Traditions Rally Launches Football Season and Supports Hurricane Harvey Relief

The annual tradition of passing the Baylor Spirit to the newest members of the Baylor Family took on a spirit of service as this year’s Baylor Traditions Rally also supported the collection of supplies in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. A full slate of Traditions Rally events began with a parachute team who landed in the center of Fountain Mall, a student tailgate event, community-wide pep rally featuring President Linda Livingstone, Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades and Head Football Coach Matt Rhule, and ended with a concert from Judah and the Lion and fireworks.

Just days before Traditions Rally, Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas and Louisiana coasts. Almost 4,000 current Baylor students call the cities and towns impacted their home. The Baylor community rallied to provide support for these students and their communities in a variety of ways.

• University administrators reached out to offer support to every student from the areas affected by the storm, informing them how Baylor will academically support those whose families were impacted by the hurricane.
• The Baylor family responded to a call for supplies during Traditions Rally and the opening football weekend and donated enough supplies to fill three storage PODS for distribution to communities in need.
• Baylor’s football team helped set up Waco’s relief shelters (then on stand-by) for displaced families, and Baylor’s baseball team loaded 18-wheelers with supplies headed to the Houston area.
• On Sept. 1, Baylor provided McLane Stadium as the site for the displaced game between Sam Houston State and University of Richmond, and on Sept. 2, Baylor provided free tickets and a meal to displaced families who wanted to attend the Baylor football season opener.
• The Baylor football equipment truck was one of several from universities and colleges answering a call by the University of Houston to help deliver supplies.
• Baylor Law School students, working with Lone Star Legal Aid, held a fundraiser and donation drive Sept. 11 at the Umphrey Law Center.
• Baylor Missions began planning trips to support relief efforts during Fall and Spring Break. Teams will be partnering with various community groups and relief efforts who are already mobilizing, identifying needs and sharing hope as they help communities rebuild.

For more information about Baylor’s support for Hurricane relief, visit baylor.edu/response.