In recent years, Baylor has hosted groups from nearby Fort Hood — the nation’s largest military installation — at football and basketball games. Men’s basketball coach Scott Drew took the growing relationship a step further last weekend, leading his team through a weekend on the military base, complete with hand-to-hand combat training and sharpshooting exercises.
“We wanted to come down here and do something as a team, but more importantly, we wanted to come down and say thank you to the soldiers and all they do for us,” said Drew.
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The weekend brought the team closer together, as expected, but it also gave them a better understanding of what our soldiers go through — not only in the field of battle, but being away from home, family and all that’s familiar.
The Bears spent much of the weekend simulating military training, from marching to marksmanship. They also spent time with soldiers stationed at Fort Hood, coaching four teams of soldiers in a basketball tournament and participating with them in 3-point and dunk competitions. The Bears even attended a “Welcome Home” ceremony Sunday as a company returned from Afghanistan.
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“Our whole staff had tears in our eyes,” Drew told the Trib. “The whole welcome home ceremony was moving with about 200 soldiers coming back. When you see college kids get tears in their eyes, you know it’s something big.”
Sic ’em, Baylor basketball and Fort Hood soldiers!
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