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Calls to fire Briles surface as Baylor defends football program

Posted at 10:31 PM, May 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-19 23:32:41-04

A tweet from Baylor head football coach Art Briles’s official Twitter account Thursday afternoon is drawing sharp criticism online despite its positive message about the team’s grade point average and graduation rate.

The tweet also included the hashtags “truth don’t lie” and “be courageous” which some people found in poor taste with the team, players, and coaches facing accusations of a sexual assault scandal.

Also Thursday, Baylor Athletic Director Ian McCaw appeared on Sirius XM College Sports defending Coach Briles.

McCaw told the radio host, "Art has done a great job transforming our football program. He is very troubled by behavior issues. We have to do it better."

When asked if coaches have been covering up sexual assault accusations, he answered "not to my knowledge."

McCaw’s appearance on satellite radio came a day after a critical editorial was printed in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Columnist Mac Engel called for Briles's firing.

He wrote, "The quickest way to move on from any scandal is to fire the leadership, but dismissing Baylor president Ken Starr or athletic director Ian McCaw is not going to cut it. The only way Baylor can expedite this sordid ordeal is to fire the one guy whose overall impact in Waco is incalculable."

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