Briles Suddenly Out At Baylor: What Happened?

It was supposed to be a football program on the rise after many years of mediocrity or cellar-dwelling. It did rise, and they've gone through the stratosphere in recent years with an explosive offense and school records shattered. They've come close to a national title a couple of times, but the Baylor Bears have gotten everybody's attention. Coach Art Briles was the best thing that happened on the Brazos since....well, sliced bread, maybe? He'd suddenly become America's coach (if not just Texas') and his program was rising to prominence and dominance. They've even got a sparkling new riverfront stadium to bring more attention to the immediate campus area and bring really good players to the program. Art Briles was everybody's hero on a field that needed some heroes.

That was until yesterday.

Now, we're hearing of multiple cases of assault cases involving Baylor's players against several women in the past couple of years, and with no accountability from the board of regents or the coaching staff. And there was hardly a peep from the media until just recently. You'd never think that Art Briles, he of God and country and excellence in the classroom and on the field, would be as much as mentioned in a conversation about any type of bad thing happening to his players. Well, now, the hand's out of the cookie jar and there's blood spilling all over the Brazos as reality has sucker-punched one of the Big 12's best football teams. Oh, they'd gotten attention from a football perspective, but now, they're getting attention of the wrong sort, and for very tragic reasons.

So Art Briles was let go on Thursday.

Just like that, folks. Baylor president Ken Starr was also removed from his post, though he remains in another role on campus. And how many more shoes will drop on Baylor football? For now, defensive coordinator Phil Bennett assumes the reins as interim head coach, but even that might not stay so.

Here's the article in detail:

Baylor officially firing Art Briles amid scandal - SBNation.com

So disappointing that it's come to this. I thought we knew Art Briles. He was certainly an up-and-coming college coach after years of success in Texas' high school ranks. His teams, both at Houston and Baylor, have made him the stuff of legend. Now, he's got to come clean and rebuild his image and his reputation. And don't be surprised if Baylor faces possible NCAA sanctions (if any) and a total housecleaning in the program. You'd really hate to see them go back to their losing ways after the rapid and rabid success of the Bears' football program the way it's progressed. Suddenly, my Texas Longhorns have a real chance of getting back to the top of the Big 12 standings (and a chance at an easier path to a national title), because that's what's going to happen. Lots of stunned people in Waco as I write this, and I can't say that I blame them.

Wonder if the Houston Cougars are probably glad that Briles did not stay? At least they didn't have to go through it.