DALLAS — Baylor quarterback Seth Russell was on a mission trip in Brazil with other athletes from the private Baptist school when he got the text message from Art Briles saying he was no longer their football coach.
"Felt like I was helpless, like a lot of people felt," Russell said Tuesday at Big 12 football media days.
Russell described it as a "punch in the gut" when hearing what came out in the wake of Briles' departure after winning two Big 12 titles at the school.
An independent review by the Pepper Hamilton law firm found that football coaches and staff interfered with investigations into sexual assault complaints against players, and even impeded potential criminal proceedings.