Bears suspend four players
According to ESPN, three are believed to be involved in an ongoing sexual assault investigation.
Baylor coach Matt Rhule announced Wednesday that four players have been suspended for spring football workouts, but he would not provide reasons why they weren’t participating.
All four have been “separated” from the team, Rhule said. In this specific case, Rhule said “sepa- rated” meant the same as suspended, although all four still are enrolled in school. Spring practice starts Thursday.
Three of the four are believed to be involved in an ongoing sexual assault investigation, according to an ESPN report that two members of the Baylor women’s equestrian team said they were sexu-
ally assaulted Nov. 12, hours after the Bears played Texas Tech in football at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.
A police report said the women told officials about the incident five days later. The names of four alleged suspects and six witnesses were redacted from the report. The two alleged victims were identified as Jane Doe and Donna Smith.
No charges have been filed. Rhule said the players accused of assault were removed from the team as soon as the school was notified. They weren’t on the sidelines for Baylor’s final two games, a home loss to Iowa State and a road loss at TCU.
The suspended players are sophomore linebacker Eric Ogor, junior safety Tre’von Lewis, redshirt freshman defensive back John Arthur and redshirt freshman defensive end Justin Harris. Ogor was the only player who appeared in games last season.
Rhule replaced Art Briles, who was fired in May 2016 after an independent investigation concluded the football team believed itself to be above the law when dealing with sexual assault allegations made against its players. Baylor also demoted school President Ken Starr, who then resigned. Athletic Director Ian McCaw was placed on probation. He later resigned.
There have been 10 Title IX lawsuits filed against the school. The school is being investigated by the NCAA, U.S. Department of Education and the Texas Rangers.
Rhule said he was being as open as possible. He said that, by design, he did not personally make disciplinary decisions regarding the players who are being investigated for sexual assault. A school committee decided to suspend the players.
“There’s a bad culture when kids do bad things and grown-ups hide them,” Rhule said. “And nobody is hiding anything here.”
Rhule said he has met with police.
Baylor President Linda Livingstone released a statement Tuesday night saying, “Baylor University takes any allegation of sexual assault seriously. The university’s new leadership team is unwavering in our commitment to follow our well-documented Title IX policy and procedures in regards to reporting and responding to incidents of sexual assault. The responsibility of responding to alleged incidents of sexual violence does not rest solely in the hands of any specific individual or unit. It is a University response dictated by our Title IX policy. Baylor University remains committed to providing for the safety and security of our campus community.”
Notes: Starting quarterback Charlie Brewer, a former Lake Travis standout, will be limited in spring drills. Rhule said Brewer aggravated a shoulder injury, which dates to his high school career, in the season finale against TCU. The Bears have only one other scholarship quarterback on the team — Gerry Bohanon, a four-star prospect who enrolled in January. Preston Heard, a sophomore walk-on, also will get reps at quarterback.