Baylor University 1974 Southwest Conference Champions Metal Tray “Miracle on the Brazos”

THE SOUTH. 
Colleges & Universities, Bar Tray, Barware, 1974. 

The Baylor Bears are not exactly recognized as a college football powerhouse. But the deep history of the program, its stature as an original member of the one-time powerful Southwest Conference (1915 to the conference’s dissolving in 1996), and the program’s occasional successes are a source of central Texas / Waco pride to this day. The Baylor University Bears can lay claim to five SWC titles outright, including 1974, with two contested titles also in the mix: 1915—their title revoked due to the “use of an ineligible player”—and 1994, when that year’s regular season SWC champion, Texas A&M, was banned from the postseason after violating NCAA rules. But back to 1974 and what has gone down in Bears lore as the “Miracle on the Brazos” (The Brazos River flowing through Waco on its way to the Gulf). Coming off a string of disappointing seasons, including a humiliating run of 16 straight losses to the University of Texas-Austin (perennial SWC and national power of the era), it looked as if the pattern would repeat itself in 1974. Down big in that year’s meeting with Texas, Baylor began the second-half with a blocked punt that ignited the deflated Bears and led to an offensive onslaught. Baylor would score 27 points in that second half on their way to beating Texas 34-24, go on to win the Southwest Conference title, and play in the storied Cotton Bowl for the first time (the SWC champion always hosting the New Year’s Day contest back then). Coach Grant Teaff secured a spot in Baylor Bear sports lore winning national coach of the year, and would direct Baylor to another SWC title in 1980, as well as 8 bowl game appearances in his 20-year tenure … Though this fun unique silver metal tray has not exactly been treated with kid gloves (some scratches, slightly bent on its bottom ridge, and clearly nailed to a wall at one point), it is still a fitting honor to the ‘74 Bears “Miracle on the Brazos.” One final great feature: the tray is signed on its back by 1941 Baylor Bear, Bill Shaw. 

Condition: Used Good. 
Sports Related. 
Dimensions: 14" diameter x 1" deep / 1.1 lb