Cashing in in Waco
Segment of Baylor community clings to belief Art Briles was wronged, which only tarnishes university further
Brian T. Smith mulls the absurdity of #CAB T-shirts.
What the heck is going on in Waco? Again.
And why in the world would anyone be dumb enough to wait in line just so they could hand over their hard-earned cash and drape a black #CAB T-shirt over their suddenly unholy body? What’s CAB, you wonder? Ask Kendal Briles. He apparently knows the truth.
Art’s son — who doubles as Baylor’s offensive coordinator — inked the initials on his hands during the Bears’ meaningless season-opening home win over Northwestern State on Sept. 2.
Two months later, some wackos set up shop outside McLane Stadium on Saturday, as the No. 17 team in the country hosted and was scorched by TCU 62-22.
Get your fresh Coach Art Briles T-shirts! First-come, first-served! Start your own personal revolution while proudly ignoring all the (allegedly) raped and assaulted women! Sic ’Em!!! All that was missing was an armed militia storming the gates.
Don’t get mad … get even
Your candidate of choice doesn’t get elected? Pick up your musket or move to Canada.
Believe Briles was brutally wronged and hung out to dry in some closed-door, ivory-tower conspiracy? Keep screaming in the dark while waiting for your blacklisted savior to return.
I’m sure it was just a coincidence that Waco’s still-favorite sons wore black jerseys Saturday, despite the fact the school originally promoted a “greenout” versus Gary Patterson on June 26. And I’m certain sophomore receiver Chris Platt was just joking around when he tweeted Friday that “This black out means more than just the uniforms to us. #truthdontlie,” then backtracked like any welltrained Baylor apologist would.
“Art Briles never had any communication with the alleged victim,” #CAB-truther Kendal tweeted Friday, in a bullet-point response that featured multiple coaches’ names and disputed a Baylor regent’s claims that Art intentionally didn’t report an alleged gang rape involving Bears players. Like father, like son. As aw-shucks Art has strategically toured the country, promoting his personal reawakening while rediscovering the simple joys of football, Waco has become ground zero for a holy war disguised as a culture war. Art’s believers vs. the haters. Art’s old staff against the regents.
The Bears’ best wackos taking on the world.
Baylor’s word against Patty Crawford and Title IX.
Taking loyalty too far
I understand loving your cherished school no matter what anyone else says. We all love the redeeming virtues of college football passion. But #CAB on Baylor’s black Saturday?
How clueless can you be? How ashamed you should feel.
Many of us would love to move on from Waco, instead focusing on how Charlie Strong somehow survived another Saturday and why Texas A&M couldn’t handle a week of being an overrated national contender.
But Baylor keeps being Baylor. And there has been nothing more narcissistic, insane and _____ (you can pick the last one) than the lingering Sic ’Em culture in small-town Waco the last two years.
Would any university in America answer a national scandal with a self-branded website labeled “The Truth?”
Only Baylor, which this week linked .edu to “The Facts about the Sexual Assault Crisis at Baylor” on a school internet page, five months after Art was fired.
Does any other football program in the country keep giving the old-fashioned No. 1 salute to in-house officials and outside critics, all while continuing to pretend everyone is out to take down little ol’ Baylor?
Heck, no.
Grobe disappoints
Jim Grobe has been an utter disappointment. The man who was coaxed out of retirement to bring a calm, guiding hand to Baylor’s revival has been overmatched from day one.
Blind Grobe didn’t know who Shawn Oakman was. Out-of-touch Grobe thought it was a brilliant idea to keep Art’s still-revolting old assistants on the staff. Insulated Grobe insisted Baylor had “really, really good kids,” despite all the reported rapes and assaults that brought down Kendal’s father.
No wonder #CAB has become a post-Art code word in Waco. Clueless. Absurd. Backward. For the skeptics believing the truth is out there, here’s a fashion tip from Reality Land.
You can make your own shirt for free. You don’t have to wait in line or shell out cash. All you need is a Sharpie and an old worn-out T. You even get an extra letter to write across the front.
#RAPE