Rhule gives Baylor shot at fresh start
A room full of Baylor supporters stood together, hands raised in the air singing the words to “That Good Old Baylor Line.”
Almost 400 of them sat at tables decorated with green and gold trinkets. One side of the room featured long tables of Bears garb for sale. Another corner housed a table selling tickets to football games this upcoming season.
Many in attendance were on their lunch breaks, taking an hour out of the day to flock to the JW Marriott on Westheimer to hear what new football coach Matt Rhule had to say.
This time last year, Baylor fans were stunned by the allegations coming out constantly about their school and their athletic department.
An interim head coach — Jim Grobe — was named while several of the remaining assistant coaches stayed loyal to the fired Art Briles.
More victims of sexual assault were coming forward, and more details were spilling out about some of the reckless behavior by several athletes, coaches and administrators at the university.
It wasn’t the usual excitement an impending football season for a major program brings.
Fast-forward to Monday in Houston.
With a new coach comes a breath of fresh air.
In the past couple of weeks, from Big 12 media days to a series of ESPN show appearances to a few fan gatherings like the one hosted by the Touchdown Club of Houston, Rhule has said and done everything exactly the right way.
The change was needed for Baylor to truly move forward after such a tumultuous time.
Rhule never has shied away from addressing the school’s issues.
A sexual assault scandal that resulted in the firings of the athletic director and the football coach and the resignation of the school president is a lot with which to deal.
It also is a lot for a coach — one several schools were interested in hiring away from Temple — to walk into. Rhule has faced a variety of challenges.
There are some recruits who want nothing to do with the program because of what has happened.
There are negative rumors floating around.
There is an ongoing NCAA investigation.
But he is willing to talk about all of it.
Transparency, honesty and openness have been his platforms from Day 1. It is remarkably genuine, and the kind of approach that would help a lot of programs.
“At the end of the day, kids just want someone to be honest with them,” Rhule said. “We talk about where we are going, what we are trying to accomplish. We talk about being part of the solution.”
Rhule has a big opportunity, and it extends beyond the field. He can help Baylor truly change its culture.
At Monday’s luncheon, he spoke candidly about his goals and values.
“I want to win games,” he said. “I want to put guys in the NFL. But I also want men who can be good role models.”
He spoke of his father and 13-year-old son.
“I watched how my father treated people, how he treated my mother,” he said.
Rhule cares about treating everyone with respect and won’t tolerate the behavior from his players that his predecessor apparently did.
In February, defensive back Travon Blanchard was suspended from the team when a McLennan County judge issued a protective order against him after a woman claimed he had broken her finger and slammed her against a car. He has not participated in team activities and won’t any time soon.
“Travon’s been suspended since the very first day we heard about that incident,” Rhule said at Big 12 media days. “That’s kind of our policy, suspended until university inquiry and anything legal happens.”
In addition to his desire to run a clean program, Rhule also is fitting seamlessly into the role football plays in the state of Texas.
At the high school coaches convention in Houston this week, he met with several coaches.
He is charismatic, funny and is even starting to drop “y’all” into conversations.
Rhule spends no time bashing the regime before him. He always is looking forward and trying to think of ways to make the program better. On and off the field.
Rhule has one of the biggest challenges in college football.
He is trying to turn things around at a school that has dealt with blow after blow and worked hard to make things right.
So far, he seems like the kind of man who can help with that cause.
“The message is that good days are ahead,” Rhule said. “This wasn’t my only option. I came here because it was the best option. I truly believe that coming to Baylor is the best decision I’ve ever made.”