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It's August. That means football. That means the NFL preseason. That means it's time to fire up your grills and pack the kids into the car for a trip to Waco, where McLane Stadium will be hosting its first game in just over 30 days. It's almost here.
It's going to be the longest month ever.
Stadium News
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>VIDEO: Get an inside like at <a href="https://twitter.com/McLaneStadium">@McLaneStadium</a> Recruiting Room in latest IBS update. <a href="http://t.co/gYonaMSnCp">http://t.co/gYonaMSnCp</a></p>— BaylorSESP (@BaylorSESP) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaylorSESP/statuses/494953261204377600">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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That's a pretty cushy way to watch a game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Baylor banners going up along University Parks walkway to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/McLaneStadium?src=hash">#McLaneStadium</a>. <a href="http://t.co/AviA0eSE7g">pic.twitter.com/AviA0eSE7g</a></p>— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/BUFootball/statuses/494917797990764545">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I hope they change out banners all across campus. Uniformity is fun.
Preseason Polls
The USA Today Coaches Poll came out yesterday, and Baylor is a preseason top 10 team. It's the first time the Bears have been ranked in a major preseason poll since 1991. As Art Briles said at Big 12 Media Days, this makes a huge difference because a preseason contender could be in the top two after eight wins. A preseason nobody would be cracking the upper teens. Several other polls were released as well, and Baylor compiled all of them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Baylor in preseason polls: 7th SN 8th PSteele 9th ESPNcom 10th Coaches/Amway 10th SI 10th Athlon 10th Lindys 10th NFLcom 11th CBS 12th USAT</p>— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/BUFootball/statuses/494911353065197568">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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As always, the poll was not without controversy.
- Oklahoma State and Missouri received votes but were left out of the top 25.
- UCLA is the only top 10 team with more than 2 losses last season.
- Florida received more votes than Central Florida; both are unranked.
- Texas made the cut, despite a coaching change, a quarterback controversy, and a litany of dismissals.
- LSU and Wisconsin are next to each other. The two power run teams open against each other in Houston.
- Alabama rises above questions raised by the Sugar Bowl and AJ McCarron's departure to a no. 2 spot.
- Baylor is the top school from Texas, beating out A&M and UT. Tech and TCU received votes.
- Biggest enigma? LSU. Replacing a ton of players, including an entire offensive skill section lost to the draft, but Les Miles is a chaos machine in the SEC West who loves to play freshmen, and he's got some whoppers this year.
Brace for Feelings
The Baylor community loves love. So much so that many outside observers see our fair school as a wedding factory as much as a prestigious university. Last night, something happened at a Round Rock Express game that should melt everyone's heart.
I'd been hearing that Bryce Petty was going to throw out the first pitch at last night's Round Rock Express game for a few days, but I didn't post it here because I figured the crossover between Baylor fans and Round Rock fans was pretty miniscule. Turns out, the night was pretty important.
Petty threw the first pitch to WR and former baseball player Clay Fuller, who promptly turned around and proposed to Makenzie Robertson, basketball star and daughter of Kim Mulkey.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I just got to see Clay Fuller get engaged about 30 yds in front of me. How's your night going?</p>— Brad Brown (@zoocat) <a href="https://twitter.com/zoocat/statuses/494995546277306368">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Video of Clay Fuller proposing to Makenzie Robertson at RR Express game (via Jordin Westbrook IG): <a href="http://t.co/Hq8M2ztMXt">http://t.co/Hq8M2ztMXt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SicEm?src=hash">#SicEm</a></p>— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/BUFootball/statuses/495036101875081216">August 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Many congratulations to Clay and Makenzie. Our Daily Bears and Baylor Nation wish you a happy marriage and unending success in the coming years. Make sure not to schedule the wedding over the national championship game.
There are going to be some extremely athletic family reunions.
Megan Ritzi Update
Yesterday I posted a link to a medical expenses fund for Megan Ritzi, an incoming Baylor freshman who was severely injured in Monday's car wreck. When I published yesterday's report, just over $2,500 had been raised. As I'm writing this at five in the morning, $10,000 have been donated by more than 200 individuals. Seeing the Baylor community come together so quickly to help one of its own is just one of many things that make our school of choice so special.
I have no idea if a podcast was recorded last night. Was a podcast recorded last night, Peter?
The Daily Bear
30 days. #SicThePonies