Blaine Baker
Arguably Fall ‘93’s most undistinguished pledge member, Brother Blaine Baker has a unique history with nicknames. Beyond such aliases as Shake N Bake, Senator Baker, Pootie Bake, Shoulders, Nostrildamus and Precious (abbreviated: “Presh”), just to name a few, the nickname Lawn Dart will forever live in Sigma Chi Folklore.
Authored by an eventual award winning Derby Daddy, Brother Blue Baggott, the Legend of Lawn Dart began on a cool Fall ‘93 morning in the heart of Lubbock Texas on the Texas Tech intramural fields.
The flag football playoffs had just begun and the lowest seeded Sigma Chi B-Team, who just snuck into the playoffs, faced the highest seeded and undefeated Phi Delt A-team. The Sigma Chi B-team was entirely made up of Fall ‘93 pledges and 5th year junior, Aaron Payne. The Phi Delt A-team featured some upper class athletes including former varsity Tech players of various sports and even upset our defending champion Sigma Chi A-Team during the regular season.
The crowd that morning was unusually large for a first round playoff game. As many readers of the time are aware, the Sigma Chi / Phi Delt rivalry was at peak volume. There were a record number of Sorority representatives due to the nature of the two top fraternities facing off. Furthermore, many other fraternities happened to be there to scout the Phi Delt A-Team.
The contest began as everyone expected by an early 1st quarter Phi Delt score on deep fly pattern. Our B-team held them to 3rd and long, but safety, Blaine Baker, took a very poor angle which allowed the score. In response, the Sigma Chi B-Team went 3 and out. Shortly after a gainful punt return, the Phi Delt’s went back to the former touchdown play. But this time, Baker intercepted the pass, falling out of bounds.
Just before returning on offense, Baker turned to Flag Football Team Captain and A-Team Quarterback, Todd Murphy, for some guidance and asked, “What do you think?” Brother Murphy, as A Man of Good Character, also served on Baker’s Fall ‘93 Pledge Staff. A motivated Murphy looked at Baker, A Student of Fair Ability, for a moment and then passionately responded, “Who are you and when did you become one of our pledges?”
The game leveled at 7-0 for most of the 2nd quarter and looked to be headed into halftime. But with seconds to go, B-Team starting quarterback and the Pride of Conroe, Texas, Greg Wetter, With Ambitious Purposes and A Congenial Disposition, replaced himself with his own Pledge Brother. Wetter knew what the Phi Delts didn’t - that our Pledge Brother, Kevin Romero, was not only Possessed of Good Morals but also possessed the State of New Mexico’s strongest arm.
Romero called the play in the huddle, “Baker - run a deep post and I’ll hit you in the endzone.” From our own 42 yard line, Romero dropped back from the shotgun and launched a ball that would’ve hit a satellite if there were more satellites back then. Baker remembers looking up at the ball at its highest point in the air and thinking there’s no possible way he would ever catch that ball. But Having a High Sense of Honor and A Deep Sense of Personal Responsibility, Baker didn’t give up on the route. Approaching the goal line with two draping Phi Delt defenders, Baker took a last fatal dive arching through the air, head below his feet and with outstretched arms forever received the ball in his finger tips to secure the tying touchdown to go into halftime.
Above a roaring sideline, Brother Baggott was enthusiastically heard by all when he proclaimed, “He looked like a Lawn Dart!” Witnesses state that as Baggott was making his observation, they noted that Baker’s torso happened to also remarkably resemble an upside down yield sign complemented with a tiny head.
And so the nickname stuck…but perhaps not as deep as what was felt by the Phi Delt A Team that day who eventually suffered an overtime defeat from the Fall ‘93 Sigma Chi Pledge Class B-Team… and Aaron Payne, respectfully.
And for what it’s worth, the Sigma Chi A-Team went on to win the whole thing!…again.