Football
Sponsored by

Art Briles in the Houston Chronicle

61,820 Views | 369 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by MilliVanilli
Stranger
How long do you want to ignore this user?

SPORTS
Art Briles says 'I just want to coach football' and dismisses his critics
David Barron | on July 28, 2019

Photo: LM Otero/Associated Press
FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, Baylor coach Art Briles walks the field before the NCAA college football team's game against Lamar in Waco, Texas. Briles, the former Baylor football coach fired three years ago after an investigation found the school had mishandled allegations of sexual misconduct and violence, has been hired to lead an East Texas high school program. Mount Vernon Superintendent says its board of trustees has approved a two-year contract with Briles, who was 65-37 in eight seasons with Baylor. Before coaching in college, Briles had a successful 20-year career as a high school coach in Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Former Baylor University football coach Art Briles, who was fired in 2016 in the wake of an investigation into sexual assaults at the Baptist school, said Sunday he decided to return to coaching at Mount Vernon High School because coaching "is what I do."

Briles, 63, acknowledged that his return to coaching carries will be viewed as controversial by some but expressed confidence in his experience as a coach and teacher, his ability to learn from events of the past, and his belief that he did nothing at Baylor that would render him unfit for the job.


"I'm a football coach," Briles said. "If you're in the public eye, then you're going to have people who are going to doubt you and maybe not want everything to work out for you personally and professionally.

"But if you know yourself and know your instincts and your integrity, then that's all you can control. I know who I am, and that is a good starting place for me."

Briles was hired May 24 to coach in Mount Vernon, a town of about 2,700 midway between Dallas and Texarkana in Northeast Texas. The high school has about 470 students and competes in Class 3A.

He has not coached in the United States since he was dismissed by Baylor trustees following the completion of a university-sanctioned investigation into Title IX violations that included sexual assaults against students committed by several Baylor football players.

Briles most recently spent nine months in Florence, Italy, coaching a team that he said was composed of players from age 16 to 43. The team, Guelfi Firenze, advanced to its league championship game, losing to the two-time defending champion Milano Seamen.

The Mount Vernon Tigers begin a football camp Monday, and the first day of University Interscholastic League-sanctioned practices is Aug. 5.

Briles said in a telephone interview Sunday that he was contacted by a former staff member who lives in Mount Vernon and asked if he would be interested in the vacancy created when coach Josh Finney resigned this year to take a job in nearby Winnsboro.

"I said yes," Briles said. "I just want to coach football. That's all I'm concerned with. It's all I've ever done. I just want to coach football. It doesn't matter what level.

"Football is football, and as far as what I want to accomplish, there's really nothing there other than getting back on the field and working with coaches and players."

Briles has not coached in high schools since the 1990s. He led Stephenville to Class 4A state and division titles in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999 before working as an assistant at Texas Tech and as head coach at the University of Houston and Baylor.

He was elected in 2008 to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his success as one of the first Texas high school coaches to win championships consistently by using the same wide-open, passing-oriented offense that he employed at Hamlin, Georgetown and Stephenville and later with the Cougars and Bears.

He reportedly was under consideration for jobs with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League and as Southern Mississippi's offensive coordinator before protests prompted by the controversy surrounding his departure at Baylor scuttled both possibilities.

Mount Vernon school board members, by contrast, approved his hiring unanimously. Jason McCullough, Mount Vernon's superintendent, told ESPN that Briles "expressed remorse over the systemic shortcomings at Baylor, including his program's part in them, and his desire to learn from the mistakes of the past."

In announcing their decision to terminate Briles' contract in 2016, Baylor regents cited an "overall perception that football was above the rules, and that there was no culture of accountability for misconduct."

Briles, however, cited a letter from Christopher Holmes, Baylor's general counsel, obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Holmes wrote that Baylor was "unaware of any situation where (Briles) personally had contact with anyone who directly reported to you being the victim of sexual assault or that you directly discouraged the victim of an alleged sexual assault from reporting to law enforcement or University officials."

ESPN also reported that the university paid Briles $15.1 million to settle his contract, according to federal tax forms filed by the school.

"You can look at the letter from Chris Holmes. It exonerates me from any wrongdoing in any sexual assault case," Briles said. "That's all I need.

"I know me. People know me. That's all I can do. I can't control people's opinions. I've never been in a position that I am going to try to change people's opinions. How you do it is how you live and the type of person that you are, and that is what I believe in and what I always have done. I certainly will stand on that ground."

He added, regarding his critics, "I will just say study the facts. Don't listen to the chatter. Study the facts."

Briles who wrote an autobiography in 2014 titled "Beating Goliath: My Story of Football and Faith," said he has been working for 18 months on a new book that will be published later this year.

"There will be a lot of enlightening things in that," he said. "I wrote every word of it myself. It's a life story, all the way up through June of this year, from day one to now."

Briles said his experience in Italy represented "football in the purest sense, and that is what I loved about it and what rekindled my fire for coaching. I learned how to work more efficiently with limited time as a coach and preparation, and that part of it, I think, is going to really benefit the next job at Mount Vernon."

While he did not discuss specifics about the events surrounding his departure at Baylor, Briles did acknowledge the challenges that coaches face in dealing with students and athletes in areas other than athletics.

"I've always been loyal and always trusted people. I think that is what makes me a good coach and a good leader," he said. "But you have to be a little bit jaded in that area now.

"I've certainly been exposed to some situations that will hopefully help me help others. I can certainly have some insight in helping others make sure that they can take care of any situation that they're involved in in a positive manner."
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Dude gets a letter then runs the misogynistic 0/0/0 playbook at Baylor and doesn't take accountability or show remorse.

He had no trouble discussing his letter. Does he want to discuss his pay out? Discuss the school paying off the lawsuits or that they are wrong and keep running 0/0/0 ahead for Art?

Can these newspapers send general reporters to do interviews? The sports guys are afraid to ask hard questions outside the ball yard.

Another book for Briles.


baylorrific
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Briles just can't do it: He can't show any level of meaningful remorse or contrition. Apart from it being the strategic move (had he done that years ago, he might already be back as a head coach in the NCAA), query how can someone in charge of that jaw-dropping carnage not at least have the tiniest bit of some meaningful level of culpability (with the understanding that many people played a role in this epic disaster)). He amazes me with his (a) long-standing cluelessness, and (b) Mr. Magoo-like characteristics in terms of his surrounding environment.

I have a question for the ardent Briles supporters. My sense is that Briles would do virtually anything to be a head coach again in the NCAA or NFL. Do you have any doubt that if hypothetically, for some strange reason, he needs to throw you (random person X) under the bus in any way necessary to achieve his head coaching aspiration, that he wouldn't blink an eye in doing so?
RD2WINAGNBEAR86
How long do you want to ignore this user?
baylorrific said:

Briles just can't do it: He can't show any level of meaningful remorse or contrition. Apart from it being the strategic move (had he done that years ago, he might already be back as a head coach in the NCAA), query how can someone in charge of that jaw-dropping carnage not at least have the tiniest bit of some meaningful level of culpability (with the understanding that many people played a role in this epic disaster)). He amazes me with his (a) long-standing cluelessness, and (b) Mr. Magoo-like characteristics in terms of his surrounding environment.

I have a question for the ardent Briles supporters. My sense is that Briles would do virtually anything to be a head coach again in the NCAA or NFL. Do you have any doubt that if hypothetically, for some strange reason, he needs to throw you (random person X) under the bus in any way necessary to achieve his head coaching aspiration, that he wouldn't blink an eye in doing so?
He has taken much more responsibility in this mess than your beloved Board of Regents. A shame you don't hold them to the same standard.

Yeah.....yeah.....Milli. No need to retaliate. BOOM! I get it. I am a CABer.
"Never underestimate Joe's ability to **** things up!"

-- Barack Obama
PartyBear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I do not know Briles and have never had a conversation with him. However I wonder if he is completely different in a one on one situation and is just not made to have a mike stuck in front of him all the sudden and respond quickly with something smooth and polished sounding at the spur of the moment. Believe it or not alot of people cant do that if you have not been in that situation you may find it more difficult than you think even if you can. I just know he obviously has the confidence of Teaff who has helped him get back into coaching in Texas.
Redbrickbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Just stop posting this stuff.

The media is gonna keep hounding this guy for the rest of his life.

Its easy click bait because ut, tech, tcu, ou, an aggy fans will read anything about the guy.

But when people do post these articles the Regent cultists keep these idiotic threads going for 10+ pages spewing bile because they are still butt hurt about him.

The rest of us are over it.

I wish Art well.....but he is not apart of Baylor anymore.

I want to focus on the good future with have with Rhule and on maybe one day getting rid of our corrupt highland park country club regents.

We should have a no Art discussion ban on here for the next two years.

xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
You mean Rhule? He's going to get an NFL job because they admire him replacing 0/0/0 (who is a liability to their game).

I m sure those regents would rather be called "Highland Park" regents than Bellmead residents, Parrish Cobbs' neighbors or God forbid "gated community residents living at 0/0/0 Misogynistic Park".
DustyM
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Redbrickbear said:

Just stop posting this stuff.

The media is gonna keep hounding this guy for the rest of his life.

Its easy click bait because ut, tech, tcu, ou, an aggy fans will read anything about the guy.

But when people do post these articles the Regent cultists keep these idiotic threads going for 10+ pages spewing bile because they are still butt hurt about him.

The rest of us are over it.

I wish Art well.....but he is not apart of Baylor anymore.

I want to focus on the good future with have with Rule and on maybe one day getting rid of our corrupt highland park country club regents.

We should have a no Art discussion ban on here for the next two years.


Well said, thank you. Enough is enough.
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The NCAA should just ban Art to send a message. There's a ban everyone can live with but his supporters (who didn't even go to Baylor and most do not know the general alumni who don't attend Baylor events but for once or twice a decade).
PartyBear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
That would be fair if they ban half the current HCs out there who are all in the same boat Art was in if not worse but who are allowed to have nice careers continue. Such as Jimbo Fisher for example...every HC on staff at Michigan St for example.
Redbrickbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
xiledinok said:

The NCAA should just ban Art to send a message. There's a ban everyone can live with but his supporters (who didn't even go to Baylor and most do not know the general alumni who don't attend Baylor events but for once or twice a decade).
This is a prime example of why we don't need Art threads anymore.

The stalker ex-girlfriends like X and milli will never shut the **** up.

Its over....... Art is gone, Rhule is here, Baylor football has a good future, the Regents are still corporate paper pushers who only care about themselves.

Sky is blue water is wet.

Just lock this thread.

If there is no tired old played out briles talk on this board x, milli, and the rest of the cultists might stop posting here.

Hell Thee is the only one who we have confirmation actually even went to Baylor.

Decent 80% chance that x and milli are troll accounts created by that "pay for play" legislative influence rat down in Austin Buddy jones.

PartyBear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm starting to have faith that the Regents really are being revamped quite a bit. I may have to refer to pre-2018/19 BOR to clarify the BOR I'm criticizing.
Redbrickbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
PartyBear said:

I'm starting to have faith that the Regents really are being revamped quite a bit. I may have to refer to pre-2018/19 BOR to clarify the BOR I'm criticizing.
Truth
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
PartyBear said:

That would be fair if they ban half the current HCs out there who are all in the same boat Art was in if not worse but who are allowed to have nice careers continue. Such as Jimbo Fisher for example...every HC on staff at Michigan St for example.
We know that's not going to happen.

Michigan State had a good relationship with the media and those who cover them. They also made those tv broadcasters and sponsors good money in football and basketball.

The public believes Artu is the worse one. I guess those other coaches and their supporters didn't run the 0/0/0 playbook and fail.
PartyBear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The public doesnt even remember who Art Briles is anymore. The actual public face of our scandal to the nation is Ken Starr.
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Redbrickbear said:

xiledinok said:

The NCAA should just ban Art to send a message. There's a ban everyone can live with but his supporters (who didn't even go to Baylor and most do not know the general alumni who don't attend Baylor events but for once or twice a decade).
This is a prime example of why we don't need Art threads anymore.

The stalker ex-girlfriends like X and milli will never shut the **** up.

Its over....... Art is gone, Rhule is here, Baylor football has a good future, the Regents are still corporate paper pushers who only care about themselves.

Sky is blue water is wet.

Just lock this thread.

If there is no tired old played out briles talk on this board x, milli, and the rest of the cultists might stop posting here.

Hell Thee is the only one who we have confirmation actually even went to Baylor.

Decent 80% chance that x and milli are troll accounts created by that "pay for play" legislative influence rat down in Austin Buddy jones.


This is a Baylor board. Shouldn't you be on the scrubby Christian version of the U of Phoenix's board (Liberty U)?

You cannot handle that your failed 0/0/0 Art Misogynist Briles playbook has no credibility. He received a letter but still attempted to discredit those who gave them that letter, sued, failed and is considered to be another Larry Nassar or Coach Sandusky type. The public was turned off on his approach and he crashed his career. He could have had an NCAA job had he acted normal, tucked his tail for a season and kept quiet (without having his former staff tank, tamper, get into it with dumb Brenda, and look stupid doing it).

I am just here to go all dancing NUGG on Art. I like to taunt those still believing and buying his b.s. It's four years later and he's not coaching in the NCAA. In fact, he is coaching 3A because his former employee's family worked the good ole boy system in East Texas.

I have been called a few things but cultist is not one of them. The CABER and robe touching crowd seems like the 2nd most recognizable cult next to the Branch Davidians to come out of Waco. Which of you named your kids after the king of 0/0/0?

I am glad that you can confirm that Thee went to Baylor. I mentioned Wallace Daniel was on my degree from Baylor and Reverend claimed it would be disgraceful in the eyes of his deceased buddy. I pointed out that his deceased buddy would probably hate the academic fraud committed on behalf of Art's needs. These "didn't go to Baylor chants" are for DustyM and most likely a few on the R&P board.

I am glad you are not a weather man or a gambler. You should be kept away from sinning on a casino floor. You are no Benny Binion.

I have never met Buddy Jones but have had some fun with him online. He likes to dish it out and he actually can take it. He is very powerful in Austin. He is much smarter than Art and his legions of 0/0/0 Misogynist crew. I am sure he laughs at us. I am sure he does not like Stranger, who is the man when it comes to letting the world know about Buddy Jones at Baylor. Stranger warned us about Buddy and his alumi association building demo efforts. No one had issues until he handled Art. I guess Briles is all that matters to his 0/0/0 group.
Stranger
How long do you want to ignore this user?
PartyBear said:

The public doesnt even remember who Art Briles is anymore. The actual public face of our scandal to the nation is Ken Starr.


Art played his part but the real dirty dogs in this deal were the ribbon clerk, Ian, and Ken, don't call me Kenneth, Starr.

If either one of those cretins had done there job, Art would still be coaching
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Stranger said:

PartyBear said:

The public doesnt even remember who Art Briles is anymore. The actual public face of our scandal to the nation is Ken Starr.


Art played his part but the real dirty dogs in this deal were the ribbon clerk, Ian, and Ken, don't call me Kenneth, Starr.

If either one of those cretins had done there job, Art would still be coaching
Ian had his buddy, Robertmcdo, running the 0/0/0 playbook for the messages boards. Ian was the worse athletic director in Power 5 history. He wouldn't be running a high school athletic department if common sense prevailed at Liberty.
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
PartyBear said:

The public doesnt even remember who Art Briles is anymore. The actual public face of our scandal to the nation is Ken Starr.
Yes, they do remember him. The Houston Chronicle just put him on blast again. They remember Art very well. He'll be front page again for the wrong reasons.
Malbec
How long do you want to ignore this user?
PartyBear said:

I'm starting to have faith that the Regents really are being revamped quite a bit. I may have to refer to pre-2018/19 BOR to clarify the BOR I'm criticizing.
I think at the time in 2016 there were 30 voting members on the BOR. 13 of those are still regents, including the current chair.
Russell Gym
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Malbec said:

PartyBear said:

I'm starting to have faith that the Regents really are being revamped quite a bit. I may have to refer to pre-2018/19 BOR to clarify the BOR I'm criticizing.
I think at the time in 2016 there were 30 voting members on the BOR. 13 of those are still regents, including the current chair.

Three year terms?
Banned BarleyMcDougal
How long do you want to ignore this user?
baylorrific said:

Briles just can't do it: He can't show any level of meaningful remorse or contrition. Apart from it being the strategic move (had he done that years ago, he might already be back as a head coach in the NCAA), query how can someone in charge of that jaw-dropping carnage not at least have the tiniest bit of some meaningful level of culpability (with the understanding that many people played a role in this epic disaster)). He amazes me with his (a) long-standing cluelessness, and (b) Mr. Magoo-like characteristics in terms of his surrounding environment.

I have a question for the ardent Briles supporters. My sense is that Briles would do virtually anything to be a head coach again in the NCAA or NFL. Do you have any doubt that if hypothetically, for some strange reason, he needs to throw you (random person X) under the bus in any way necessary to achieve his head coaching aspiration, that he wouldn't blink an eye in doing so?
Wow. There's some real crazy to unravel here.

Jaw-dropping carnage? Holy hyperbole. This wasn't the Bataan Death March. It's not even comparable to other recent scandals like Michigan State or Penn State. The really odd thing is that he's shown contrition a few times in statements, something that a knowledgeable Baylor fan/alum should already know. I guess the guy doesn't think he's responsible for whatever sexual assaults happened on or off campus, which is his opinion.

It's so odd that we still have people on this board, like you, that have these totally polarized views on what happened. It should be obvious that this debacle happened because of various failures of the overall institution. Rarely is there a single actor that carries responsibility.

As to your seriously odd question, uhh...what? I don't know know what the man would or wouldn't do, but I've never seen any remarks to him throwing anyone under the proverbial bus. The guy isn't Stalin or Hitler, nor do any of his remarks read as dictatorial statements.

What do you want the man to say? What will appease you?
Sailor Bear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
"You can look at the letter from Chris Holmes. It exonerates me from any wrongdoing in any sexual assault case," Briles said.

No, Art. It doesn't.
Bear8084
How long do you want to ignore this user?
This is "Let's just talk about football" in high school coaching form.
bear2be2
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Bearish said:

"You can look at the letter from Chris Holmes. It exonerates me from any wrongdoing in any sexual assault case," Briles said.

No, Art. It doesn't.
Like too many coaches, Art is a football savant. Take him outside those white lines and the genius he so ably displays within them disappears completely. It's just amazing a man so intelligent in one arena can be so unintelligent in virtually every other.

The fact that he still doesn't get it after all these years only fuels his critics' fire -- and all but ensures that he'll never be given another opportunity to lead a college program.
Malbec
How long do you want to ignore this user?
BarleyMcDoug said:


What do you want the man to say? What will appease you?
I don't imagine anyone is going to get that act of contrition again. He got betrayed for that already and he's not going to do it again. It doesn't matter anyway. Nobody is going to say, "Thanks Art, that's all we wanted. Now get back to coaching!"
baylorrific
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm definitely not a Board supporter in this epic mess. Frankly, if any one of (a) the Board, (b) Briles, (c) Ian, (d) Starr, or (e) I'm sure others would have stepped up, all this would have been avoidable. That Briles is clueless doesn't mean that the Board wasn't also.

Frankly, I blame the Board by far the most because (a) coaches gonna coach, and (b) given the Bliss basketball scandal, the Board should have been super-proactive on these types of issues.
Sampi82
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Redbrickbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Sampi82 said:


Exactly.

If people wanna have endless talks about Art Briles take it to texags.

The aggy inbreds and tcu cokeheads are the only ones obsessed about this tired ass subject to keep talking about it.
MilliVanilli
How long do you want to ignore this user?
RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

baylorrific said:

Briles just can't do it: He can't show any level of meaningful remorse or contrition. Apart from it being the strategic move (had he done that years ago, he might already be back as a head coach in the NCAA), query how can someone in charge of that jaw-dropping carnage not at least have the tiniest bit of some meaningful level of culpability (with the understanding that many people played a role in this epic disaster)). He amazes me with his (a) long-standing cluelessness, and (b) Mr. Magoo-like characteristics in terms of his surrounding environment.

I have a question for the ardent Briles supporters. My sense is that Briles would do virtually anything to be a head coach again in the NCAA or NFL. Do you have any doubt that if hypothetically, for some strange reason, he needs to throw you (random person X) under the bus in any way necessary to achieve his head coaching aspiration, that he wouldn't blink an eye in doing so?
He has taken much more responsibility in this mess than your beloved Board of Regents. A shame you don't hold them to the same standard.

Yeah.....yeah.....Milli. No need to retaliate. BOOM! I get it. I am a CABer.
You're just really boring, and you're so boring you now rebuke your own yawn worthy posts.
MilliVanilli
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Redbrickbear said:

Sampi82 said:


Exactly.

If people wanna have endless talks about Art Briles take it to texags.

The aggy inbreds and tcu cokeheads are the only ones obsessed about this tired ass subject to keep talking about it.
Wow, the most reasonable thing you've posted. Hope for you yet.
MilliVanilli
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Sampi82 said:


Cabers can't stand it when their fan fiction isn't at the top of the forum, boring and recycled as it all is.
xiledinok
How long do you want to ignore this user?
MilliVanilli said:

Redbrickbear said:

Sampi82 said:


Exactly.

If people wanna have endless talks about Art Briles take it to texags.

The aggy inbreds and tcu cokeheads are the only ones obsessed about this tired ass subject to keep talking about it.
Wow, the most reasonable thing you've posted. Hope for you yet.
Let him know a name on your diploma. It will send the CABERS into a free fall.
MilliVanilli
How long do you want to ignore this user?
xiledinok said:

MilliVanilli said:

Redbrickbear said:

Sampi82 said:


Exactly.

If people wanna have endless talks about Art Briles take it to texags.

The aggy inbreds and tcu cokeheads are the only ones obsessed about this tired ass subject to keep talking about it.
Wow, the most reasonable thing you've posted. Hope for you yet.
Let him know a name on your diploma. It will send the CABERS into a free fall.
Well, he'll like one of the names on it, Kenneth Starr.
Thee University
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Stranger said:

PartyBear said:

The public doesnt even remember who Art Briles is anymore. The actual public face of our scandal to the nation is Ken Starr.


Art played his part but the real dirty dogs in this deal were the ribbon clerk, Ian, and Ken, don't call me Kenneth, Starr.

If either one of those cretins had done there job, Art would still be coaching
True. We would have played at least once and probably twice for the National Championship by now. Art would have had to swallow his pride and ditch a few festering cancers but had Ian an Kenny done their jobs and been leaders, Art would still be coaching.
"The education of a man is never completed until he dies." - General Robert E. Lee
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.