Aside from the incredible sustained run of on-field success, the impact The OG has had on Rice athletics in general and the university as a whole is immeasurable. From the OE "R" branding to increased awareness of Rice nationwide, and from strengthened alumni connection to the University to an inflow of donations (and not just baseball related), we all owe Wayne our thanks and gratitude. As has been often pointed out, if not for Wayne and our national championship, Rice would no longer be in D-1. (Before the McKinsey study was commissioned, the university was actively considering doing away with football, and McKinsey concluded that could not happen while retaining our D-1 baseball program.) The national championship resulted in an increase in applications and a significant uptick in gifts to the University. The building of Reckling Park ushered in an era of athletic facilities upgrades.

There are only a single handful of college baseball coaches in history who have not only built their program from scratch, but sustained a consistent level of excellent for over two decades. Augie did it at Cal State-Fullerton, but he didn't have to deal with the academic requirements and private school tuition challenges that Wayne had to deal with. What he did at Rice was the model that has been followed by the likes of Vanderbilt, Virginia, UNC and most recently, Duke.

Thanks, Coach, for giving us one hell of a ride, and two decades worth of favorite memories. Here's wishing you and Tanya all the best going forward. I only hope that over time the bitterness of how all this was handled will fade away, and only the good memories of your Rice experience and all that you achieved will remain.