BU grad has attended every Baylor-Texas football game since 1953

1953 was the year that TV Guide debuted, the first confirmed climbers reached the top of Mount Everest, Watson and Crick determined the structure of DNA — and Walter Counts (BBA ’57) attended his first Baylor vs. Texas football game.

Counts hasn’t missed once since.

This weekend, Counts will attend his 69th consecutive BU-UT football game, across both Waco and Austin, extending a streak that dates back to his freshman year at Baylor. In 1953, Counts was a member of the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band as No. 3-ranked Baylor and No. 19 Texas squared off. The Longhorns won 21-20 in Austin to hand the Bears their first loss of the season; adding insult to injury, Counts remembers the UT cheerleaders leading a “poor Baylor” cheer. That moment started a lifetime rivalry for Counts that has continued to this day.

“I love to beat Texas; losing to them is agony,” he says. “Winning is just a relief.”

A season ticket-holder for 50 years, Counts has attended games with countless different people. He says his wife, Nancy (BA ’60), has attended 75% of games; his son and daughter — both Baylor grads — have also been a part of the tradition.

There are a few games that stand out to Counts. His senior year, Baylor beat UT 10-7 and went on to win the Sugar Bowl. In 1974, Baylor beat Texas for the first time in Waco; at the half, Baylor was down 24-7, but came back to win it 34-24 in what is remembered today as “the Miracle on the Brazos.” In 1989, Baylor won 50-7 — a fun game to be at, Counts says (though “It was honestly disappointing we let them score at all.”).

The closest Counts came to missing the annual Baylor/UT game was in 1963. Living in Corpus Christi, Nancy was eight months pregnant, but Counts decided it was safe to head to Austin. Facing No. 1-ranked Texas, Baylor had a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but an interception sealed the final 7-0 score.

The Counts’ Baylor legacy actually began with Walter’s dad, Paul (who played football at Baylor), and has continued down the years beyond them — first with their kids Emily (BBA ’86) and Andy (BS ’88), and then with two grandchildren (Allison Holman, BS ’14, and Collin Napper, a current Baylor student).

This weekend, you’ll find Walter, Nancy, Emily and Andy together at McLane — taking in yet another Baylor-Texas game!

Sic ’em, Walter!