DALLAS – Dallas Baptist University has cast its line to fish in 2011-12 with the addition of the DBU Patriot Bass Fishing Team, which will compete in Mercury College B.A.S.S. and other circuits.
In its press release, DBU noted that bass fishing is the fastest growing collegiate sport in the country, with more than 150 universities and colleges competing to represent their school in a national collegiate fishing championship.
Dallas Baptist University has formalized contractual national sponsorships with Legend Boats and Mercury Marine as the official boat and the official engine partners of DBU. Dallas Baptist has acquired dedicated tow vehicles and boat trailers, which will be professionally wrapped to promote all of our sponsorship partners.
DBU’s Patriot Bass Fishing Team will embark on its first season of tournament fishing this year in Mercury College B.A.S.S., FLW National Guard College Fishing Circuit and Association of Collegiate Anglers Boat U.S. Circuit.
Former professional angler and Dallas resident Scott Darragh will serve as program advisor, giving direction and instruction to student anglers. Darragh was the 2003 co-angler champion at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and has numerous top-10 finishes on B.A.S.S., FLW, and other professional fishing circuits.
“After having fished on the professional circuits for more than 20 years and fishing with some of the greatest anglers in the world, I am honored for the opportunity to share my knowledge with the anglers of the DBU Patriot Bass Fishing Team,” Darragh said.
The Patriot anglers plan to fish between six to 10 events this season and will face competition from all over the state of Texas and the region.
DBU will engage in recruiting student-anglers from across the country to the program and will have these scholarships available to those who qualify.
Dallas Baptist University is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with a current enrollment of approximately 5,500 students. As a Christ-centered institution, every class and every discipline taught at DBU provides a unique opportunity to explore knowledge within a biblical framework. This approach gives students the freedom to explore a variety of philosophies and compare them to Christian beliefs and allows academic inquiry to flourish.
DBU is recognized nationally in athletics and competes at the NCAA Division I level in baseball and NCAA Division II in men’s basketball, cross country, track and field, women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, men and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis.
Patriot Baseball, as a Division I Independent, won the 2011 Fort Worth Regional Championship, advancing to the 2011 Super Regional Championship against the University of California. Division II sports compete as an affiliate member of the Heartland Conference.
Along with bass fishing, DBU sponsors competitive intercollegiate club sports in: swimming, hockey, cheerleading, and drill/dance. DBU Patriot Athletics is also an affiliate member of the National Christian Collegiate Association of America (NCCAA) and competes in their national championships each year.
The program has financial and administrative support from University President Dr. Gary Cook, Executive Vice President Dr. Blair Blackburn, as well as other athletic administrative and faculty representatives.
“This level of commitment from the University underscores our vision for the initial success of the program, as well as our strategic plan for continued growth and development to ensure championship success,” Blackburn said
For more information about Patriot Bass Fishing Team or sponsorship opportunities, please contact DBU’s Assistant Director of Athletics, Connor Smith, at connors@dbu.edu or by phone at 214.333.5324.
