🐻 The Official Daily Newsletter For Baylor Athletics

Good morning! And in case you’ve had your phone on Airplane Mode over the last week, the Big 12 just got a lot bigger. Baylor will have some new rivals out west starting next season as Arizona State, Arizona, and Utah are moving into the Big 12 neighborhood.

What else did we throw into today’s Brew?

🏀 Behind the scenes in Rome
🏈 We are Lawrence Elkins days away from kickoff
🐻 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔺 When In Rome. Literally. Baylor women’s basketball is in the middle of a foreign tour through Italy and Greece in the lead up to another anticipated season on the court, and this weekend was all about Rome—exploring historic monuments, admiring Michelangelo’s paintings inside the Sistine Chapel, touring the Vatican City, and more.

📸 Take in the views as the squad visits the Colosseum.

🎨 Check out these photos from inside the Sistene Chapel.

🎥 Go behind the scenes as the team tours the Vatican City.

🔺 Throwing Their Hat Into The Ring. “You've got to come in, compete, and prepare like you're the starter—every day, every single week, and just be ready when your number is called.”

Incoming transfer quarterback Sawyer Robertson is hoping Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen has “the best year of his life” after being named the starter at the end of spring training—but he knows that the Bears are deep when it comes to talented quarterbacks, and the entire team benefits when each player competes to be the best that they can be.

🔺 Kicking Off. If first impressions are any indications, this fall could be an exciting one for the BU women’s soccer team.

The Bears headed north to Oklahoma on Sunday for the first exhibition of the 2023 preseason and came out with a 3-2 victory.

Ashley Merrill scored two goals on the night, while Tyler Isgrig had an assist and scored a goal in the contest.

Baylor plays one more exhibition this Thursday, Aug. 10 at Tarleton, before its regular season opener on Aug. 17.

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 26 DAYS

When you’re talking about the number 26, the conversation begins and ends with Baylor football legend Lawrence Elkins—a two-time All-American who set an NCAA record with 70 catches in 1963 who finished his career with 144 receptions for 2,094 yards with a school-record 19 touchdowns.

🏆 CENTER OF ATTENTION

Baylor senior offensive lineman Clark Barrington has been named to the 2023 Rimington Trophy Watch List—presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I college football. He’s one of 40 centers from across the country named to the preseason watch list, including eight from the Big 12.

A graduate transfer from BYU, he joins the Bears after an All-America career with the Cougars, having played in 46 games over the last four seasons, including 37 consecutive starts to finish his undergraduate career. Already named a preseason all-conference honoree by multiple outlets, his impact on the Baylor offensive line helped the Bears pick up preseason Offensive Line of the Year honors in the Big 12 by College Football Network.

Clark Barrington is the second Bear in as many seasons to be named to the Rimington Trophy watch list, after Jacob Gall earned a spot on last year’s preseason list.

🤔 SIC ’EM TRIVIA

Three cheers. With Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah being Big 12 opponents by this time next year, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane for today’s trivia question.

In Baylor football’s history, they’ve played a combined two games against these three newcomers. Our question today…

Which one of these three teams has Baylor beaten in their only matchup against them on the gridiron?

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

📬 STICK WITH US

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📅 COMING SOON

Wednesday, August 16

🏐 Green vs. Gold Game @ Ferrell Center @ 6:00pm CT

Thursday, August 31

⚽ Soccer vs. Louisiana Tech @ 7:00pm CT (Home Opener) | Tickets

Saturday, September 2

🏈 Football vs. Texas State @ 6:00pm CT on ESPN+ | Tickets

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Arizona!

Back when Baylor was in the SWC, and Arizona was a member of the Pac-10, the Bears took down the Wildcats in the 1992 John Hancock Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.

Fun Fact: Baylor made sure that head coach Grant Teaff went out with a bang as this was his last game after previously announcing his retirement. It capped off an amazing 21-year run. Read more about the final farewell for a Baylor legend here in the archives.

🐻 Have a great Monday!