Texas Monthly article on Baylor

[Arkpony]

It's horrible this happened. But I'm not understanding what Baylor did wrong.

Is he serious?

[Webmaster]

I would never, ever defend Baylor. I think they're a bit too hypocritical for that going way back to the basketball murder scandal, among others. But...

We run into the same sort of issue with SMU frequently, and that is because student-athletes are often minors, and probably for other reasons as well, I believe it is actually against the law (lawyers, please fell free to jump in and clarify this point) to infringe upon a student-athlete's right to privacy. This happens all the time with injuries, failed tests, eligibility, etc.

So, for example, when Phil Bennett referred to "unspecified reasons" at that luncheon in Ft. Worth, that was all he probably COULD say. Plus the fact that an indigtment isn't a conviction, so likewise, the school might decide it's in everyone's best interests not to let him on the field while the trial is pending, but it would be another matter to kick him off the team until the investigation was completed.

So I don't really blame BU for their 'silence'; they don't have much choice in the matter. The issue here is that evidently Baylor knew what type of player they were recruiting, and they apparently brought him in anyway despite the fact that they knew they were potentially putting other students at risk. Shameful.

[ponyboy]

Thank you Webmaster. That's what I was asking.

[smusic 00]

Baylor investigated and found no offense was committed. Jury of his peers in state court disagreed.

[shadowman]

Baylor investigated and found no offense was committed. Jury of his peers in state court disagreed.

This is the crux of the whole thing. The "investigation" Baylor did on the matter was so shoddy and one sided that the court did not allow the defense to reference it in his trial, basically the court called their investigation a joke.

Which is more believable? Baylor is so inept, they cannot run an investigation, or there was pressure to come to a conclusion that allowed him to stay on campus and play football?

[ponyboy]

Sad story for all involved.

[LA_Mustang]

But what about popped collars??

[Puckhead48E]

Wow...yeah...so, I'll try. Baylor grabbed a player they wanted on a transfer from BSU after being dismissed from the school and team for violations. Almost immediately after arriving, there is a report of sexual assault committed by this player. They performed an "investigation" that Roger Goodell would think is short on data and decided he was good to go.

Basically, they wanted the guy to play so they did what made them feel good to confirm their preconceived position that his playing eligibility was paramount to all other concerns. They should get hammered, and the DoJ Title 9 investigation should follow shortly as well as a thorough and deserving public assault by the media on a national scale. There is a clear difference between how a coach reports potential issues at a presser and how a university investigates serious crimes.

[couch 'em]

Be careful of taking an article like this as a full chronicle of the facts. The end is tragic, but you can't sentance Baylor based on this one piece. The player who was found guilty is another matter.

[RyanSMU98]

There's also a chance Baylor gets hit with some Title IX violations when it comes to reporting about the assault. Not sure their "investigation" is going to be enough to get them out of that or not. Bennett probably had to keep it generic due to FERPA and other rules, but for him to say that he thought this piece of trash was going to play again is just ridiculous and I think that's where it gets ugly for the Bears. That they didn't suspend this kid from the team IMMEDIATELY while the investigation was going on is suspect, and further when the grand jury indicted him this kid should've been done. The school failed this young lady on so many levels, and sadly it is not uncommon.

[Digetydog]

It's horrible this happened. But I'm not understanding what Baylor did wrong. Now that he's been convicted, you take appropriate action.

Let's see: What did they do wrong?
1) They took a kid with a history of violence against women off of Boise State's hands;
2) When he raped one of their student athletes, they responded ...
3) by clearing him after conducting a comical investigation that would make Florida State blush;
4) by forcing the victim to attend classes and tutorials with her rapist; AND
5) by taking away the victim's soccer scholarship.

About the only think they did correct was keep him off the field.

[StallionsModelT]

PonySnob wrote:
Any chance he goes to China like the last 5 Star?

LA Mustang wrote:
Great question, and original. SMU folk are smart. Pop that collar.

[LA_Mustang]

PonySnob wrote:
Any chance he goes to China like the last 5 Star?

LA Mustang wrote:
Great question, and original. SMU folk are smart. Pop that collar.

Sure did, but that was in another thread that had nothing to do with Baylor, or with the subject of this thread. Why bring that to this thread?? What is the correlation, and again, what is your point?

[StallionsModelT]

Just wondering if you have the same disdain for stereotypes of others schools as you do your own All in good fun.

[LA_Mustang]

Just wondering if you have the same disdain for stereotypes of others schools as you do your own All in good fun.

It's strange timing, and out of left field, but okay. I don't care for negative stereotypes period, especially those about my school. All they do is put a blanket over entire groups. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like that. Anyway, that's a whole other discussion for a different forum. I still don't understand what stereotype this story perpetuates about Baylor, other than at times they throw morality out the window when it comes to athletics.