"No one's said a word to me about a bowl ban," said Baylor football coach Matt Rhule when asked about the school's ongoing NCAA investigation affecting his team, "So, I'm planning on going to a bowl game and we have to earn that."
Now, just because the administration hasn't said anything to Rhule doesn't mean a bowl ban couldn't happen. The NCAA is looking into Baylor for lack of institutional control for its role in the sexual assault scandal and numerous Title IX lawsuits that followed. Investigators also cited former Bears head coach Art Briles with failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance.
"I think the thing that our team has to understand is that these are someone else's stories. This is not our story," said Rhule when asked how he's helping the team through this.
As for the head Bear himself?
"I came into this with my eyes wide open, knowing I was in this for the long haul and that's why I'm so proud of our staff being able to recruit and build this team with everything going on. Cause really, since I've gotten here in December there hasn't been a time without turmoil."
Rhule cannot comment on the investigation since it is ongoing, but he did say he's counseling his team to stay together and support each other during this time.
"What you hope they realize is that we are all in this together and we have no choice but to rely on each other. And, so, I want to go out there Saturday and I want there to be an amazing crowd. And I want the Baylor line to be full. And I want everyone that loves Baylor football, I want them all to be there. But at the end of the day in that locker room it's just you guys. You know what I mean? And those are the people that we have to count on. And when you get to a point in football where you know you can count on everyone in the locker room, you have a chance to do something special."
Baylor hosts Kansas State in McLane Stadium Oct 6 at 2:30 p.m.
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