chuck Norris, there’s a Ranger in town. Ok, ok, we take it back before Chuck Norris shows up out of nowhere.

But seriously, how about another year and another Baylor alum playing in the World Series?

We’ve got awards on top of awards and did we mention, it’s HOMECOMING WEEK!

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

⚾️ Bradford, Texas Ranger
👀 All Eyez on Ja’Kobe
🏐 It’s McGhee… Elite McGhee
🐻 And much, much more!

🎥 BAYLOR+: THE VAULT

Coming off a big win against Kansas just 7 days earlier, the Bears travel to Iowa to take on the Cyclones.

Watch as Hall of Fame quarterback Brad Goebel leads Baylor to a commanding victory over Iowa State winning by just shy of 3 dozen points 35-0.

📈 STOCK UP

🔺 Bradford, Texas Ranger. For the third time in the past six seasons, a former Bear will be playing in the Fall Classic.

This time, it’s a rookie.

Cody Bradford, who is just five seasons into his pro career and first at the big league level, and his Texas Rangers teammates earned a spot in the upcoming 2023 World Series with victory over the reigning World Champion, Houston Astros, in the American League Championship Series.

The southpaw appeared two times during the ALCS, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and one earned run.

🔺 Elise? More Like Elite. With a team that has no seniors on its roster, any veteran experience is critical.

Enter junior Elise McGhee.

The San Antonio native has been phenomenal during BU’s current streak and this week, her efforts earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
 
McGhee recorded 32 kills over the two matches with UCF on October 21 and 22 at an impressive clip of 4.57 kills per set. She finished the series with an overall attack percentage of .342. She also served two aces for the Bears in the first match.
 
Amongst the league, McGhee ranks fifth among her peers in kills per set for conference matches with a 3.88 average over 32 sets with 124 total kills.

📝: Check Out The Full Recap of McGhee’s Award Winning Week

🔺 All Eyez On Me Ja’Kobe. The BU men’s hoops squad is still 13 days away from tip-off, but freshman Ja’Kobe Walter has already turned heads nationally.

This week, Walter was selected to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.

The annual award recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I men's basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the 20 watch-list candidates.

The sixth McDonald's All-American in program history, Walter played his senior season at Link Academy in Branson, Mo., where he helped the Lions to a 24-1 record in 2022-23. Before transferring, ESPN's No. 17-rated player led McKinney High School to its first-ever state championship game, where he scored a team-high 23 points against Duncanville. In addition to being named the UIL District 5-6A offensive player of the year, he earned a spot on the 2021-22 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team and the 6A All-State Tournament Team.

📝: More About the Watch List for Ja’Kobe

🔺 (I-Say-) Yah It’s Good. One day, you’re named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. The next, you’re honored as one of the top kickers nationally.

That’s exactly what redshirt sophomore Isaiah Hankins accomplished after his in a career-best performance in BU’s 32-29 road win at Cincinnati.

The Little Rock, Ark. native connected on all four of his field goal attempts and added two PATs. He twice drilled kicks from 43 yards out, nailed a 46-yarder and hit a career-long 54-yard attempt in helping BU to its second road win of the season. His four field goals and 14 points scored were both career bests.

Hankins also tied a program record in becoming the ninth kicker to make four FGs in one game and the first since 2017.

For his efforts, he was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. On Tuesday, he was named one of Lou Groza’s Three Stars of the Week, a recognition that honors the top three kickers nationally each week.

📝: Check Out The Full Recap of Hankins’ Award Winning Week

🎥 BAYLOR+: INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM

Re-live Saturday's victory as Baylor defeated Cincinnati on the road to pick up their 3rd win of the season.

Go onto the field and inside the locker room like never before as Dave Aranda celebrates and addresses his team following the win.

🎥 BAYLOR+: THE FILM ROOM

The Baylor Women's Basketball team added lots of new and exciting faces over the offseason, including Kentucky transfer Jada Walker.

Get to know her game and what she has to offer as Associate Head Coach Tony Greene breaks down her film from last season.

🐻 BACKING THE BEARS

What’s better than repping your school colors?

Repping your colors and your favorite players. Officially-licensed Nike NIL jerseys are available at the Baylor Bookstore featuring participating football student-athletes.

Place your order in person or online today! 

🤔 SIC ’EM TRIVIA

Double-Digits. With two goals in Monday’s big win in Houston, Ashley Merrill reached double-digits in the goal column for the first time in her BU career.

Merrill, who was a goal scoring machine at Dallas Baptist, has been a force for the Bears over the past two seasons and now has 11 goals this fall.

She sits fourth among all Big 12 goal scorers and is tied for 21st nationally in that category.

Who was the last BU futbol star to reach double-digits in goals in a single-season?

Got a guess?

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

🚨 WE’RE LIVE!

Baylor+ – the official content network for Baylor Athletics which launched in September – is now available in app stores for all major streaming platforms, including Amazon FireTV, AppleTV, Roku, iOS, and Android.

The all-access and behind the scenes content that features exclusive interviews and iconic moments in Baylor history can now easily occupy the big screen in your home while also continuing to be available on your smartphone, computer, or mobile device.

Connected TV: Android | AppleTV | Roku | Amazon FireTV
Mobile Phone: Android | iOS

📬 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

Wednesday, October 25
⛳️ Women’s Golf at Rainbow Wahine Invitational (Kapolei, Hawaii)

Thursday, October 26
🏐 Volleyball at Texas @ 7pm | Live Coverage

Friday, October 27
🏐 Volleyball at Texas @ 7pm | Live Coverage
🎾 Women’s Tennis at TCU Invitational

Saturday, October 28
🏈 Football vs. Iowa State @ 2:30pm
⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Cincinnati (Big 12 Tournament) @ 1pm | Live Coverage
👟 Cross Country at Big 12 Championships | Live Coverage
🎾 Women’s Tennis at TCU Invitational

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Julie James & Camryn Wendlandt

You had two ways to get this question right! James and Wendlandt both scored 10 goals during BU’s magical 20-win season of 2018.

🐻 Have a great Wednesday, Baylor fam!

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