Baylor Lawsuit Contains Allegations of 52 Rapes by Football Players in 4 Years
Jan 27, 2017
BUFFALO, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: A Baylor Bears helmet on the sidelines during the game against the Buffalo Bulls at UB Stadium on September 12, 2014 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
A former Baylor University student filed a lawsuit against the school Friday for negligence and Title IX violations after she alleged two football players raped her in 2013, according to the Dallas Morning News' Sarah Mervosh.
The lawsuit also alleges 31 football players committed 52 rapes—five of which were gang rapes—from 2011 to 2014.
The plaintiff, who's listed as Elizabeth Doe in the filing, said former football players Tre'Von Armstead and Shamycheal Chatman raped her after a party on April 18, 2013, per Mervosh.
Beyond the specific rape allegations levied against Armstead and Chatman, the suit alleges Baylor promoted a culture that "used sex to sell" the program to high school players who were considering committing to the university.
On Saturday, Baylor president David Garland wrote a letter responding to the allegations:
President David Garland provides an update for the #Baylor family on the latest allegations.
Doe's lawsuit comes on the heels of an October report from the Wall Street Journal's Brad Reagan that shed light on negligence by former members of the football program.
According to Reagan, members of the school's board of regents disclosed that former head coach Art Briles "knew about an alleged incident and didn't alert police, the school's judicial-affairs staff or the Title IX office in charge of coordinating the school's response to sexual violence."
Furthermore, regents told Reagan 17 women "reported sexual or domestic assaults involving 19 players, including four alleged gang rapes," dating back to 2011.
Bryan Fischer of CollegeFootballTalk provided more details from the lawsuit:
Well, maybe the NCAA will get involved with Baylor based on these allegations in the most recent lawsuit pic.twitter.com/slpE2cyybU
Baylor fired Briles following a comprehensive investigation and review of the school's Title IX procedures by law firm Pepper Hamilton LLP.
As part of its official findings, Pepper Hamilton concluded there were "specific failings within both the football program and athletics department leadership, including a failure to identify and respond to a pattern of sexual violence by a football player and to a report of dating violence."
Gavin Holmes to Baylor: Bears Land 4-Star WR Prospect
Jan 22, 2017
Baylor has added one of the more dynamic receivers in the 2017 recruiting class, Gavin Holmes.
The 4-star recruit announced his decision on Twitter on Sunday:
Holmes is the No. 58 receiver in the country and the 15th-best pass-catcher in Texas, although his 4.43-second 40-yard-dash time shows his upside as a playmaker.
At 5'11", 178 pounds, Holmes isn't likely to be a red-zone threat but should still have more than enough size to handle the rigors of Division I football.
While the Texas native originally committed to Iowa, he apparently had a "change of heart," while also blaming the program's no-visit policy, per Chris Cuellar and Zack Creglow of HawkCentral.com (via USA Today).
He also considered Nebraska and Arizona State before settling on Baylor for now.
This represents a big addition for the Bears, with Holmes being the first 4-star recruit in the 2017 class. New head coach Matt Rhule will need to keep this up if he wants to be able to compete in the Big 12.
Recruit rankings and information courtesy of Scout unless otherwise noted.
An Army of One: Baylor's Lone 2017 Commit Jalen Pitre Staying Loyal to Bears
Dec 7, 2016
Baylor's recruiting class has had its struggles, but 3-star safety Jalen Pitre has remained true to his pledge. Pitre committed to the Bears on July 24, 2015.
He's seen recruits come and go, coaches depart following scandal and administrators resign. He's been asked frequently what his next steps are, almost as if the inquisitive expect him to change his mind about his college plans.
It's been a sad reality of Jalen Pitre's recruiting process. As the lone 2017 commit to Baylor, much of it is expected. What may be unexpected to some is Pitre, a 3-star safety from Stafford, Texas, is solid with his pledge.
Rock-solid. Regardless of all the outside news.
"It's been a bumpy road, but it has been a good experience for me," said the 5'11", 195-pound Pitre. "I feel like I'm making the right decision with Baylor."
A sexual assault scandal that led to the firing of head coach Art Briles in May left the program in shambles. Committed since July 24, 2015, Pitre has watched a handful of athletes pledge to and then decommit from Baylor—the majority of those players leaving shortly after Briles' departure.
There was a time when Pitre thought he'd be joined next season by 5-star linebacker Baron Browning (now committed to Ohio State), the Texas A&M-bound, IMG Academy 4-star duo of quarterback Kellen Mond and wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon, and fellow secondary members Donovan Stiner (Houston) and Noah Daniels, who, Nov. 27, was the most recent member of Baylor's class to decommit.
"For a second, I was like, 'Why?' Why would you want to decommit?" Pitre said. "But maybe they saw something different, and I can't knock that. It's your choice; you do what's best for you.
"When Coach Briles got fired, it stunned me a little. It was heartbreaking. He's a great man, and I don't think he deserved what happened. But I know that things like that happen. And when it happened, I couldn't be mad when the other guys decommitted. At the end of the day, I know they had to make best the decisions for them."
They all left. Pitre didn't. Why? That's the question Pitre answers regularly, and his answer has a few bullet points.
First, Pitre said he was looking at his academic future. Baylor has a solid academic reputation, and he often thinks of the day he'll walk across a stage after earning a bachelor's degree from Baylor, possibly in biology, and having the opportunity to enroll in medical school.
"Baylor's a great school and stands out in Texas as having one of the best medical schools," he said. "You never know about going to the NFL, so you have to look at what to do after football."
In addition to academics, Pitre said Baylor's loyalty will not be forgotten. He tore his ACL midway through last season, and the school made sure to keep him a priority in its recruiting class.
"Baylor told me that they were going to stick by my side," he said. "They said they wanted me to focus on getting better. That pretty much sealed it for me right there. They showed that they were committed to me just as much as I'm committed to them."
Tuesday morning, Baylor announced the hiring of new head coach Matt Rhule, who led Temple to back-to-back 10-win seasons and this year's American Athletic Conference championship. Rhule, an offensive line coach for the New York Giants prior to being Temple's head coach, will be introduced at Baylor during a campus ceremony Wednesday.
Pitre said he was excited about the news and added he would reach out to Rhule as the lone commit. He said he's ready to help build the class in the final two months before Feb. 1's national signing day.
"He's a great coach," Pitre said of Rhule. "I'm looking forward to meeting him and getting to work."
Rhule will have a playmaker to work with. Per MaxPreps, Pitre recorded a team-high 83 tackles (59 of those solo), six interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in his senior season. He helped Stafford to a 10-4 record and a trip to the Texas Class 4A Division I state quarterfinals.
Being Baylor's solo pledge has allowed Pitre to reflect on his principles. He said his main goal in recruiting was "staying honest to yourself and being loyal to the people who were loyal to you."
And now, with a new coach locked in, he has a chance to be a class leader.
"I'm going to work hard for those guys just like it was Coach Briles and his coaches," he said. "I know hard work will get me wherever I need to go, no matter who the coach is. I think that will take me a long way.
"As far as the other recruits out there, follow your hearts. Do what's right to you. I know Baylor is a good school. Don't look at all the negative things all the other people are talking about. Don't let any of that rub off on your decision."
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst. All player ratings are courtesy of Scout.com. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
Matt Rhule Named Baylor Head Coach: Latest Contract Details and Reaction
Dec 6, 2016
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Matt Rhule of the Temple Owls in action during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 17, 2016 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Baylor hired Temple head coach Matt Rhule as its new head coach Tuesday.
"I am truly honored and humbled to join the Baylor Family," Rhule said, per Matt Bonesteel of the Washington Post, "and I can't thank President [David] Garland and [athletic director] Mack Rhoades enough for this incredible opportunity.
"Baylor is a tremendous institution with a history of football success, and I know the passion that so many have for the Bears will help bring the community together to reach even greater heights. I am excited to get started."
Rhule, 41, has continued to develop Temple's football program since taking over as head coach in 2013, leading the Owls to a 28-23 record, two consecutive 10-win seasons and two bowl games in his four seasons at the helm.
Before Rhule, the Owls had posted just three winning seasons in the past 22 years. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller thinks the hire was a slam dunk:
I grew up a Texas fan. @CoachMattRhule at Baylor scares me. He's going to do great things.
Baylor's program was turned upside down in the wake of sexual assault allegations against football players—and the university's mishandling of those situations—and it needed a positive change. Rhule will indeed be tasked with changing the culture at the school.
But he'll also need to win games, and Dan Wolken of USA Today and Sam Vecenie of Sporting News identified one key area for the new coach to address:
Key for Rhule will be to hire a staff that knows the state of Texas. When Al Golden went to Miami, he brought a lot of Temple guys. Disaster
Expectations will be high for Rhule immediately. Former head coach Art Briles, who was fired for his role in the sexual assault scandals, led the team to four 10-win seasons and two conference titles in five years.
Rebuilding the program's reputation and culture while maintaining a high level of play is no small task, but the university clearly feels Rhule can handle it.
Baylor Reaches Financial Settlement with 2 Rape Victims: Details, Reaction
Nov 22, 2016
FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2007, file photo, Art Briles answers questions after being introduced as the new coach of the Baylor University football team during a press conference in Waco, Texas. Baylor University has explained for the first time how Briles, the school's former football coach and others responded to a woman's claims that she was gang-raped by five players. University officials told The Dallas Morning News on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, that the student-athlete informed her coach in April 2013 that she had been assaulted a year earlier and provided the names of the players. The university contends the coach reported the matter to Briles, ex-athletic director Ian McCaw and a sports administrator. (AP Photo/Duane A. Laverty, File
Baylor University announced it reached an undisclosed financial agreement with two women who were allegedly gang raped by football players in 2012.
Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com received a statement on the settlement from attorneys. These assaults were previously unreported and are separate from the highly publicized alleged gang rape that has implicated former Bears coach Art Briles and others in a cover-up.
One of the two women alleged an additional sexual assault involving a football player that took place in 2013. Baylor interim president David E. Garland confirmed none of the players allegedly involved in either case are still with the university. Members of the athletic department notified of these cases, which were not prosecuted by the law or Baylor, are also no longer employed.
The names of all parties involved have remained undisclosed. Attorneys have also kept the details of the case and terms of the financial settlement private.
Baylor's handling of sexual assault allegations—specifically those involving student-athletes—have made national headlines throughout the year. Briles, university president Ken Starr and athletics director Ian McCaw each left the university amid multiple Title IX lawsuits filed by women who said the university tried silencing their reports of rape and other forms of sexual assault.
Law firm Pepper Hamilton, which Baylor retained to investigate its handling of these claims, determined the university's code of conduct led to a chilling effect on reported rapes. The report said "'perceived judgmental responses' to victims who reported being raped 'created barriers' to reporting assaults," per Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press.
One woman who is suing the university said she was gang raped by five football players in 2012. A former student-athlete, the woman informed her coach of the incident in 2013 and named each of the players involved, per Claire Ballor of the Dallas Morning News.
Baylor said Briles, McCaw and an unnamed sports administrator were informed but did not report the event to the university's judicial affairs department. Briles, through attorneys, said that account is false and the university was properly informed.
That case is still pending. Baylor is also facing lawsuits from multiple other women who said the university covered up sexual assaults.
Zach Smith Pass Complete to Chris Platt for 24-Yard Touchdown
Nov 19, 2016
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Matt Rhule Reportedly Will Be Named Baylor Head Coach
Nov 18, 2016
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 17: Matt Rhule of the Temple Owls in action during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 17, 2016 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
With Baylor's football team experiencing a slide under interim head coach Jim Grobe, the program has reportedly settled on a new full-time replacement.
Continue for updates.
Baylor Reportedly Hires Rhule
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman, citing a source, reported Temple's Matt Rhule will be named Baylor's new head coach.
Brohm to Sit Down with Baylor
Saturday, Dec. 3
Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reported Baylor is set to meet with Western Kentucky head coach Jeff Brohm on Sunday.
MacIntyre Denies Interest in Baylor Job
Saturday, Dec. 3
"I'm not going to Baylor," Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre said, per Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post. "I love it at Colorado. And my family loves Colorado."
Baylor Still Paring Down Candidate List
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Forde reported there are five or six candidates still in contention for the Baylor head coaching position.
On Monday, Travis Haney of 247Sports reported North Carolina's Larry Fedora and California's Sonny Dykes were among the coaches in the mix.
Baylor Zeroing In on Dykes for Head Coaching Vacancy
Tuesday, Nov. 29
Dykes is "expected to be the focus" of Baylor's search, according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com.
Morris Reportedly Out of Running
Monday, Nov. 28
Haney reported that "Baylor and [SMU head coach Chad] Morris are moving on."
Haney's sources said negotiations "hit a snag" over Morris' desire for "another in-state job driving the price tag" and Baylor's waning interest after SMU's loss to Navy in which it allowed 75 points.
On Nov. 22, Pat Doney of NBC 5 reported Morris had agreed in principle to take the Baylor job. However, Feldman reported Doney's report was "not true" and that the job hasn't been offered to any candidate.
John Werner of the Waco Tribune-Herald later reported Morris hadn't even been contacted regarding the opening.
On Nov. 18, Haney reported Morris was among the candidates Baylor was considering.
Morris is just 7-17 in two seasons with the Mustangs, but they are 5-7 in 2016 and hold a victory over Houston. A source indicated to Haney that Baylor's higher-ups are comfortable with the idea of Morris' being the school's next head coach.
Miles Reportedly Under Consideration
Friday, Nov. 18
CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd noted Nov. 16 that former LSU head coach Les Miles is in the mix to be the next head coach at Baylor.
According to Dodd, Miles is open to the possibility of any Power Five job, including Baylor.
Miles is the most successful of all the options linked to Baylor with a national championship to his credit and seven 10-win seasons at LSU.
Baylor Slumped to End Season
The school installed Grobe as the Bears head coach after Art Briles was fired amid sexual assault allegations by Baylor students against some of his players.
Baylor started 6-0 under Grobe this season, but it lost five straight to end the season and struggled mightily on the defensive side.
Baylor has proved to be a contending team in recent years, as it won at least 10 games in four of five seasons from 2011 through 2015, but it has yet to get over the hump in terms of vying for a national championship.
Seth Russell Completes to KD Cannon for 24-Yard Touchdown
Nov 12, 2016
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Seth Russell Injury: Updates on Baylor QB's Recovery from Ankle Surgery
Nov 12, 2016
WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 5: Seth Russell #17 of the Baylor Bears loss to throw as Baylor takes on the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half at McLane Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Baylor announced quarterback Seth Russell suffered a dislocated ankle when his leg became trapped under a defender when he was tackled on Nov. 12 against the Oklahoma Sooners. Medical officials carted him off the field and placed his leg in an air cast. He had surgery on Wednesday to repair the injury.
Continue for updates.
Russell's Surgery Details Revealed
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Russell underwent successful surgery on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, adding he is questionable for the Senior Bowl on Jan. 28 and has accepted an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 28.
Grobe Comments on Russell's Timeline to Return
Saturday, Nov. 12
Head coach Jim Grobe said Russell is unlikely to play again this season, per Jessica Morrey of KCEN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUHPFHiMFHU
Russell Carted Off with Gruesome Injury
Saturday, Nov. 12
The Waco Tribune-Herald's John Werner reported Russell was carted off the field. Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel noted the injury was "gruesome-looking." Yahoo Sports' Dr. Saturday reported Russell's left leg was placed in an air cast.
Rivals' Josh McCuistion noted the injury was hard to watch:
For those who haven’t seen it, Seth Russell is done for the season. Don’t watch that replay, it’s awful.
Several OU players spoke to Russell as he was being carted off the field, per Abigail Ogle of KOCO 5 News:
Instead of watching replay of Seth Russell's gruesome injury… Watch this. Notice how much respect the OU stars have for this quarterback. pic.twitter.com/oIRtAIfCrz
Last year, Russell suffered a neck injury that required surgery after he started the first seven games. His absence opened the door for Jarrett Stidham, who later transferred from the school.
Under Grobe, Russell entered Saturday completing 55.5 percent of his passes for 1,978 yards and 19 touchdowns.
In Russell's absence, Zach Smith will be tasked with taking over Baylor's offense.
Art Briles, Baylor AD Reportedly Didn't Report Alleged 2012 Sexual Assault
Nov 12, 2016
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 26: A Baylor Bear helmet before a game against the Texas Tech Raiders at Cowboys Stadium on November 26, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Baylor Bears defeated the Texas Tech Raiders 66-42. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images)
Baylor University released a statement Friday evening saying former head football coach Art Briles and ex-athletic director Ian McCaw failed to report an alleged 2012 sexual assault to the university's judicial affairs office.
According to ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, the alleged assault involved five football players and one female student-athlete—who disclosed the events to her coach in 2013.
"According to Baylor's investigation, neither the head coach, the athletic director, the sports administrator or the football coach disclosed the reported sexual assault to Baylor's Judicial Affairs or to anyone else outside of the Athletics Department," the school's statement said.
Last week, trustee David Harper told the Dallas Morning News' Sharon Grigsby that Briles failed to report at least one alleged gang rape during his time as head coach.
"He was made aware of one of the allegations of a gang rape," he said. "At least one of them. I can't tell you if he knew or didn't know about the others."
Baylor offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, Art's son, denied his father failed to follow the correct operating procedure:
The Wall Street Journal's Brad Reagan detailed similar allegations of negligence against Baylor's former head football coach, according to the school's board of regents.
"In one of the alleged gang rapes, the victim, who also was an athlete, told her coach that she didn’t want to go the police," Reagan wrote. "When notified of the allegation, Mr. Briles told the victim's coach that he hoped she would go to the police, according to people familiar with the matter."
Reagan also reported that Briles didn't approach the school's judicial affairs or Title IX office despite being notified of the allegations.
On Nov. 8, Reagan reported the NCAA had informed Baylor it would avoid sweeping sanctions like the ones imposed against Penn State following the Jerry Sandusky sexual assault scandal.
"Baylor has taken sweeping actions to ensure students on our campus will never again have to wonder whether Baylor will stand with them and support them if they are victimized in any way," board of regents chairman Ron Murff wrote. "The University has made dramatic improvements in our response to sexual violence – and those efforts will continue."
