And for once, logic and common sense have prevailed.
Art Briles is out at Grambling State as its offensive coordinator less than a week after being hired.
In a statement Monday, Briles told Grambling: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of your coaching staff at Grambling State University. Unfortunately, I feel that my continued presence will be a distraction to you and your team, which is the last thing that I want. I have the utmost respect (for) the university, and your players.”
Briles was considered one of the top offensive coaches in the country when he led Baylor from 2008-15, leading the program to a 65-37 record. He left the program in disarray and scandal.
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar astutely summed up why Briles had no place at the school after his hiring was announced.
Oree Banks. Todd Bowles. Rod Broadway. Vyron Brown. Eric Dooley. Broderick Fobbs. Lee Fobbs. Emory Hines. Ozias Johnson. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones. Mickey Joseph. Bob Leahy. Tyrone McGriff. Gabe Northern. Heishma Northern. Trei Oliver. Doug Porter. Eddie Robinson (of course). George Small. James Spady. Melvin Spears. Sam Washington. Doug Williams. Dennis Winston.
All great men who have coached at Grambling State University, perhaps the crown jewel of all HBCU schools from a football perspective.
Art Briles does not belong in their company, but as of now, that’s exactly where Briles lives. This thanks to Hue Jackson, the former NFL head coach and offensive coach who became Grambling’s 14th head coach last December. It was Jackson’s decision to hire Briles as his offensive coordinator, which officially happened on Thursday.
This is the same Art Briles who has been out of college coaching since May, 2016, when Baylor officials suspended him with intent to terminate after sexual assault allegations were made against a number of school athletes, including Briles’ players. In May, 2016, Briles was fired. He later reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the university. Baylor president Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw were suspended, and left the university soon after an internal investigation.
Grambling State coach Hue Jackson attempted to defend his hiring of Briles but all it did was create more backlash.
Pleas Read this statement. #forgiveness #redemption#enlightenment #GramFam pic.twitter.com/XWstabSdll
— HueJacksonFoundation (@HueJacksonFDN) February 25, 2022
Now, Briles is out and one has to wonder what the school administration thinks it has in Jackson.
Former Grambling and NFL star Doug Williams put the decision on blast to The Washington Post.
“I don’t know Art Briles; I’ve never met him in my life,” said Williams, who also had two stints as Grambling’s coach. “But the situation, nobody else would hire him for whatever reason. I don’t know why Grambling State had to go be the one to hire him, so I’m not a fan at all.”
Asked whether he would continue to support the program, Williams said: “Oh, no. I can’t do that. No, no, no. If I support them, I condone it.”
