Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas

by Nick Eatman

  Nationally, there was a wide range of speculation that Baylor made the decision on Briles because of a “cover up” in the handling of sexual assault matters. To the coach’s knowledge, considering he was never informed directly by the powers that be, the decision was made only on the number of incidents. As for any cover-up theory, Briles told the Board of Regents during his only meeting with them two days before the decision that he had never once encountered an alleged victim or her parents with a face-to-face meeting or even a phone call. There had never been a conversation between Briles and any of the alleged victims.

  Baylor’s official statement of the personnel changes pointed to “a lack of strong institutional management and control on a number of levels. The Board’s actions reflect a focus on the points at which the most significant levels of accountability and obligation should have been exercised.”

  Acting chair of the Board of Regents Richard Willis was the only spokesperson in the school’s release.

  “We have made these decisions, because, above all, we must safeguard our students and our campus,” said Richard Willis, the acting chair of the Board of Regents. “We must set a new course to ensure the leaders of the University place a premium on responding effectively and with sensitivity to those impacted by the tragedy of interpersonal violence.”

  But there were other factors occurring that puzzled the Briles’ camp and his supporters. For starters, the university took three years to comply with a policy enacted in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Baylor did not hire a full-time Title IX coordinator until 2014. All of the sexual assault complaints against Bears football players occurred in those three years, leaving some to question what kind of procedures and protocols were even in place for Baylor administrators to follow during that time.

  Secondly, the timing of these decisions fell in the middle of some scheduled turnovers on the Board of Regents. Willis, who was considered one of the major proponents in removing Briles, ended his term as BOR Chair on June 1, just six days after making the decision, one of about 10 board members who ended their terms. Was this just a mere coincidence that such a significant decision was coming down at the end of these regents’ term? Or perhaps, could the decision to remove all of the higher-ups at Baylor be an easier call for those who wouldn’t have to experience any of the aftermath of this decision? Also, another prominent Board of Regent, who remained on the board after June 1, told two Baylor assistant coaches in early June that he “doesn’t care if Baylor ever wins another football game.”

  In the span of a few days, Baylor University had been turned upside down. The next few weeks after the decision was a rollercoaster of events that saw some of the school’s biggest donors even try to strong-arm the Regents with threats of ending their gift-giving unless Briles was reinserted as head coach. While there were media reports that suggested that possibility, it was never a legitimate scenario to bring Briles back, and it was never a given that he would’ve accepted a return unless the terms were of his liking.

  With nearly $40 million left on a contract that extended through the 2023 season, Briles wasn’t going away quietly without a fair settlement. He eventually filed a lawsuit against Baylor on June 16, citing wrongful termination. That seemed to get the school’s attention and a settlement was officially agreed upon less than 24 hours later. It took about a week for the official documents to be signed and sealed, and though the terms were not disclosed, Briles was awarded a rather hefty payment.

  But Briles’ firing was only the start. Not only did Baylor lose its highly successful coach, but it also lost most of its highly ranked recruiting class, as 11 incoming freshmen were granted their scholarship releases, making them free to sign with other programs. To no one’s surprise, the University of Texas corralled four of them, including lineman Patrick Hudson and receiver Devin Duvernay. Baylor coaches figured the Longhorns would pounce on their former recruits, considering they were told by several players that, back in February, UT coaches sent out text messages with a link to an ESPN Outside the Lines story that had not aired yet, detailing some of the accusations of the Baylor saga. The Bears staff figured the Texas ties to the Longhorn Network, which is owned by ESPN, was a reason why the rival school’s assistants were able to obtain the story in an attempt to flip some of the recruits before Signing Day. While that didn’t occur then, Texas was able to capitalize on this new opportunity, as did other schools such as Auburn and Oklahoma.

  Other schools were gaining ground thanks to Baylor’s colossal loss—at least on the football field.

  Even some of the current players decided to part ways with Baylor, including quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who chose to join a local community college and sit out a season from football. While Stidham never publicly announced his plans, those close to the football program believe the quarterback wanted to keep three years of eligibility left and possibly join Briles and/or some of the Baylor assistants that might take another job in 2017.

  In the end, the decision-makers at Baylor chose to overlook the success garnered by the football program and focus on rehabilitating its reputation as an institution of higher learning. Briles was in charge of a football program, from top to bottom, that was deemed out of control by its own Board of Regents. And despite all of the success he created for the football program, Baylor opted for a change in leadership.

  Because for all of the gray area that surrounded this situation—from what the coaches actually knew about these cases, to the role that Title IX should’ve played, to the way the Board of Regents received this report and the manner in which they made their changes—one thing was very black and white here: there were victims of sexual assault on the campus of Baylor. The actual number is unclear and some of the cases may still be pending. Regardless, one victim is one too many, and tragically there were even more than that. The fact that many of them occurred in a rather short period of time suggests it was sadly part of the culture on the campus of Baylor, especially within the athletic department, which in this state, always starts and ends with football.

  And just like that, Baylor showed the country that while football was big in Texas, it wasn’t big enough to outrun the problems that have followed it around the country.

  This point was echoed just up the road in Dallas, where the Cowboys faced a similar tough decision with Greg Hardy, whose season had shown him to be a true talent on the football field. In fact, the team had plenty of reasons to re-sign Hardy in 2016, considering its lack of depth along the defensive line. But Hardy could never escape his off-the-field issues. His problems became the Cowboys’ problems, the team forced to defend his actions to fans, sponsors, and even its own players. At the end of the day, despite the need to acquire the best talent at the most important positions, the Cowboys couldn’t justify bringing Hardy back for another year, given his behavior, his past, and what he’d come to represent.

  As different and nearly impossible to compare as the two situations were, both demonstrated in their own way that increasingly, even in Texas, football doesn’t always win. Yes, pigskin is king in the Lone Star State. But if this one season proved anything, it’s that there are limits to every king’s rule. In many ways this is a change that the sport is going through around the country, as fans, teams, coaches, and players at all levels of the game must confront difficult questions about the game they love. In Texas the fans might make football king, but they also look to their teams to produce seasons and people that are worthy of their adoration. Simply loving the sport is no longer enough. The reality of Texas football has grown more complicated.

  THE BEAUTY OF FOOTBALL is that typically, teams get to start over with a clean slate each season. No matter how good or bad the previous year was, the next season is a new chapter.

  As I write this today, Plano High School is holding their summer practices, and Coach McCullough is there, walking them through the five-man sleds, bar
king at his players, trying to find a new starting quarterback and someone to replace a star running back who is off to UCLA. There is no time to rest as fall practices are just a few weeks away.

  Meanwhile NFL camps are in full swing. The Cowboys are looking to move on from their injury plagued season to find something more positive. And whereas in previous years Tony Romo had long been the speculative punching bag for the team’s hopes and dreams, having suffered through the 2015 campaign, fans and the press alike are turning toward him with a sense of optimism, knowing all too well what his absence from the team means. The Cowboys are also hoping a change of scenery might help their fortunes as they move away from their Valley Ranch headquarters into a brand-new, state-of-the-art complex in Frisco, Texas. However, the only change Cowboys fans really care about is getting the team back into the playoffs.

  But getting past the 2015–16 season will likely take much longer for Baylor. Without a doubt, the incidents that transpired during, and mainly after, that season will have a lasting effect for years. The summer included more talk about lawsuits, settlements, and consequential transfers than the customary position battles and rival opponents.

  But nothing is more resilient than football. Even at a place such as Baylor that wants no part of its struggling past that haunted them for many years. A new football season could be the first step in the healing process of what has been a long, difficult off-season for all parties involved.

  Saturdays in Waco may not look the same for a while, but Baylor will have no choice but to bounce back. And while the circumstances are much different, Plano will look to do the same on Fridays, just like the Cowboys will be seeking a redemption season on Sundays.

  The dates on the calendar always change. The players, and even the coaches, eventually revolve as well. But whether it’s a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday in the fall, the passion of football never stops.

  Especially in Texas.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  While I originally planned on writing this book based on the 2014 season, I never found the right publishing options that I deemed suitable for this project. But when HarperCollins came on board, we mutually decided to roll with the 2015 season, a decision that proved to be the right one, in more ways than one.

  Let’s start the thanking process right there with HarperCollins and Matt Harper, who not only shared a vision for this book, but brought different aspects and angles to the project that I had never realized. Working with him and his team at HarperCollins was an absolute pleasure. They’re the best of the best, so it was an honor to be associated with their brand.

  While I’ve written two other books before, this was by far the most challenging project I’d ever endured. Then again, it should be. I realized several times why no other writer had attempted something like this before.

  But I couldn’t have done without the love and support of my family, friends, and undoubtedly my coworkers, who made more sacrifices than they even realize.

  I want to thank the Cowboys organization for allowing me the opportunity and access to write this book. Special thanks to Matt O’Neil, but mainly my boss, Derek Eagleton, who has always taken pride in my success, and once again, was extremely instrumental in giving me both support and encouragement throughout this journey. My team members at the Cowboys often picked me up on days where energy was low. I hope guys like David Helman and Rob Phillips know how much I appreciate them for their ability to pick up the slack. But the entire team of Bryan Broaddus, Kent Garrison, Shannon Gross, Taylor Stern, Ambar Garcia, and Claudia Castillo helped inspire me along the way, just by a simple acknowledgment here and there. On more than one occasion, a coworker would ask me if this or that would be included in the book; and I would respond with a “yes, of course,” even though I actually forgot about that and was so happy for the reminder.

  Many other coaches, players, and staff members at the Cowboys were able to help me with some of the stories and insights. They know who they are, and I want to thank all of them for their contributions.

  Moving on to Baylor, I made a promise that I would always include Art Briles in the acknowledgments of any book I ever wrote, simply for the fact that he opened the door for me back in 2013, allowing me to write his biography, Looking Up. It was an honor to write that book, and I’m sure I wouldn’t have just finished a third book had he not given me that chance. But I actually need to thank him again for this book for giving me more than enough of his time to help this process. His entire family, including oldest daughter, Jancy Briles, was extremely gracious with their time and insight.

  Special thanks to many Baylor support staff members, most notably Diane McPheeters, who has a zillion things on her plate, but still made time to help.

  At Plano, head coach, Jaydon McCullough, granted me the access I needed to get a front-row view of his team, not only this year but in recent seasons as well. I want to thank him and his staff for their hospitality. Some of the coaches were very helpful, but none more so than Chris Fisher. Without a doubt, of all the subjects I’ve written about in my three books, telling his story and his journey is by far the most gratifying and inspiring.

  The students at Plano who gave me their time—Matt Keys, Darion Foster, and Brandon Stephens—were all amazing kids to work with. I look forward to watching their progress in life, in whatever field—football, business, or anything else—they choose to take.

  I also want to acknowledge Colin Brence and Sam Tecklenburg, along with their families. Because the timeline was pushed back, their stories weren’t as prominent, but I do appreciate the time and generosity that were given to me.

  I can’t go on any further without mentioning my personal editor, Kurt Daniels, who is much more than that. He not only serves as an unbiased proofreader and fact-checker, but he’s helped open some doors for me with all three of my books, so that has made him a huge part of my own success. I hope he knows just how much I value his opinion, not to mention the time he’s spent reviewing my work.

  Saving the best for last, my family is as supportive a group as you’ll ever find. My mother, Camille, is one of the best proofreaders I know, and she and her husband, Robb, couldn’t wait to get their hands on this manuscript. My dad, Tim, is saving a spot on his bookshelf for this one, which is probably the only time I’ll ever share a spot next to Tom Clancy or James Patterson.

  My daughter, Olivia, told me she can’t wait until she gets older so she can not only read the books I write, but understand them, too. I hope she knows that a statement like that from a nine-year-old is worth more than ever cracking a book. Her mother, Josie, has always been understanding when it comes to shuffling schedules around.

  My stepdaughter, Marisa, had to grow up fast this past year by helping out around the house when I wasn’t there, especially on the weekends when I was covering three games in three days.

  But the true hero in this entire process was my beautiful wife, Julie. We welcomed our son, Jacob, to the family in June of 2015, and she spent many days and nights tending to him while I was on the road. Dividing time was a big challenge, but Julie never lost sight of the ultimate goal. At her own job, she loves to show people my books, and I have no doubt she will take great pride in showing off this one as well.

  Of course, I might beat her to the punch on that one. Although trying to stay humble, I don’t mind admitting the pride I have in completing this project. I knew it was something that hadn’t been done before, and I pushed myself to limits I didn’t know I had.

  Overall, these past two seasons have been quite a journey. Moving the book from 2014 to 2015 turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Sure, there were a few more losses this time around, but it made me realize that there is more to Texas football than just winning.

  Sure this state loves a winner, but more than anything, this state just loves football.

  Something you can see rather clearly, whether it’
s Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

  PHOTO SECTION

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  NICK EATMAN is the author of Art Briles: Looking Up, and If These Walls Could Talk: Dallas Cowboys. He writes and manages DallasCowboys.com, the club’s official website, and has been with the Cowboys organization since 1999. He has written for CBSSports.com and the Associated Press, and has been a three-year host of The Jerry Jones Show. He lives in The Colony, Texas, with his wife, Julie, and their children, Marisa, Olivia, and Jacob.

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  CREDITS

  Cover design by Ervin Serrano

  Cover photograph © Tom Pennington/Getty Images

  COPYRIGHT

  FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY IN TEXAS. Copyright © 2016 by Nicholas Eatman. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  FIRST EDITION

  Digital Edition SEPTEMBER 2016 ISBN: 978-0-06-243334-3

  Print ISBN: 978-0-06-243331-2

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