After being dismissed from Baylor over his role in the football program’s sexual assault scandal, Art Briles issued something vaguely resembling an apology Thursday, copping to having ‘made mistakes,’ while declining to comment much further.
Via ESPN, here is what Briles had to say.
“After 38 years of coaching, I have certainly made mistakes and, in hindsight, I would have done certain things differently,” Briles said in the statement obtained by KWTX in Waco, Texas. “I always strive to be a better coach, a better father and husband, and a better person.
“Keep in mind, the complete scope of what happened here has not been disclosed and unfortunately at this time I am contractually obligated to remain silent on the matter.”
Briles is accused of enabling and maybe covering up multiple instances of sexual assault by a number of Bears players. Members of the Baylor coaching staff and administration reportedly knew of instances of sexual abuse or domestic violence and did not substantially punish the perpetrators. Meanwhile, Briles welcomed Sam Ukwuachu and Shawn Oakman to Baylor after they were dismissed from other programs for off-field infractions, and both were subsequently arrested on sexual assault charges while in Waco.
Last week, Baylor announced its intention to fire Briles, who spent eight years as the Bears’ football coach.
In his statement, Briles addressed victims of sexual assault, though he failed to specifically mention Baylor or directly connect the words “sexual assault” with the university.
“My heart goes out to the victims for the pain that they have endured. Sexual assault has no place on our campus or in our society,” he said. “As a father of two daughters, a grandfather, and a husband, my prayers are with the victims of this type of abuse, wherever they are.”
The phrases “the victims,” “this type of abuse” and “wherever they are” seem to beat around the bush a bit. It sounds like he’s apologizing to generic survivors of sexual violence, as opposed to the specific women potentially affected by his alleged negligence.
Briles’ statement is a half-step up from that of his former boss Ken Starr, who offered to take responsibility for the scandal and then denied all responsibility for the scandal, but certainly doesn’t leave you applauding the former coach. We’re all about ready to see Briles, Starr and company move as far from college sports as possible.
