Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Baylor’s 1974 SWC champs

When the 1974 college football season began, the Bears were a popular choice to finish last in the Southwest Conference. But 40 years (and one miracle) later, the 1974 team has anchored its place among the best in Baylor history.

In just the third year of head coach Grant Teaff’s 21-year tenure at Baylor, the Bears won eight games (matching the program’s high over the previous two decades), and three of their four losses came to top-10 teams. A 6-1 conference record earned the Bears the 1974 SWC crown, Baylor’s first undisputed title in 50 years, and Teaff was named national coach of the year. As Southwest Conference champs, the Bears earned a trip to the Cotton Bowl at the end of the season — the first of eight bowl games under Teaff.

[RELIVE the season with this feature by Dave Campbell from a 2004 issue of Baylor Magazine.]

The season also included one of the Baylor football’s signature moments. The Bears went into halftime trailing 12th-ranked Texas 24-7, but scored 27 unanswered points to win by 10 in what became known as “the Miracle on the Brazos.” Baylor left the scoreboard on all night to celebrate, and many fans (including President Herbert Reynolds) spent the night on the field.

The 1974 squad will be recognized at #BaylorHomecoming this weekend as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of that legendary season. Watch for members of the team in the parade and during the Homecoming game versus Kansas.

Sic ’em, 1974 Bears!

[In conjunction with the 1974 team’s celebration this weekend, the Grant Teaff statue — located on the “I Believe” Walkway, between the Umphrey Law Center and Mayborn Museum Complex — will be rededicated in a short public ceremony Saturday starting at 11 a.m.]