Fans are invited to follow on-line the construction of Baylor's $34 million Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center. Ground was broken May 10 on the future on-campus home of Baylor football and construction on site has started with an expected move-in date of fall 2008.

The on-campus practice facility means that, for the first time in the modern era, Baylor will have its football operations located on its campus. (Games will continue to be played at Floyd Casey Stadium.) Additionally, by uniting the practice fields with athletics administration, training and academic facilities in one central location, Baylor's current and future student-athletes will benefit both in their sports and in their studies.

The Highers Athletics Complex will feature three football practice fields, two with a natural surface and the other with artificial turf, preparing Baylor football athletes for all competitive environments. The 96,300-square-foot Simpson Athletics and Academic Center will bring to campus functions previously housed at Floyd Casey Stadium, such as the main athletics training room, equipment room, football team locker room and weight room, as well as administrative offices, the football office, meeting rooms and an academic center for all student-athletes.

The lead gift for the project - the largest single gift in Baylor's history - is from the estate of Alwin O. Highers Jr. of Alexandria, La. A 1939 Baylor business graduate and well-known owner of the Dr Pepper Bottling Co. in Alexandria, Highers was a dedicated supporter of Baylor athletics, in particular its football program, until his death in 2003. Highers is survived by his wife, Dorothy.

Support from Bob Simpson made possible the ambitious expanded plan for the new facility. Simpson earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and finance magna cum laude from Baylor in 1970, followed by his MBA in 1971. He is a co-founder, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of XTO Energy Inc. of Fort Worth. He is married to Janice Simpson and has seven children.

The new facility advances the Victory with Integrity Campaign, an athletic development program initiated in February 2005, and promotes the seventh and 10th imperatives of Baylor 2012, the university's 10-year vision: providing outstanding academic facilities and building a winning tradition in Baylor athletics.

The Victory with Integrity Campaign mission is to "Build with integrity a winning athletic tradition in all sports". With your vision and generous financial support we can achieve our goal to attain Top 25 yearly rankings in the Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings and remain the premier academic institution in the Big 12 as the leader in graduation success rates, team gpa and Academic All Conference recipients. Help us recruit and retain the best and brightest students-athletes to Baylor University. Consider honoring your family, a classmate, a friend, a parent, a coach. Naming opportunities range from $5k - $1M.

Make an Impact today! Please contact one of the following individuals regarding your support:
Rick Darnell: 254 710 8746
Doug Smith: 254 710 3650