Baylor University’s Board of Regents will be meeting today to discuss the possibility of reinstating Art Briles as head football coach. As you’re all aware Briles, along with several high ranking university officials including Ken Starr, were let go because of the rape scandal and general culture of sexual violence against women on the campus.
According to a report from Scout.com, there is a faction being driven by some of the school’s big money donors to get Briles back leading the team. No doubt this group is using the threat of withdrawing their financial support as a power play. The report also stated Briles met with some key figures associated with the school last Thursday about the possibility of a one-year suspension.
Baylor was a relatively unknown underperforming football team before Briles became head coach. Since 2011 the team has failed to win at least 10 games only once, including winning the Big XII Conference twice. That type of success led to an increase in the University endowment and a brand new $300 million football stadium.
The level of hypocrisy that exists at universities as it relates to athletics is abhorrent. If Baylor allows Briles back because there would be a threat to the money that should be all the proof needed to wash away the sham of athletics and academics as a mutually beneficial union for the university community. Briles, Starr and everyone in a position of authority allowed a rape culture and a culture of general disrespect of women to nurture and fester all in the name of winning football games and getting rich.
