Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. You may have heard about Hue Jackson and Art Briles and some very weird tweets and wondered what’s up with that. We’re here to help.
Art Briles is back coaching college football, with Grambling State hiring the former disgraced Baylor coach as an offensive coordinator.
It’s a decision that has rocked the college football world, and rightfully so. But it was made MUCH worse when the foundation for Grambling head coach Hue Jackson tweeted a statement in support of Briles … and that’s just the beginning.
Let’s explain:
Why is the hiring of Art Briles so controversial?
Back in 2016, Briles was fired after law firm Pepper Hamilton found the coach oversaw a program rife with accusations of misconduct. Multiple players were accused of sexual assault during Briles’ tenure.
“[Baylor] failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University.”
So why would anyone hire Briles after that?
That’s a great question that A LOT of people are asking.
What did Hue Jackson say about it?
Jackson’s foundation, which, according to its website and Twitter bio exists “to combat Human Trafficking”, released a lengthy statement Monday defending hiring Briles:
Pleas Read this statement. #forgiveness #redemption#enlightenment #GramFam pic.twitter.com/XWstabSdll
— HueJacksonFoundation (@HueJacksonFDN) February 25, 2022
“As we move forward together with Coach Briles, we ask that people keep in mind that no matter your views on this topic, please remember that people can and often do become re-traumatized and re-victimized by statements which may or may not be accurate. We will continue to support Coach Briles and all victims of assault, violence, social and racial injustices and we will continue to provide equal opportunity for healing for everyone.”
... Really?
Yeah. It’s tone-deaf to think that hiring someone who oversaw that program with all the horrifying things that happened under his watch will somehow … teach everyone a lesson?
Was there more?
Uh, yeah.
ESPN’s Dan Murphy then sent this tweet.
The Hue Jackson Foundation collected $158,000 in 2019 (the most recent tax info available). It paid out $115,000 to its sole paid employee and spent another $15,000 on travel. It looks like they gave out roughly $4,000 in grants. https://t.co/cnR5AvWuP9
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) February 28, 2022
And then the foundation responded with a reply that set Twitter ablaze.
What you failed to report is where that money came from. Hue Jackson was the LARGEST donor and he PERSONALLY donated over 75% of the funds, I personally donated from my salary back into the organization as well. Our records are clean!
— HueJacksonFoundation (@HueJacksonFDN) February 28, 2022
... What?
Yeah. This is how people responded:
Ahem. @IRS_CI @irs @IRSnews https://t.co/2X2KEGXj3K
— (((John Forsyth)))📎🇺🇦🌻 (@blackbear93) February 28, 2022
WHAT A MORON 😂😂😂 https://t.co/IjO0gEEjY2
— Shunsha (@Shunsha7) February 28, 2022
When people say they’re not on this app, they’re really missing out. If you hire Briles, you deserve this. https://t.co/cMbD3R0vI0
— Chris Garland (@coachgarland1) February 28, 2022
Not much more you can say than that.
