As an 18 year old I knew when I signed to come to Baylor that I was going to be upheld to a MUCH higher standard of conduct than had I signed with UT, TT, UH, SMU or A&M. I also knew as an 18 year old that I did not want to embarrass my family, birthplace or teammates by doing something stupid or even taking a chance on being guilty of poor behavior. I actually feared I might lose my scholarship. I arrived a sheltered country boy who had never been in a bar or tavern, never knew how to order a mixed drink, etc. I for sure had never been around so many beautiful women!
When a grown man, who had multiple stops while climbing the coaching ladder, does not throttle his players, constantly review the Baylor University Mission Statement in a language that all can understand, and has a hands off approach to discipline you just knew something bad was going to happen. Sure enough it did and there were plenty of warning signs a few years in advance. (Imagine how many there really were as most infractions are dealt with "in-house").
Coaches realize very early that football players are high maintenance in that their sex drives, alcohol intake and risk taking runs at a high level and needs to be managed early and often. The coaches know who the loose cannons are and make plans to manage accordingly.
If an 18 year old (non-Baptist) took it upon himself to understand the BAYLOR WAY of doing things and annually re-grouped to know how much rope he had to play with, I have ZERO sympathy for grown men to not understand and play within the Baylor Way. All coaches on the staff should have been for all intents and purposes baby-sitting players and particularly those they knew were "bad dudes".
Grant reminded us often of rules and regulations and we flirted with them often but very, very seldom was a player allowed to get to the point of stepping over the line.
This black eye given to Baylor is the fault primarily of the lax coaching staff, outlaw or "swagger" environment allowed, attitudes and arrogance of that staff.
When a grown man, who had multiple stops while climbing the coaching ladder, does not throttle his players, constantly review the Baylor University Mission Statement in a language that all can understand, and has a hands off approach to discipline you just knew something bad was going to happen. Sure enough it did and there were plenty of warning signs a few years in advance. (Imagine how many there really were as most infractions are dealt with "in-house").
Coaches realize very early that football players are high maintenance in that their sex drives, alcohol intake and risk taking runs at a high level and needs to be managed early and often. The coaches know who the loose cannons are and make plans to manage accordingly.
If an 18 year old (non-Baptist) took it upon himself to understand the BAYLOR WAY of doing things and annually re-grouped to know how much rope he had to play with, I have ZERO sympathy for grown men to not understand and play within the Baylor Way. All coaches on the staff should have been for all intents and purposes baby-sitting players and particularly those they knew were "bad dudes".
Grant reminded us often of rules and regulations and we flirted with them often but very, very seldom was a player allowed to get to the point of stepping over the line.
This black eye given to Baylor is the fault primarily of the lax coaching staff, outlaw or "swagger" environment allowed, attitudes and arrogance of that staff.
"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key"
