Texas A&M University, College Station –
Bill Byrne, Athletics Director
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, one of the largest and costliest natural disasters in the nation’s history, Bill Byrne and Texas A&M University opened their doors did everything possible to help displaced student-athletes from Tulane University in New Orleans. “Together in Aggieland” was the theme as Texas A&M hosted more than 80 student-athletes on six Tulane sports teams – women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s basketball, and men’s and women’s tennis – along with their administrators and members of their strength and training staffs. “We tried to make them feel like Aggies,” Bill told USA Today last October. Bill and the Aggies truly made the athletes feel at home. Texas A&M’s old football locker room was turned over for the Green Wave’s use. Tulane also had access to the Aggies’ academic centers and trainers. The schedules for Tulane sports teams were displayed on the scoreboard at football games and the Texas A&M band learned the Tulane fight song, playing it at a Green Wave contest. In late November, the Aggies and Green Wave played a basketball game at Reed Arena on the Texas A&M campus – with Tulane as the home team – and all proceeds were given to the Tulane athletic department. Texas A&M bills itself as “A Unique American Institution.” It was never more evident than last fall in College Station.