Tepper: Briles' firing is a remarkable fall from grace

[caption id="attachment_23503" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Photo by Doug Holleman Photo by Doug Holleman[/caption] 901 days — December 7, 2013. It was 901 days ago, in front of a jam-packed Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, that Art Briles hoisted the Big 12 championship trophy — the first for the Bears — after topping Texas, 30-10. It capped off an 11-1 regular season and, furthermore, the Bears’ astonishing rise to power. Six years earlier, Briles had taken over a program that was known more for the tarp that covered the south end zone of their stadium than anything that happened on the field. Mired in 12 consecutive losing seasons, the Bears plucked Briles from Houston, where he had become a star after rising through the coaching ranks at a meteoric pace, including turning Stephenville into a Texas high school football state power. At that moment, Art Briles and Baylor stood on top of a stage in the middle of Floyd Casey Stadium, and it may as well have been the world. We knew then that it would be the last game Baylor played at Floyd Casey Stadium.

279 days — August 22, 2015. It was 279 days ago that Sam Ukwuachu, a Baylor football player, was convicted and sentenced to six months in county jail and 10 years’ probation for sexually assaulting a female student-athlete two years before. That’s what started the scandal. Actually, no. We need to stop calling what happened at Baylor a scandal — that only mutes the true tragedy of the situation. Because since the Ukwuachu case, numerous other female Baylor students have come forward alleging not just that they were victims of sexual assault by athletes — including football players — but that their cries fell on deaf ears both in the athletic department and Baylor administration. At that moment, it seemed like a minor blip on the radar, a small crack in what had previously been Briles and Baylor’s unblemished armor. We know now, that was only the beginning. 12 days — May 14, 2016. It was 12 days ago that Floyd Casey Stadium — the site that Art Briles hoisted Baylor’s first Big 12 championship — was demolished, having been replaced by a bright shining new McLane Stadium on the Brazos two years prior. At that moment, as the 66-year-old relic of the past tumbled to the ground, it seemed representative of the remarkable transition that Baylor had made, from perennial Big 12 cellar dweller to consistent top-of-the-table contender. We know now that it was more representative than we could’ve imagined, in a different way. Today — May 26, 2016. It was today that Baylor announced that it had fired Art Briles. The details are still muddy, and we’re sure to know more soon, but it appears that Briles was terminated for — at best — disregard for the alleged victims of sexual assault by his players or — at worst — an attempted cover-up. On the field, Art Briles leaves Baylor with a 65-37 record in eight seasons, two conference championships and a reputation as an offensive guru. Off the field, his legacy is forever tarnished. At this moment, it seems that the Baylor football program has never experienced a darker time. Tomorrow — May 27, 2016. Tomorrow, interim head coach Phil Bennett will begin the work of holding the 2016 Baylor Bears together. Tomorrow, the entire Baylor football program will begin the work of maintaining its status as a Big 12 contender. Tomorrow, the entire Baylor University will begin the work of repairing its tattered perception. Tomorrow, hopefully, the alleged victims of sexual assault will have a better day. Tomorrow, Sam Ukwuachu will have another day in county jail. Tomorrow, Art Briles will have his first day of unemployment.