NCAAF: Text Messages From Former Baylor Coach, Art Briles, Reveal Huge Coverup For Football Program

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We already know the scandal involving the Baylor University football program is not pretty but now we are seeing the evidence of just how ugly it was. Text messages from former coach, Art Briles, were revealed this week as part of a lawsuit filed by a former assistant athletic director, who felt he was wrongly fired for being “lumped in” with the rest of the bad seeds in the program. The messages show a coach who knew everything that was going on and never once did the right thing, instead always looking for a way to coverup what his players did and never being concerned for any actual victims.

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There is currently another lawsuit going on from a woman who claims two Baylor players raped her in 2013 and claims players were responsible for 52 rapes over a four year period. Her suit also alleges coverups by the coaching staff and authorities and the text messages being used in this lawsuit I am sure will come in handy for her suit as well.

Former Baylor assistant A.D. Colin Shillinglaw sued the school and several regents for defamation claiming they wrongly lumped him in as one of the main bad guys in the infamous Baylor football scandal.

The following messages are being used as part of the lawsuit and were complied by TMZ

— On April 8, 2011, after a freshman defensive tackle was cited for illegal consumption of alcohol, Coach Briles sent a text message to an assistant coach: “Hopefully he’s under radar enough they won’t recognize name – did he get ticket from Baylor police or Waco? … Just trying to keep him away from our judicial affairs folks….”

— On February 11, 2013, an assistant coach notified Coach Briles of a claim by a female student-athlete that a football player brandished a gun at her. Coach Briles responded: “what a fool – she reporting to authorities.” The assistant coach texted back: “She’s acting traumatized … Trying to talk her calm now… Doesn’t seem to want to report though.” Coach Briles texted: “U gonna talk to [the player].” The assistant coach concluded: “Yes sir, just did. Caught him on the way to class… Squeezed him pretty good.” The matter was never reported to Judicial Affairs.

— On September 13, 2013, Shillinglaw sent a text to Coach Briles about a player who got a massage and “supposedly exposed himself and asked for favors. She [masseuse] has a lawyer but wants us to handle with discipline and counseling.” Coach Briles’ first response was “What kind of discipline… She a stripper?” When Shillinglaw said the player made the request at a salon and spa while getting a massage, Coach Briles wrote, “Not quite as bad.”

— On September 20, 2013, after a player was arrested for assault and threatening to kill a non-athlete, a football operations staff official tried to talk the victim out of pressing criminal charges. Meanwhile, Coach Briles texted Athletics Director Ian McCaw: “Just talked to [the player] – he said Waco PD was there – said they were going to keep it quiet – Wasn’t a set up deal… I’ll get shill (Shillinglaw) to ck on Sibley (local attorney Jonathan Sibley).” Athletics Director Ian McCaw replied: “That would be great if they kept it quiet!”

— In October 2013, Shillinglaw and Briles discussed their efforts to intervene on behalf of a player who was suspended for repeated drug violations. “Bottom line, he has to meet with (Vice President for Student Life Kevin) Jackson tomorrow morning. If Jackson does not reinstate President will,” Shillinglaw wrote.

— On May 14, 2014, after Coach Briles learned from an assistant coach that a player had been caught selling drugs, he texted: “I’m hoping it will take care of itself – if not we can discuss best way to move on it.” The offense was never reported to Judicial Affairs and Coach Briles arranged for the player to transfer to another school. The assistant coach texted: “Him just hanging around Waco scares me. [Another school] will take him. Knows baggage.”

— On August 15, 2015, after a player was arrested for possession of marijuana, Coach Briles texted an assistant coach: “Sh*t – how about that – he’s gonna b (sic) in the system now – let me know what you think we should do… I can get shill (Shillinglaw) to call Sibley or we can…. Do we know who complained?” The assistant coach responded that the complainant was the superintendent at the player’s apartment complex. Coach Briles replied: “We need to know who supervisor is and get him to alert us first.”

It’s all pretty disgusting considering this was supposed to be a man in charge of helping to mold the lives of these young athletes and have their best interests at heart. Instead he allowed his players to get away with everything possible while not holding them accountable for their actions. He was made aware more than once about his players being involved in alleged rapes and still never did anything. This man should never be allowed anywhere near a college campus the rest of his life.

So far there has been no word from Briles regarding these text messages and I’d be shocked if he ever addresses them unless he has to for reasons related to court.