Editor’s Note: For now over 75 years, The Baylor Line has been publishing vivid storytelling from across the Baylor Family. I don’t think our archives full of deep, inspirational features should live solely on shelves, so we are bringing them back to life in BL Classics. This February 1979 Classic highlights the worm-eating stunt that led to the 38-14 win over Texas.
Report on research into implications of simulated worm wanning by Baylor University coach employed as psychological stimulant prior to football contest with the University of Texas, in November, 1978:
IMPACT OF INCIDENT — Our survey shows that although Coach Grant Teaff has recently guided the Baylor football team to its first Southwest Conference championship in living memory and has subsequently authored a book relative to the said phenomenon, the incident concerning the warming of the celebrated worm (although deceased) has increased his recognition factor throughout the state by 21.3 percent.
However, it must be noted that among the state’s Anglo-Saxon minority (principally in the woods of East Texas) his name is still pronounced “Teef.” Try as we have, we have not as yet come up with a feasible solution to that problem.
Aside from that, however, we do recommend that you have Mr. Teaff wormed immediately by some competent and discreet physician since any intestinal problem which might now develop (whether related to the incident or not) would be counterproductive to any subsequent publicity or urge to repeat the worm-warming effect.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS — It is recommended that additional liability insurance be secured for Coach Teaff and the University in the event that other desperate athletic mentors who might try to emulate his technique encounter some of the possible negative aspects of oral worm- warming and consequently decide to file suit.
SECURITY — Our operatives have learned that already certain supporters of the Texas A&M University football team are applying pressure on the institution’s vast agricultural research facilities to develop a worm superior for this purpose (tasteless, etc.) to the worm immortalized by the Baylor coach. A federal grant has been applied for and is expected to receive favorable attention.
On the encouraging side, however, is information that leads us to believe that some members of the A&M coaching staff are less than enthusiastic about the project, a number of them not themselves A&M graduates. The point is, however, that we feel that the less disclosed about the genetics and gender of the Baylor worm the better.
SCHOOL IMAGE — Our survey has indicated that while Baylor alumni and fans are delighted with the consequences of the worm incident, only a small percentage have expressed approval of the suggestion that the use of the bear as the school’s mascot be phased out and that the worm be allowed to take its place.
It should be noted here that a few of the more conservative alumni (some heavy contributors among them) have said that before the idea is completely abandoned, a study should be made of the relative economics of maintaining the Bear Pit versus a prospective “Worm Box.” Various reasons were given for objecting to the mascot change, but as one alumnus summed it up, “I don’t think you can get people to go out there Saturday after Saturday and yell ‘Yea, Sic ’em Worms!’ ”
POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION— It was conceded by a large number of those polled that a new emblem showing a determined bear pulling a happily warmed worm from his mouth might be just the thing to carry the idea into next season, and that it might indeed become a school tradition if given the test of time.
Certain commercial aspects are obvious; but in addition to the sale of Bear-Worm decals, bumper stickers, T- shirts, etc., we believe that this situation is a natural for the marketing of an in-stadium confection item.
Small decorative bait buckets of green and gold worms (made of candy, ground com, or any such junk food materials) could be sold to Baylor students and fans at sports events and the consumption of these would not only aid in reinforcing the coach’s locker room efforts but would bring in some extra revenues. In fact, the symbolic raising of the hand in emulation of a bear’s paw could be replaced by the concerted act of dropping one of these worm confections into the mouth on cue, of course, from the cheerleaders.
CONCLUSIONS — There is no doubt that the daring and imaginative act performed by the courageous Baylor Coach not only precipitated astounding results on the playing field immediately following its accomplishment, but that there will likely be many and varied reactions and repercussions in the days and years to come.
As a public relations firm, we are not prepared to delve further into the aspects of its psychological meanings and do, therefore, recommend that you engage a reputable team of psychologists to thoroughly explore the phenomenon.
Such qualified experts might conclude, for example, that if by putting a worm in his mouth a coach can motivate his team to such a spectacular upset victory, he might by dropping a rattlesnake in his pants go for a national championship.
The story that started it all …
In case you haven’t heard, it all started the week before the BU-Texas game. On Friday Coach Teaff told this story to his players:
“It seems there were two Eskimos in the frozen northland who went out every day fishing. They were fishing through holes about ten feet apart on a frozen lake. They were using the same type pole, same type line, same size hook, same size hole in the ice, same bait. But one kept catching fish and the other caught nothing.
“Finally the one who had no fish went to the other one and said, ‘Why do you get all the fish when everything is the same?’ The other guy mumbles something which the first guy can’t understand. He asks the question again and the same thing happens. Finally on the third time the guy getting all the fish opens his mouth, takes out a worm, and tells him: ‘You gotta keep the worms warm.’ ’’
Teaff’s pre-game talk on Saturday emphasized doing whatever extra it took to win over the Longhorns. He recalls, “Then I said, ‘Okay, you’re well prepared, there’s not a thing the coaches can do for you now, it’s your ball game. Now all I can do is go out there on the sidelines and keep the worm warm for you.’”
Then he did it. He dropped a dead earthworm (previously scrubbed) into his mouth.
The players went wild. They laughed. They relaxed. They charged onto the field and whipped Texas 38-14.
