Hue Jackson Invited Art Briles to Browns Camp in 2016 After HC Was Fired at Baylor
Feb 26, 2022
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 23: Cincinnati Bengals special assistant to the head coach Hue Jackson on the field prior to the National Football League game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on December 23, 2018, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
When Hue Jackson was head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, he invited Art Briles to training camp, saying he would "learn from anybody if they can help us," according to the Monroe News-Star's Ethan Sands.
Briles had just been fired as head coach of the Baylor Bears for mishandling reports of sexual assault against members of the football team.
"I've gotten to know Coach Briles," Jackson said two years ago, according to Sands. "I'm always looking for different ways of doing things. What happened at Baylor's at Baylor."
Jackson added:
I respect what you're saying [about character] and understand that trail, but, at the same time, everybody deserves an opportunity to do what they do. I respect everybody's feeling and I don't condone anything ... but that's not for me to judge. Again, the opportunity to pick his brain ... and get to know him outside of all of that in a different capacity is what was important to me.
Jackson's tenure with the Browns ended in 2018, and in December he was hired as head coach of the Grambling State Tigers.
Briles is set to join the program as offensive coordinator, but, according to Koki Riley of the Monroe News-Star, Grambling State hasn't told the University of Louisiana System that it plans to hire Briles. A majority of the 16-person board must approve the hiring.
Briles has not coached since he was fired by Baylor.
Sugar Bowl 2021: Updated Odds and Preview for Baylor vs. Ole Miss
Dec 6, 2021
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral howls following an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Two high-powered offenses will do battle in New Orleans on New Year's Day when No. 6 Baylor faces No. 8 Ole Miss in a game with plenty of potential for high scores and dazzling offense.
Ole Miss is no stranger to the Sugar Bowl, having contested it nine times in school history. They are the highest-ranked SEC school not in the playoffs, and this will be the Rebels' sixth appearance in a New Year's Six bowl game in the past 18 years. They are coming off their first 10-win season in school history, which seems rather inconceivable.
Their only losses in 2021? To Alabama and Auburn.
Baylor is fresh off its first Big 12 Championship win, denying Oklahoma State by a single yard to earn its way to Caesars Superdome.
BAYLOR WINS THE BIG 12 WITH A GOAL LINE STAND 🏆#CFB
The Bears enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2021, erasing last year's dismal 2-7 record to finish sixth in the nation. The school has competed in the Sugar Bowl twice before and has a 1-1 record in the New Year's Six game.
This will be just the second time Baylor and Ole Miss face off. The first was a 20-10 Bears win on September 6, 1975.
2021 Sugar Bowl Info
Date: Saturday, January 1
Start Time: 8:45 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
Odds: Ole Miss -2
Over/Under: 51
Preview
Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin oversaw one of the most explosive offenses in the country this year, ranking 18th overall.
Quarterback Matt Corral established himself as a Heisman Trophy contender with 3,339 passing yards, 20 TDs and just four interceptions. On the ground, he added 597 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was stellar while operating Kiffin's offense and was key in its efficiency this season.
Lane Kiffin on Matt Corral: "When I saw him with the band when we won the Egg Bowl, I almost got emotional. I remembered I have one more game with him. It is really neat to be a part of it. He's a leader and I'm proud to be his coach."
A year ago, the team gave up 38.3 yards per game on average. This year, there was a steep decline to 25.
Baylor is a veteran team, with 29 seniors on the roster, and have two quarterbacks capable of leading the team to victory in New Orleans. The question is which one will get the start in the biggest game of the year.
Starter Gerry Bohanon in a dual-threat. A hamstring injury sent him to the sideline and allowed freshman Blake Shapen to start the final two games of the season. And he took advantage of his opportunity, tossing five touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his passes with no interceptions.
If Bohanon can play, expect the junior to start. Any struggles, though, and Shapen may see time on the field as Baylor chases its second Sugar Bowl win.
The Bears, despite their recent history as a high-scoring, offensive-minded school, have seen their defense transformed under second-year head coach Dave Aranda, allowing just 19 points a game. The squad is a top 20 defense and has a knack for creating turnovers (16 INT, 16 fumble recoveries). Baylor also turned in 32 sacks this season.
The key to the game will be whether Kiffin can devise an offensive scheme that can overcome his opponent's stingy defense. While he will have almost an entire month to do so, Aranda and his staff will have the same amount of time to put together a game plan to thwart anything Kiffin develops.
It will be a game of strategy and should be one of the most intriguing of the New Year's Day matchups as a result. It is also a showdown between two coaches of different backgrounds.
Dec. 4, 2011: Assistant Dave Aranda is fired, evicted from his apartment and financially broke.
Dec. 4, 2021: Head coach Dave Aranda leads #Baylor to a Big 12 championship.
On the meteoric rise of college football’s most stoic & cerebral man - https://t.co/9BawszRfrD
Kiffin is the son of legendary NFL defensive coordinator Monte and has had numerous, high-profile opportunities over the course of his coaching career. Aranda came from nothing, broke and evicted, to work his way into one of the most prestigious bowl games on the schedule.
The dynamics between the programs, the dichotomy between the coaches' stories and the fact that there is so little history between the teams only serve to enhance the aura of January 1's most must-watch game.
Baylor Upsets Oklahoma State in Big 12 Title Game as Cowboys' CFP Hopes Fade
Dec 4, 2021
Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (9) celebrates a touchdown catch with wide receiver Drew Estrada (18) and tight end Ben Sims (86) during the first half of the Big 12 Championship NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
The Baylor Bears have won the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history after their thrilling 21-16victory over Oklahoma State at AT&T Stadium on Saturday.
Oklahoma State had an opportunity to take the lead in the final seconds, but Baylor's defense stepped up huge. Dezmon Jackson's attempt to turn the corner on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line came up short when Jairon McVea stopped him short of the end zone.
That came after the Cowboys went 89 yards in 16 plays to put themselves in position to go ahead. Baylor forced a turnover on downs and was able to run out the clock on its next offensive snap.
This was the second time Baylor has played in the conference title game. Its first appearance was a 30-23 loss to Oklahoma in 2019.
Saturday's win also provides the Bears with a strong measure of revenge. They were held to a season-low 14 points in a loss to Oklahoma State on Oct. 2. Head coach Dave Aranda's team will likely be headed to the Sugar Bowl for the second time in three years.
Oklahoma State likely would have found itself in the College Football Playoff with a win. The Cowboys entered this week No. 5 in the rankings, with all four teams ahead of them playing Saturday.
One of Georgia (No. 1) and Alabama (No. 3) was guaranteed to lose since they are playing in the SEC Championship Game.
Baylor looked like it was going to roll in this game during the first half. Quarterback Blake Shapen completed his first 17 passes, three for touchdowns, to get the Bears out to a 21-3 lead with 5:29 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bears were shutout in the second half, but their defense was able to make enough plays for those 21 first-half points to be enough.
Oklahoma State was its own worst enemy for most of the game. Spencer Sanders threw four interceptions, though some were the product of bad luck. He hit Brennan Presley in the third quarter with a pass that was thrown a little off target, but Presley bobbled it, allowing Brayden Utley to pick it off.
After getting down to Baylor's 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter, Jackson fumbled a handoff by Sanders that Oklahoma State was able to recover. It settled for a field goal to cut the deficit to 21-16 with 8:17 left in regulation.
That would be the end of the scoring for both teams in the game. Oklahoma State lost for just the second time this season. Its 11 wins this season are its most since 2011 (12-1).
This game couldn't have any started any better for Baylor. Shapen was picking apart an Oklahoma State defense that came into this week ranked third in the nation in total yards allowed per game (281.4) and tied for fifth in points allowed per game (16.4).
The Bears surpassed that point total in the first 25 minutes of game time. Shapen looked to be on his way to having a historic performance.
What a first half for Blake Shapen against OKST...
- 4th QB with 3 Pass TD in the 1st half of the Big 12 title game.
The Bears did miss a golden opportunity to extend their lead before halftime. Shapen drove them 60 yards downfield with three chances from the Oklahoma State 21-yard line, but each of his passes fell incomplete to set up a field-goal attempt that was blocked.
Baylor's offense had five drives in the second half, not counting the final snap of the game. Only one of those drives lasted more than five plays and gained at least 10 yards.
Despite those struggles with the ball in their hands, the Bears were able to win because their defense was able to match what Oklahoma State was doing.
The Cowboys had seven drives of their own in the second half. Two of them did end with points, including one touchdown, but the others resulted in two interceptions, one fumble, one turnover on downs and a punt.
It hasn't been talked about a lot because the Big 12 isn't regarded as a defensive conference, but defense was crucial to Baylor's success this season.
Even though Oklahoma State was the best defensive team in the conference, Baylor more than held its own. The Bears ranked 17th in the nation with 19.4 points per game coming into Saturday.
TCU was the only team to score at least 30 points against Baylor.
All of the pieces came together to lead the Bears to a Big 12 title game victory for the first time in program history. They have been an elite team all year and will have a chance to end the season ranked in the Top 10 for the first time since 2014 with a win in the bowl game.
Mistakes Doom Cowboys in Final Playoff Audition
In their biggest game of the season, this was as bad as the Cowboys could have played. Sanders had as many interceptions today as he did in the previous seven games combined.
The Oklahoma State defense allowed Shapen to throw for 151 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
Whatever head coach Mike Gundy said to his team during the halftime break seemed to have resonated, especially with the defense. Shapen completed sixof 11 attempts for 29 yards in the second half.
Oklahoma State's offense did move the ball better in the second half, but there was still a lack of consistency overall that wound up playing a huge role on the decisive final drive.
The defense forced a turnover on downs early in the third quarter to help set up the Cowboys' first touchdown drive. Dominic Richardson capped off an eight-play drive with a score from four yards out.
Special teams also looked like it was going to work in Oklahoma State's favor. In addition to a blocked field goal at the end of the first half, the Cowboys got a turnover when Baylor's Trestan Ebner muffed a punt return that Korie Black recovered.
Gundy continued to show tremendous confidence in his defense in crunch time. He punted the ball away on 4th-and-4 from his own 31 with 3:51 remaining, despite trailing by five points.
The strategy paid off with Oklahoma State forcing a three-and-out to get the offense back on the field with 90 yards to go and 3:14 left on the clock.
It looked like the Cowboys were going to overcome their ugly play and pull off a miraculous win. They gained 88 yards in 13 plays to set up a 1st-and-goal from Baylor's 2-yard line.
Gundy's play-calling in that situation left a whole lot to be desired:
Ball at the 1… 0 yard run inside the tackles 0 yard run inside the tackles PAP throw to the DE Shotgun inside zone for .5 yards
Credit the Baylor defense but my word Okie State. Y’all had nothing better when that same offense didn’t work the last drive
Throughout his tenure at Oklahoma State, Gundy's teams have been defined by explosive offenses capable of putting up points in bunches. He coached a conservative game Saturday, and it wound up hurting his team.
Sanders' turnover problems may have impacted how Gundy wanted to play, but running back-to-back plays in the biggest moment of the game into the teeth of a Baylor defensive front that has been eating you alive all day was a bad strategy.
The end result is that Oklahoma State probably won't make it into the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings.
What's Next?
Oklahoma State and Baylor will find out which bowl game they will play in on Sunday.
Baylor Fined $25K by Big 12 After Fans Stormed Field Following Oklahoma Upset
Nov 16, 2021
The Baylor Bears student section during an NCAA college football game against the Oklahoma Sooners in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Baylor won 27-14. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
The Big 12 fined Baylor $25,000 after fans rushed onto the field early during the football team's win over Oklahoma last week.
“We have a duty to ensure a safe game environment that provides the visiting team secure egress from the field for players, staff and support personnel, and protection of the team bench area. I appreciate Baylor’s advance planning and communication, and although well planned, the end-of-game circumstances made its field storming plan impossible to execute, resulting in an interruption of play, impeding the visiting team from reaching their locker room and damage to OU bench area equipment.”
Baylor's student section rushed onto the field with one second remaining in the Bears' 27-14 win, resulting in Oklahoma players and coaches being swarmed by fans. Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley was incensed by the situation, both on the field and while speaking with reporters after the game.
"I don't believe the situation was handled well by a lot of people," Riley said. "But at the end of the day, doing it with class is important to me, and at the end of the day, we decided to bring 11 guys back out even though I damn well didn't want to."
Baylor fans rushed the field with 1 second left and Lincoln Riley was HEATED 💀 https://t.co/3PHcl7wTOW
Baylor's win over Oklahoma snapped a 17-game winning streak for the Sooners, the longest in the nation. It was also Bears' first win over their Big 12 rival since 2014 and just their fourth overall in 32 meetings.
A year removed from an ugly 2-7 campaign, head coach Dave Aranda has Baylor at 8-2 with an outside shot at a Big 12 championship.
Oklahoma, which was already looked at with some trepidation by the College Football Playoff committee, will likely fall out of the Top 10 following the loss. The Sooners entered last week ranked eighth in the country, behind four one-loss teams despite being undefeated.
The selection committee will release its latest playoff rankings Tuesday night.
Caleb Williams Benched as No. 8 Oklahoma Upset by No. 13 Baylor's Dominant Defense
Nov 13, 2021
Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams (13) scrambles for positive yards against the Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners suffered their first loss of the season Saturday, falling to the No. 13 Baylor Bears 27-14 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.
Both teams struggled to get much going offensively for most of the day, and Oklahoma freshman quarterback Caleb Williams was held in check, finishing with 146 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions through the air, plus 17 yards and one score on the ground.
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley replaced Williams with Spencer Rattler in the second half, although Williams returned in the closing minutes when Rattler proved ineffective.
While some offensive fireworks were expected, Baylor held Oklahoma to just 260 total yards, including only 78 on the ground.
Baylor's ground game dominated by comparison, as the Bears rushed for 296 yards and held the ball for 35:19, while Oklahoma only possessed it for 24:41.
By virtue of Saturday's victory, Baylor is 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, while OU is 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference.
The College Football Playoff committee was already down on Oklahoma because of its inability to dominate, and now that the Sooners have a loss, their chances at a CFP berth are likely gone.
Notable Stats
Gerry Bohanon, QB, BAY: 12/21 for 117 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; 9 CAR for 107 YDS, 2 TD
Caleb Williams, QB, OU: 10/19 for 146 YDS, 0 TD, 2 INT; 10 CAR for 17 YDS, 1 TD
Spencer Rattler, QB, OU: 4/6 for 36 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT
Abram Smith, WR, BAY: 20 CAR for 148 YDS
Kennedy Brooks, RB, OU: 13 CAR for 51 YDS, 1 TD
Tyquan Thornton, WR, BAY: 4 REC for 41 YDS, 1 TD
Williams Struggles Mightily in Oklahoma's 1st Loss
There was Heisman Trophy buzz surrounding Williams ahead of Saturday's clash with Baylor, but just like Oklahoma's national championship hopes, they went up in smoke.
The talented freshman never looked comfortable or in sync at any point during the game, as Baylor's swarming defense constantly gave him problems.
It started on the Sooners' second offensive drive when Williams was intercepted on an ill-advised throw in Oklahoma territory:
Williams had a great run for a first down on a 2nd-and-16 play late in the first half, but he had his hand stepped on by a Baylor defender while getting tackled:
Right hand is clearly bothering Caleb Williams as OU heads to halftime. Worth monitoring. Maybe we see a Rattler cameo today?
He appeared to be favoring his hand when entering the locker room, and he continued to struggle when he came back out for the second half.
After having been intercepted only once this season entering Saturday's game, Williams was picked off for a second time early in the third quarter with Oklahoma trailing 10-7:
Williams seemingly tried to throw the ball away but failed to get it out of bounds, thus stalling another OU drive.
After Williams nearly lost a fumble on a sack late in the third quarter, the Oklahoma fans present in Waco began chanting for Rattler to enter the game:
It was ironic, since OU fans chanted for Williams several weeks earlier, which led to Williams taking the starting job from Rattler.
Skip Bayless of Fox Sports was among those who weren't thrilled with Riley's decision to pull Williams:
WRONG WRONG WRONG. Lincoln Riley just made the mistake of the year, replacing a struggling Caleb Williams with preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler. So much for Caleb's Heisman chances. I believe he would've snapped out of it in the 4th quarter. Caleb>>>>>>>Rattler.
The move did not pay dividends for Oklahoma, as Rattler played poorly and was ultimately taken out of the game in the fourth quarter.
Saturday served as a reality check for Williams and the Sooners team as a whole after Oklahoma had narrowly avoided several near-upsets earlier in the season.
The loss to Baylor cost OU a chance at a national title, but a Big 12 title remains possible if the Sooners can regroup.
Baylor Rides Defense, Running Game to Upset Win
All eyes were on Williams and the electric Oklahoma offense entering Saturday's game, but Baylor proved why it boasts one of the best defenses in college football.
The Bears were all over Williams and the Sooners from start to finish, forcing two turnovers and preventing OU from finding any type of rhythm throughout.
Baylor set the tone from Oklahoma's first drive of the game by forcing a three-and-out and then intercepting Williams on the second drive, as it held the Sooners to just seven points in the opening half.
The dominance of Baylor's defense carried over to the second half, as the Bears put consistent pressure on Williams and nearly forced a turnover deep in Oklahoma territory late in the third quarter on a strip-sack:
With Williams struggling and perhaps nursing a hand injury, Oklahoma turned to Rattler at the end of the third quarter in hopes of creating a spark.
That didn't happen, as the Bears continued to wreak havoc on the Oklahoma offensive line and sacked Rattler on third-and-long on his first drive to force a punt:
Before Oklahoma scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter during garbage time, Sam Khan Jr. of The Athletic tweeted a breakdown of the ridiculous production Baylor's defense provided Saturday:
While defense was the driving force behind Baylor's biggest win of the season, the Bears' running game also thrived, especially in the second half when the team rushed for over 200 yards.
The defining offensive play of the game for Baylor came early in the fourth quarter with the Bears clinging to a 10-7 lead.
Running back Abram Smith dashed 75 yards down the field and into the Oklahoma red zone, setting the stage for a Baylor touchdown to extend the lead to 17-7:
Based on how well Baylor's defense was playing at the time, that was essentially an insurmountable lead, and it allowed the Bears to run as much clock as possible in the final quarter.
Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon largely struggled as a passer in the game, going just 12-of-21 for 117 yards with one touchdown and one pick, but Oklahoma couldn't handle him as a runner either, as evidenced by his 107 yards and two scores on the ground.
The Bears seemingly figured out the formula to beating Oklahoma and perhaps showed other teams the blueprint for the remainder of the season.
What's Next?
Baylor will attempt to continue rolling next Saturday when it goes on the road to face the unranked Kansas State Wildcats.
Meanwhile, the Sooners will look to bounce back from a devastating loss next Saturday when they host the unranked Iowa State Cyclones.
Texas Tech, Baylor's Joey McGuire Reportedly Agree to Contract to Be New Football HC
Nov 8, 2021
A Texas Tech helmet sits on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Texas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 31-15. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Texas Tech didn't wait long to decide on its next head football coach. The Red Raiders have hired Baylor assistant Joey McGuire, according to Don Williams and Carlos Silva Jr. of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports also reported the news, noting McGuire's local ties in Texas helped him stand out in the interview process.
The move comes two weeks after Texas Tech fired Matt Wells following a 5-3 start to the 2021 season. Sonny Cumbie has served as the interim head coach.
McGuire will be the long-term replacement after spending the past five seasons at Baylor. He has been the associate head coach since 2019 while also leading the tight ends, defensive ends and outside linebackers at different points during his tenure in Waco, Texas.
Baylor has undergone a massive transformation, going 1-11 in 2017 before reaching the Sugar Bowl under Matt Rhule with an 11-3 record in 2019. McGuire stayed on staff after Rhule left for the Carolina Panthers, assisting Dave Aranda the past two seasons. The Bears are 7-2 and No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.
Prior to his time with Baylor, McGuire was the head coach at Cedar Hill High School in Texas, leading the squad to three state championships in 14 seasons. He was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 2020.
Texas Tech will hope this experience helps him as he takes over a program that hasn't finished a season with a winning record since 2015 under Kliff Kingsbury.
The Red Raiders began 2021 with a 4-1 record but have lost four of the last five games and have a tough remaining schedule with games against Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.
Athletic director Kirby Hocutt discussed what he was looking for in a new coach after firing Wells last month:
The right fit for the next head coach, good question, you know I believe we, if possible, you want to see somebody that has strong state of Texas ties. Somebody who knows this state, knows the recruiting landscape, the recruiting landscape continues to change as all of you know with the transfer portal, but still the ability to go into Texas high schools and have a relationship there, and be able to recruit and sell West Texas and everything that Texas Tech has to offer would be important to us.
McGuire's time in Texas as a high school coach and Baylor assistant seemingly make him a perfect fit.
Jaylen Warren Scores 2 TDs as No. 19 Oklahoma State Beats No. 21 Baylor 24-14
Oct 3, 2021
STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 02: Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Jaylen Warren (7) celebrates in the end zone after scoring against the Baylor Bears on October 2, 2021 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The No. 19 Oklahoma State Cowboys moved to 5-0 after beating the No. 21 Baylor Bears 24-14at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Saturday.
Jaylen Warren rushed 36 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Tay Martin added seven catches for 108 yards. Rashod Owens added a 32-yard second-quarter touchdown reception.
Baylor got going in the second half with two touchdowns thanks to runs from Abram Smith (55 yards) and Gerry Bohanon. A 20-yard Oklahoma State field goal buffered the scores, so Baylor trailed 17-14 with 12:04 remaining after the second touchdown.
The Bears' offense went quiet following the latter score by turning the ball over on downs and going three-and-out on its next two possessions.
Oklahoma State then shut the door with a eight-play, 56-yard drive capped by Warren's second score from four yards out on a 4th-and-2 with just over two minutes left.
Oklahoma State won despite three Spencer Sanders interceptions. However, Sanders helped lead the offense to a 402-280 yardage differential over the Bears, who had just 10 first downs on the night.
The Bears fell to 4-1 after the loss.
Notable Performances
Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders: 13-of-23, 182 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
The running back then churned out more yards in the fourth quarter before delivering the coup de grace. He added 14 more yards on four carries, ending with his aforementioned four-yard scamper.
It was a crucial rush for the Cowboys, who would have turned the ball over on downs for Baylor with just over two minutes left. Instead, Oklahoma State took a 10-point lead en route to victory.
Credit goes to Warren and the Cowboys' offensive line for a tremendous performance. On a night where the passing game had its struggles, the run game came through to keep the Cowboys undefeated.
Too Little, Too Late for Baylor Offense
The Bears had zero points through 41-plus minutes of game action on Saturday. Their first eight drives ended in punts. Two of them resulted in negative yardage. All told, they had just 115 yards during that time, or an average of 19.4 per drive.
They went 3-and-out five times and turned the ball over on downs a sixth time. Baylor also went 3-of-14 on third down.
Three of the drives started after interceptions, with Dillon Doyle, Bryson Jackson and JT Woods notching one pick apiece. On those three drives, the Bears combined to lose six yards.
The team's offensive struggles were evident despite a 31-29 win over Iowa State last Saturday. The Cyclones outgained the Bears 479-282 and possessed the ball for nearly 36 minutes. Baylor also didn't score an offensive touchdown in the second half.
Without counting kneeldowns to end each half last Saturday, the Bears went 14 consecutive drives without scoring a touchdown. Only one of those drives ended in points, and that was after a field goal following a drive that actually went backwards by a yard following a Trestan Ebner 41-yard punt return to the ISU 16-yard line.
Those struggles bled into Saturday. Oklahoma State gave the Bears chances to turn it around, but the Bears did not take advantage. That gave the Cowboys' offense enough chances to put this one away.
Credit to the Baylor offense for never giving up and finding a late-game spark to make this a game down the stretch, but the Bears' scoring struggles through the first two-thirds of this game proved to be their downfall.
Baylor's Penalties for Rule Violations Under Art Briles Announced by NCAA
Aug 11, 2021
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 14: A Baylor helmet sits on the field before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
The NCAA Division I Committee on
Infractions announced Wednesday a hearing panel "could not conclude
that Baylor violated NCAA rules when it failed to report allegations
of and address sexual and interpersonal violence committed on its
campus."
However, Baylor's football program was found in
violation in other NCAA rules from 2011 through 2016, including impermissible benefits to a
student-athlete, an ethical conduct rules violation by a former
assistant director of football operations and the use of a "predominantly female student-host group" for football recruiting
events.
The program was placed on four years of
probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, will incur several recruiting restrictions
during the 2021-22 academic year and must provide details for a vacation of records compiled
while ineligible student-athletes were active.
In May 2016, the Baylor Board of
Regents announced findings from an independent investigation by the
Pepper Hamilton Law Firm, which determined the school's response to
sexual assault allegations was "wholly inadequate" and found "specific failings" within the leadership structure of the
football program and the athletic department.
The investigation also raised "significant concerns about the tone and culture" of the Bears'
football program, which led to widespread leadership changes,
including the firing of head coach Art Briles and probation for
athletic director Ian McCaw, who then resigned and accepted the same
position at Liberty in November 2016, a role he still holds.
Richard Willis, who was chairman of the
school's Board of Regents at the time, released a statement about the
probe's findings:
We were horrified by the extent of
these acts of sexual violence on our campus. This investigation
revealed the University's mishandling of reports in what should have
been a supportive, responsive and caring environment for students.
The depth to which these acts occurred shocked and outraged us. Our
students and their families deserve more, and we have committed our
full attention to improving our processes, establishing
accountability and ensuring appropriate actions are taken to support
former, current and future students.
The hearing panel concluded with "tremendous
reluctance" it agreed with Baylor's argument during the
investigation that those failings were not violations of NCAA rules:
Baylor admitted to moral and
ethical failings in its handling of sexual and interpersonal violence
on campus but argued those failings, however egregious, did not
constitute violations of NCAA rules. Ultimately, and with tremendous
reluctance, this panel agrees. To arrive at a different outcome would
require the [committee] to ignore the rules the Association's
membership has adopted—rules under which the [committee] is
required to adjudicate. Such an outcome would be antithetical to the
integrity of the infractions process.
Meanwhile, the NCAA investigation
determined the former assistant director of football operations,
identified by Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel as Odell James, "did not
meet his responsibility to cooperate" when he refused an interview
with enforcement staff to answer questions about potential
violations. James received a five-year show-cause order, which will restrict him from "athletically related duties" if hired by another school.
The impermissible benefit came after the program didn't report a student-athlete, who'd previously been suspended for a plagiarism concern but was reinstated on the basis of 100 percent future academic honesty, had been accused of cheating on a quiz. He went on to play seven games because the incident was not reported, and Baylor will vacate the results of those contests.
The hearing panel also raised concerns
about how the student-host group was used by the program:
The gender-based nature of this
group is especially concerning in light of the campus-wide cultural
issues and Title IX deficiencies at Baylor during this time, as well
as the extremely troubling assertions reported by the former Title IX
coordinator, including that the Bruins were 'kind of at the disposal
of football players in a very inappropriate way.'
In addition, the Division I Committee
on Infractions review of the hearing panel's findings said Briles
failed to meet "even the most basic expectations of how a person should
react" upon hearing about sexual assault or violence involving his
players:
COI on Art Briles:
- "Incurious attitude" toward potential criminal conduct by his players was "deeply troubling"
- "Failed to meet even the most basic expectations of how a person should react to the kind of conduct at issue in this case."
There were no NCAA punishments directed
toward Briles in the announcement.
Briles continued his coaching
career after leaving Baylor with stops as head coach of Italy's
Guelfi Firenze and Mount Vernon High School in Texas. He resigned
from Mount Vernon in December.
The Bears are on their third head coach
since Briles' departure. Dave Aranda is heading into his second
season after previous stints by Matt Rhule (2017-19) and Jim Grobe
(2016).
Baylor kicks off its 2021 season Sept.
4 on the road against Texas State, and it doesn't face any
restrictions related to postseason eligibility in wake of the NCAA's
investigation.
Former Baylor Defensive Back Chance Waz Dies
Dec 14, 2020
Baylor safety Chance Waz (18) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State wide receiver Jalen McCleskey (84) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. Baylor won 45-35. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Baylor announced Monday that former safety Chance Waz died.
Waz spent four seasons with the Bears between 2014 and '17 and appeared in 45 games. He finished his college career with 146 total tackles and two tackles for loss.
Former Baylor quarterback Seth Russell mourned Waz's death:
No words will be able to explain the loss of a teammate, friend, family, brother is Christ. Chance always had a positive attitude towards life. Prayers are lifted high for the Waz family in this time of mourning and celebration of his life. @SupermanEra_3#BGOD
Craig Smoak of SicEm365 spoke to former Baylor offensive lineman Mo Porter about Waz.
"Chance was a guy that lit up a room. Chance was a guy with high energy all the time, stayed positive in every situation and just wanted us to be the best we can be," Porter said. "Chance was a guy that would always tell you what you meant to him."
The Pflugerville, Texas, native was a 3-star recruit in the 2014 recruiting class and sat 115th at the safety position, per 247Sports'composite rankings.
The second of Baylor's back-to-back Big 12 championships occurred when Waz was a true freshman. He played in 10 games as a backup defensive back as the Bears notched 11 victories and reached the Cotton Bowl.
His best individual season came one year later when he posted 70 total tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble.
