Baylor Welcomes BYU To Big 12 Conference During Homecoming Parade
Oct 16, 2021, 9:27 AM
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe is participating in the Big 12 Spring Meetings in Irving, Texas. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
WACO, Texas – Homecoming is a big deal at Baylor University. Baylor hosts the largest homecoming parade in the nation and they are the school that created the concept of homecoming back in 1909. So safe to say, homecoming is a big deal for the Bears.
During their annual homecoming parade on Saturday, October 16, Baylor recognized BYU and welcomed them to the Big 12 Conference. BYU is set to take on Baylor in football for the first time since 1984 later today (1:30 p.m., ESPN & KSL NewsRadio).
The Cougars will join the Big 12 Conference beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year.
A warm welcome to @BYU in today’s parade! We’re so excited to have y’all become part of the Big 12 in 2023!!! #BaylorHomecoming 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eJqqqsl4dh
— Baylor University (@Baylor) October 16, 2021
Brigham Young University President Kevin J. Worthen and athletic director Tom Holmoe sat in the back of a truck waving to Baylor faithful. A sign in front of their vehicle read, “Baylor Welcomes BYU To The Big 12.”
“The BYU mission statement indicates that BYU is a place where ‘a commitment to excellence is expected.’ We strive to meet that requirement in all we do, including our core academic enterprise,” said President Worthen when BYU accepted an invite to the Big 12 on September 10. “Membership in the Big 12 gives us the opportunity to reinforce that commitment for student-athletes, allowing them to compete at the highest level both on and off the field.”
Catch @Mitch_Harper’s interview with Big 12 Commissioner @BobBowlsby during extended radio pregame of #BYU vs. Baylor at 10 a.m. on @kslnewsradio.#BYUFootball #GoCougs #Big12 pic.twitter.com/MjM7z4IomJ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 15, 2021
BYU and Baylor are both faith-based institutions. When BYU joins the conference, there will be three faith institutions, with the other being TCU.
Baylor is the world’s largest Baptist university and BYU is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both schools have publicly expressed a mission to their Christian values.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
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