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Briles: Baylor not distracted by Sam Ukwuachu controversy
In his first public comments on Sam Ukwuachu in 10 days, Baylor coach Art Briles said Monday his team has not been distracted by the swirling controversy.
"Honestly, I haven't felt anything," Briles said. "The thing about youth that keeps me going is they're so resilient, first and foremost, and forgiving, nonjudgmental. Just have good spirits and high hopes. So that part of it has been extremely, I don't want to say refreshing, but encouraging. That part has allowed us to function as normal as possible."
Baylor will open its season Friday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN against SMU, but instead of the media attention being on whether the fourth-ranked Bears can repeat as Big 12 champions, the focus has been on Briles and how the school handled a former defensive end.
Ukwuachu was recently sentenced to 10 years' probation and six months in county jail for the sexual assault of a former Baylor soccer player in October 2013. He transferred to the school in 2013 after being dismissed from Boise State.
In a statement Friday, Baylor president Ken Starr recommended the university retain outside counsel to conduct the internal inquiry into the university's handling of Ukwuachu.
Briles deflected talk on whether the criticism the school has faced has been warranted.
"Everybody is entitled to their opinion," Briles said. "I've never tried to tell anybody what to think or how to think. I've just tried to live in a fashion that makes them think a certain way. So to answer whether it's warranted or unwarranted, I haven't felt that."
(h/t ABC News)
