It wasn’t long after West Virginia University had knocked Baylor from the ranks of college football unbeaten when Bridgeport Conference Center General Manager Scott Duarte found himself with Baylor University’s Director of Football Operations and Assistant Athletic Director Colin Shillinglaw. Duarte wasn’t with Shillinglaw to pour salts into BU’s recently opened wound.

 

Duarte’s motives were much nobler than that. In fact, Duarte was bidding farewell to Shillinglaw and the rest of the Baylor team as they departed the North Central West Virginia Airport to head back to Waco, Texas.

 

“We wanted to see them off and I wanted to thank (Shillinglaw) for the opportunity. He turned and looked at me and said ‘we’ll see you in two years.’ That’s exactly what we wanted to hear and made everything worth it,” said Duarte.

 

While the significance of the departure, the opportunity and Shillinglaw’s statement may not be entirely clear at the moment, it was immediately clear to Duarte. On Oct. 17 and through the early morning of Oct. 18, The Conference Center and the Wingate Inn were officially turned over to Baylor University’s football program as pre-game headquarters.

 

Duarte working with Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Chairman Drew Pomeroy had worked relentlessly to convince Baylor – and also Texas Christian University – to fly into Bridgeport instead of Pittsburgh and stay in Bridgeport as opposed to a pit stop in a place such as Washington, Pa.

 

The lure was being able to land at the NCWV Airport, unload quickly and be at the pre-game headquarters 30 minutes away from Morgantown in well under an hour. And once at the Conference Center and hotel, be able to meet all the nutritional, lodging and team meeting needs of a Division I program.

 

Baylor and TCU took the bait. As it turns out, Bridgeport was able to reel in a prize-winning catch that could lead to others after delivering on every promise made; starting with the flight landing at the airport.

 

“When they were taxiing down the runway it was about 10 minutes after 4 (p.m.) and when the buses were departing it was right around 4:30. You’re looking at 20 minutes at a maximum and I’m sure it was quicker than that; probably 15 minutes tops from touchdown to being on the buses” said NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock, who heaped praise on his staff for exceptional effort. “There’s no way that can happen in Pittsburgh. We moved them in and out without much small talk and we handed them off to Scott and Drew to get them to their hotel. Minutes after leaving here, they’re at their hotel. I don’t think there’s any other airport and lodging facility that could do what we were able to do.”

 

Once at the Conference Center, the ball was officially in Duarte’s court. And he believes his staff delivered.

 

“It went smoothly. From the dinner, all the meals and the meeting and presentations and all the specials needs, there just weren’t problems,” said Duarte. “In fairness to them, it certainly helped that they were hospitable young men. Coach (Art) Briles was extremely polite and courteous and it was a top down thing with everyone from Baylor. There were a whole lot of ‘please, thank you, and yes sir’ from the players. Even with that, it was certainly unique seeing those huge young men in the facility.”

 

And that may have caught some people traveling by on State Route 279 off guard if they didn’t know what was going on the Friday evening before the game. Duarte said the team was busy prepping outside.

 

“The offense was outside running plays in our parking lot and the defense was on the side lawn facing (279) practicing. I imagine that was a spectacle for anyone that saw it,” said Duarte with a laugh.

 

Duarte said it was likely one of the largest – if not the largest – amounts of food the BCC has ever put out. And he said the players particularly liked the carb station.

 

“They ate well,” said Duarte. “Their nutritionist did a great job of selecting a wide variety of food to help balance out their meals to get them ready for the game.”

 

Another bonus, Duarte said, was from the Bridgeport and Harrison County community. There were absolutely no outside distractions, Duarte said.

 

“They were left alone and had the whole hotel. They had the privacy they needed and that reflects great on the entire community,” said Duarte.

 

For Pomeroy, he was able to view things at the airport and at the lodging area. He said he was pleased with what he saw and also what he heard.

 

“First of all let me say that I was the least important cog in this process, but was fortunate enough to be behind the curtain at the Airport, Conference Center, and Wingate.  From my up close view each group did an exceptional job,” said Duarte. “I did get a call from one of the members of the travel party on Saturday that couldn't thank Bridgeport Hospitality Team enough.  So all in all I think that it was a tremendous success. “

 

This coming weekend, Bridgeport will play host to TCU. Duarte said he thinks things will possibly go even better in round two.

 

“I guess you could say Baylor was the practice round,” said Duarte. “The Baylor experience helps us have a better understanding of a team and travel party of that size and what their expectations are. We’ll do what we do after all of our major events and internally review our performance and look to where we can make adjustments to make the experience for our guests better.”

 

Duarte said earlier this week that his staff is already working with TCU. That prep work will intensify prior to the game as the traveling party gets ready to depart.

 

“We want to make sure that they go back and want to come back here. Eventually, we want Baylor and TCU to tell the other schools in the Big 12 that Bridgeport is where they should be and we’ll do everything we can to facilitate it,” said Duarte. “From our own staff to the CVB and the airport and even law enforcement, we’re going to make sure what needs to be done is done.”

 

Duarte said multiple law enforcement agencies helped out as well. Transportation from the airport, to the Conference Center all the way to Morgantown and back on game day was also involved.

 

“They were glad to help; all of them. (Bridgeport Police) Chief (John) Walker was eager to help as were the others,” said Duarte. “Hopefully, this teamwork will provide the economic impact for our area for years to come.”

 

Editor's Note: Top and bottom photos of Baylor players at one of the many meal stations courtesy of the Bridgeport Conference Center - photos taken by Seth Dendy; middle photo of Baylor players departing their charter flight courtesy of Drew Pomeroy.