University of Texas Arlington Athletics

Entering UT Arlington as a four-sport letterwinner from nearby Forney High School, the UTA coaches had high expectations for Ernest Baptist, and the 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback more than lived up to those aspirations as one of the most decorated players in program history.
 
A three-time First Team Southland Conference selection – one of only six players in UTA football history to achieve such an honor – Baptist was also named to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's All-Texas College Team each of those same seasons in 1970, '71 and '72.
 
Baptist secured 16 career interceptions, placing him atop the all-time program list alongside Jim Marcum. His own teammates voted Baptist the squad's Defensive Player of the Year twice in 1970 and 1972, and following his senior campaign he also garnered the Ex-Letterman's Award, given annually to a senior who made outstanding contributions to the program.
 
Those contributions started immediately during his first year on campus in 1969 as Baptist cracked the starting lineup midseason, bumping a veteran senior from his cornerback position. Baptist went on to start the final five games of the year while playing in 10 of 11 total contests. He pulled down three interceptions – two coming in a dominant 53-16 season-ending win against Lamar – while breaking up nine passes. Baptist had 40 total tackles, and was one of only two freshmen on the team to letter in 1969.
 
As a sophomore, Baptist intercepted two passes – which was the result of opposing quarterbacks not throwing his direction as the following year's media guide so eloquently described as such: "Baptist was scrupulously avoided by enemy quarterbacks last year, but still swiped two aerials." Despite that, and in a testament to being one of the most feared defensive backs in the Southland Conference, Baptist was the lone UTA player named to the Southland First Team as he also recovered two fumbles and made 45 tackles while starting every game.
 
A breakout junior campaign further cemented Baptist's status as an elite pass defender as he led the Southland alongside teammate Preston Clemons with seven interceptions in 1971. Together, the secondary duo held opponents to just 103 yards per game in the air – the best average of any team in the conference. Baptist once again started all 11 games and secured 60 tackles.
 
In his final season with UTA, Baptist pulled down four interceptions – the last of which tied him atop the all-time program list. That quartet of picks were tied for the 4th most in the Southland in 1972 and helped spearhead a strong end to the year as Baptist led UTA to five-straight wins to conclude his career.
 
Baptist's exploits extended beyond the football field as well during his time at UTA. Entering his senior season in 1972, Baptist was voted a co-captain by his teammates – an honor he also held the previous season for the UTA track and field team. Baptist is one of only a few UTA athletes in history to ever be elected team captain in two different sports. And he was a pretty great track athlete as well, finishing 3rd as a freshman at the 1970 Southland Conference Championships in the long jump with a distance of 23-feet, 9 ½ inches.