Former Baylor AD Accuses University of Scapegoating Black Players

David Diaz, Senior Executive, Davenport Laroche

Baylor University’s athletic program has been under scrutiny for some time, accused of an institutional culture that allowed sexual assaults to continue unabated and without consequence. Now, one former athletic director, Ian McCaw, is pointing the finger at the largest Baptist university in the country.

McCaw says he is speaking out because he refuses to be part of what he calls a “cover up” and a “phony investigation.” Back in 2016, Baylor leadership found their school embroiled in a massive scandal that centered on the football program. As the issue unfolded and one scathing headline after another tainted the school, McCaw resigned rather than “be part of some Enron cover-up scheme.”

Now, though, McCaw will be called on to say much more than that, as he’s been called to testify in a case in which 10 women are suing the university over the way Baylor officials managed the allegations of assault.

It’s a return to a PR crisis the university thought had faded from the public eye after the school settled multiple lawsuits, fired head football coach Art Briles and demoted university president Ken Starr.

Much of what McCaw said in his initial deposition is still sealed, but some of the choicest quotes have leaked, leading to widespread speculation about what he would testify. In an effort to get out ahead of the story before the full testimony is heard, Baylor released a statement that, while not exactly countering McCaw’s version of events, claimed what has been released was “selectively quoted” and nothing more than “speculation” and “hearsay.”

Plaintiffs’ attorneys fired back, saying McCaw hasn’t tried to dissemble or “hide his responsibility…”

Shortly after the initial reports surfaced back in 2015, Baylor conducted an investigation into how the university had handled previous sexual assault allegations. About a year later, the school released its report, putting the lion’s share of the blame on the football program, while also accusing certain staff of “interfering” with investigations.

The details of that investigations did not put the school in a good light, no matter who officials tried to blame. The investigation uncovered that 19 players had been accused of assaults, including “several gang rapes.” The media reported it as an epidemic problem. Baylor responded by firings, demotions, and public statements that pointed at failures in the football program.

Now, years after the university thought the main crisis was behind them, it’s come back around again, bringing with it a fresh round of accusation and scrutiny.