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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – Sept. 9, 2024<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Baylor FB Hosts Air Force in ‘Mission Black Ops’ at McLane<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Bears to Wear Anthracite Uniforms in Matchup with Air Force<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><o:p> </o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>For more information contact: </b>Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651,
<a href="mailto:brent_ingram@baylor.edu">brent_ingram@baylor.edu</a><u> </u> or Max Calderone; 254-265-1639,
<a href="mailto:max_calderone@baylor.edu">max_calderone@baylor.edu</a> or Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720,
<a href="mailto:josie_hutton@baylor.edu">josie_hutton@baylor.edu</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>WACO, Texas --</b> Baylor football will face off with Air Force on Saturday at McLane Stadium, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. in a game televised live on FS1 and broadcast live on the Baylor Sports Media Network.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fans are encouraged to wear black in the stadium in a promotion called ‘Mission Black Ops’ and the Bears will wear their new anthracite jerseys in the game. The game will also serve as Baylor’s annual Salute to Service contest which will
feature a pre-game flyover by a pair of F-16’s each piloted by alumni from each school. In addition, Baylor will welcome back the 1974 Southwest Conference Champions, a historic group that is forever in BU lore as the ‘Miracle on the Brazos’ team.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Baylor (1-1) will face Air Force (1-1, 1-1 Mountain West) in the first meeting since the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. It is the first meeting in the series since the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl, which was played at a kickoff temperate
of 13 degrees in Fort Worth and saw the Falcons post the win. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Baylor is coming off a 23-12 loss at No. 11/11 Utah on Saturday, with the Utes using a returned field-goal block for a touchdown and a fumble recovery on the three-yard line to fuel the win, all coming in the first half. The Bears rallied
to score the final 12 points of the game but couldn’t sustain offense against a stout Utes defense.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Palmer Williams had the best game in program history for a punter, booting it six times at Utah - all over 50 yards - for a 62.7-yard average, including longs of 79 and 76 yards. He leads the nation with a 57.9-yard average.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SCOUTING THE FALCONS<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• After replacing a bevy of key players from a nine-win season in 2023, Air Force is off to a 1-1 start to 2024, with wins over Merrimack in the season lid-lifter and a 17-7 loss vs. San Jose State at home last week.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Falcons, known for a furious rushing attack that is challenging to defend, are averaging 154.5 yards per game rushing in 2024, 62.5 yards passing and 217 yards per game of total offense. Defensively, AF averages 11.5 points per game,
264.5 yards per game, including 182.5 passing and 82 rushing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Owen Allen has rushed 20 times for 75 yards, while Cade Haris has three TDs on 13 carries and 61 yards. QB John Busha has thrown for 125 yards on 13-of-34 passing. Quin Smith has four grabs for 48 yards. Defensively, Grant Uyl has 13
tackles, including two for a loss. Payton Zdroik has two sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Falcons are led by head coach Troy Calhoun, who has directed Air Force since 2007 after a year as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans. He has made coaching stops as the OC at Wake Forest and Ohio, also working with QBs
at Ohio. He is the first Air Force Academy graduate to serve as the head coach and has led Air Force to five 10+ win seasons, including a 10-3 record om 2021 and 2022, an 11-2 mark in 2019, and 10-3 records in 2016 and 2014. Air Force has been to 13 bowls
under Calhoun. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Calhoun is assisted by Charlie Jackson, the assistant head coach and DB coach; Tim Horton, the special teams coordinator; Brian Knorr, the defensive coordinator; and Mike Thiessen, the offensive coordinator.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Nathan Pine is in his seventh year as the AD at Air Force, after previously serving as the AD at Holy Cross from 2013-18. Pine is active on the NCAA Baseball Committee and had previously served on the NCAA Rifle Committee and a pair of
roles in FCS football. He prepped as the Deputy AD at Maryland, also spending four years at the US Military Academy and five years at Oregon State, where he earned his undergraduate degree.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Pine is assisted by San Antonio native Jen Block, the Executive Director of Athletics, and she served as the AD at Air Force from April 2018 to Feb. 2019 and as interim executive director of athletics from Jan. 2019 until she retired
as an active duty colonel in April 2019. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>LAST MEETING<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Air Force won the last meeting 30-15, played in the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. The game kicked off at 13 degrees, with a negative-1 wind chill, marking it the coldest college football bowl game played in the history of the
sport. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Air Force got a strong game from QB Haaziq Daniels, who passed for 103 yards and rushed for 81 with a pair of TDs to lead the Falcons to a 10-3 season. AF scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter after jumping out to a 9-0 lead
with a pair of first-quarter drives. BU QB Blake Shapen was 11-for-23 for 188 yards and two scores and Baylor has held to 230 yards total offense.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SERIES HISTORY<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor will be meeting Air Force for the fourth time in its history and the first time since the 2022 Armed Force Bowl, a 30-15 AF win.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• It’s the first meeting in Waco since a 38-7 win in 1977 in Waco. The teams have played two contests in Waco and once in Colorado Springs, with the Bears winning all three meetings by a combined score of 79-17.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The series opened in 1961 with a 31-7 win over Air Force in Waco.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BAYLOR FALLS AT NO. 11/11 UTAH<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears fell for the first time on the year in a 23-12 loss at No. 11/11 Utah on Sept. 7 in Salt Lake City.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor got behind 23-0 in the first half as Utah used a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovery on the three yard line to take an early, nearly untestable lead. The Bears fought back however on the strength of
the Dave Aranda defense, outscoring Utah 12-0 over the remainder of the game and holding the Utes offensive attack to little success.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor couldn’t sustain offensive success against the stout Utah defense, but saw Dawson Pendergrass rush nine times for 69 yards and Josh Cameron haul in his first career TD pass with a 47-yard strike in the third quarter.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Defensively, Baylor’s elite inside linebacker group of Keaton Thomas and Matt Jones each had double-digit tackle efforts, with Thomas going for a career-high 12.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BAYLOR HONORS 1974 SWC CHAMPS <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor football will honor the 1974 Southwest Conference Championship team during halftime of the Sept. 14 matchup vs. Air Force at McLane Stadium.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears will welcome members of the 1974 ‘Miracle on the Brazos’ team for the clash with the Falcons at 6:30 p.m., with the game televised live on FS1 and presented by Premier ER + Urgent Care. The game will also serve as the Baylor
Family Weekend and Salute to Service contest. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• “Honoring this legendary group will be a wonderful opportunity for the Baylor Family,” Baylor Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades IV said. “The 50th anniversary of this historic team is a chance for us to celebrate
the monumental impact they had on our university and community. I look forward to connecting with these Baylor greats and listening to their many personal stories about a team who left an undeniable mark on the Baylor fan base for generations to come.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The Bears went 8-4 and 6-1 in league play to win the conference title, later advancing to the Cotton Bowl and finishing the season ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press poll. Led by Coach Grant Teaff in his third season, the Bears rallied
from a 24-7 halftime deficit for a thrilling 34-24 comeback victory over Texas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• In 1974, Baylor earned wins over No. 12 Oklahoma State, Florida State, No. 14 Arkansas, TCU, No. 12 Texas, No. 20 Texas Tech, SMU and Rice. Teaff was named AFCA Coach of the Year for a performance that saw the Bears go from winless in
SWC play in 1973 to league champions in 1974. Six players from the team earned All-Southwest Conference honors, including All-Americans Aubrey Schulz (offensive line) and Derrel Luce (linebacker).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BEST PUNTING GAME IN SCHOOL HISTORY<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• In the loss at No. 11/11 Utah on Sept. 7, Baylor sophomore Palmer Williams charted the best game in program history for a punter.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• A native of Advance, N.C., Williams punted six times, with each going over 50 yards, including two downed inside the 20-yard line and one bouncing off the goalline pilon. He reset his career high four times, including punts of 57, 60,
76 and 79 yards. His average of 62.7 yards per punt marked a new single-game best in Baylor history.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Williams became the first Bear with a 70+ yard punt since Drew Galitz did so on Sept. 16, 2017, and Williams now leads the nation with a 57.9-yard punt average for the season, more than seven yards better than the next ranked punter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BAYLOR TO DON NEW UNIFORMS VS. AIR FORCE<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor will wear its new Anthracite uniform for the matchup with Air Force and the fans are encouraged to wear black to McLane Stadium.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• The all-new Anthracite uniform option features unique elements, including homages to special past uniform combinations. The front of the jersey will feature “BAYLOR” across the chest and the numbers in Gold. On the sleeves of the jersey,
there will be a bear claw print, a nod towards the 2013-14 Big 12 Championship teams. The pants will feature a subtle stripe, a break from the sharp green/white/gold stripes in the core uniform pants. The front bumper of the helmet will also feature a Bear
head on the Anthracite uniform. The Green, Gold and White will serve as Baylor’s core uniform base, with the alternate combination designed to be a supplemental option.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>UP NEXT<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">• Baylor will hit the road to open Big 12 play at conference newcomer Colorado on Sept. 21 in Boulder, Colo. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised live on FOX.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>- BaylorBears.com -<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623;mso-ligatures:none">Brent Ingram</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">|
Associate AD for Communications</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Men’s Tennis Sport Program Administrator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">C: 210-845-8651</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DB02B9.F2370920" alt="signature_1049805336"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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