University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic To Be Aired Nationally On MLB Network
12/17/2015 4:16:00 PM | Baseball
HOUSTON, Texas — The Astros Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children® have announced a multi-year naming rights agreement for the annual Houston College Classic held at Minute Maid Park, renaming the tournament the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. The Astros Foundation will continue to operate the tournament.
The Astros Foundation has also reached an agreement with MLB Network to air all nine games of the 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. The Astros Foundation will donate $1 from the sale of each ticket directly to Shriners Hospitals as well as provide other fundraising and awareness opportunities.
The Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic returns to Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, Feb. 26-28, 2016. This event is regarded as one of the top collegiate baseball tournaments in the nation, as it continues to draw fans, top-ranked programs and scouts from every Major League organization each year.
"On behalf of the Astros Foundation, we are grateful to Shriners Hospitals for Children for their generous support of the College Classic," said Twila Carter, Executive Director of the Astros Foundation. "Shriners Hospitals has had a long history with supporting collegiate athletics as a platform to raise awareness for their mission, making this a perfect fit for both organizations."
"This event provides a wonderful platform for us to share our story of caring for more than one million children at our 22 Shriners Hospitals locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico," said Jerry Gantt, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children. "Our agreement with the Astros Foundation will help us advance our mission of helping children lead active, healthy lives and accept no limitations to the goals they can accomplish."
The invite only tournament once again boasts a strong lineup, featuring five teams that finished in the top 25 of D1baseball.com's final rankings in 2015. The 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic will include TCU (#4), Arkansas (#9), Louisiana (#16), Houston (#22), Rice (#25) and Texas Tech.
Last year's College Classic featured two of the top three teams ranked in the preseason top 25. Historically, the College Classic has hosted the No. 1 team in preseason polls six times in tournament history and has hosted two eventual College World Series Champions. Several current Major League players have played in the Classic, including David Price, Michael Bourn, Gerrit Cole, Mike Leake and Anthony Rendon, to name a few.
2016 Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic Schedule*
Fri., Feb. 26
Houston at Texas Tech 12:05 p.m.
Louisiana at TCU 3:35 p.m.
Arkansas at Rice 7:05 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 27
Texas Tech at Louisiana 12:05 p.m.
Houston at Arkansas 3:35 p.m.
Rice at TCU 7:05 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 28
Arkansas at Texas Tech 11:05 a.m.
TCU at Houston 2:35 p.m.
Louisiana at Rice 6:05 p.m.
(home teams listed second)
* - times subject to change
The Astros Foundation has also reached an agreement with MLB Network to air all nine games of the 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. The Astros Foundation will donate $1 from the sale of each ticket directly to Shriners Hospitals as well as provide other fundraising and awareness opportunities.
The Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic returns to Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, Feb. 26-28, 2016. This event is regarded as one of the top collegiate baseball tournaments in the nation, as it continues to draw fans, top-ranked programs and scouts from every Major League organization each year.
"On behalf of the Astros Foundation, we are grateful to Shriners Hospitals for Children for their generous support of the College Classic," said Twila Carter, Executive Director of the Astros Foundation. "Shriners Hospitals has had a long history with supporting collegiate athletics as a platform to raise awareness for their mission, making this a perfect fit for both organizations."
"This event provides a wonderful platform for us to share our story of caring for more than one million children at our 22 Shriners Hospitals locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico," said Jerry Gantt, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children. "Our agreement with the Astros Foundation will help us advance our mission of helping children lead active, healthy lives and accept no limitations to the goals they can accomplish."
The invite only tournament once again boasts a strong lineup, featuring five teams that finished in the top 25 of D1baseball.com's final rankings in 2015. The 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic will include TCU (#4), Arkansas (#9), Louisiana (#16), Houston (#22), Rice (#25) and Texas Tech.
Last year's College Classic featured two of the top three teams ranked in the preseason top 25. Historically, the College Classic has hosted the No. 1 team in preseason polls six times in tournament history and has hosted two eventual College World Series Champions. Several current Major League players have played in the Classic, including David Price, Michael Bourn, Gerrit Cole, Mike Leake and Anthony Rendon, to name a few.
2016 Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic Schedule*
Fri., Feb. 26
Houston at Texas Tech 12:05 p.m.
Louisiana at TCU 3:35 p.m.
Arkansas at Rice 7:05 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 27
Texas Tech at Louisiana 12:05 p.m.
Houston at Arkansas 3:35 p.m.
Rice at TCU 7:05 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 28
Arkansas at Texas Tech 11:05 a.m.
TCU at Houston 2:35 p.m.
Louisiana at Rice 6:05 p.m.
(home teams listed second)
* - times subject to change
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
Matt Deggs Media Availability (May 12, 2025)
Monday, May 12
Matt Deggs Media Availability (May 4, 2025)
Monday, May 05
Beyond The Bases - Louisiana Baseball - Episode 4
Friday, May 02
Matt Deggs Media Availability (April 28, 2025)
Monday, April 28
