A high-profile Lubbock-based business made a bold statement against Baylor University on Wednesday.
The company’s Facebook page said, “Red Raider Outfitter has chosen NOT to produce a gameday shirt for the Baylor Game.”
“Red Raider Outfitter stands for honesty, integrity, and compassion,” the message posted just before 1:00 p.m. said. “In no way, can we support the shockingly poor handling of the sexual assaults at Baylor.”
In May, Art Briles was fired as Baylor Head Football Coach.
An investigation by Baylor found “specific failings within both the football program and Athletics department leadership, including a failure to identify and respond to a pattern of sexual violence by a football player and to a report of dating violence.”
But that same investigation found evidence of multiple players, not just one, engaged in sexually assaultive behavior.
“We were horrified by the extent of these acts of sexual violence on our campus,” said Richard Willis at the time of Briles’ termination. Willis was chair of the Baylor Board of Regents at the time.
Briles attended Texas Tech having transferred from Houston and graduated in 1979. A year later he started coaching at Sundown High School. From 2000 to 2002 he was the Texas Tech football running backs coach.
In 2007 he became head football coach for Baylor.
For RRO, the firing of Briles and the ousting of Ken Starr as Baylor President was not enough.
RRO’s Facebook post also said, “Red Raider Outfitter stands with the victims and with those who are outraged by Baylor’s mismanagement. You, the fans, have spoken and requested that we not allow the Double T to be printed alongside any Baylor logo.”
Many of RRO’s fans commented in support of the decision.
For example, Steve R. said, “Well said and well done out standing [sic] R.R.O.”
Laura S-R said, “This makes me incredibly proud to be a Red Raider!”
Barbara M. said, “Good job guys! Red Raider for life,” and Selton R. said, “Our football may be bad but at least our people aren’t.”
Calls were made to Baylor and a message was left at the after-hours number of Baylor’s Assistant Vice President for Media Communications.
The Tech football team plays Baylor on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
* Note: We anticipate comments from Steven Spiegelberg, owner of RRO. Please watch KAMC News at Six.
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