Before news had broken that Baylor had suspended coach Art Briles with the intent to terminate, Baylor players already had taken to social media late Thursday morning, expressing shock and anger.
Linebackers Taylor Young and Raaquan Davis were the first to respond on Twitter after getting a group text from Briles saying he was no longer their coach.
WOWWWWWW BROOOOO😡😡😡😡😤😤😤😤😤
— Raaquan Davis (@RDavis_BU) May 26, 2016
Young tweeted: “you let go of the man who made this university relevant? i bet if we was 1-10 this wouldn't even make the local news,” though he later deleted the post.
He came back later with this:
You don't turn your back on your leader when things get ugly
— 1⃣ (@tyoung_01) May 26, 2016
Before long, other Baylor players joined in, including defensive backs Orion Stewart and Taion Sells, who both expressed support for Briles, as well as running back Johnny Jefferson:
I am mad and hurt Rn !!
— Johnny jefferson (@johnnyjeff05) May 26, 2016
Only reason I'm here today is Coach B.. Took a chance on a skinny ass kid wit barely any offers but had had faith in me and I did it 4 him!!
— Orion Stewart (@OStewBU) May 26, 2016
✊🏾✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/URw6LyfX9k
— Orion Stewart (@OStewBU) May 26, 2016
Best coach in America.. They will never understand... #ArtBriles pic.twitter.com/5e7FC3hWLY
— T.Sells (@Taion_BU) May 26, 2016
Defensive back Travon Blanchard jumped in and retweeted Young before defending Briles:
He's not a sheriff nor a lawyer . He coaches football like he is paid to do, then goes home to his life ..!! https://t.co/cXiWnP3dE4
— Travon Blanchard (@TriggaTra_6) May 26, 2016
Other Baylor players, however, notably cornerback Ryan Reid and wideout KD Cannon, offered more measured Twitter responses:
Forever green and gold. I don't condone violence of any kind sexual or domestic. A few bad situations don't make our football team.
— RR9. (@iamryanreid) May 26, 2016
This is going to help a bunch of college in the long run hate it's gotta start with us!
— RR9. (@iamryanreid) May 26, 2016
This is a new era in college football were we can see now that no type of violence is acceptable. Still Baylor proud!
— RR9. (@iamryanreid) May 26, 2016
It's sad when you wake up to bad news, but God has a plan for everyone on the Baylor Football team #StayStrong
— 9_MBC (@IAmTheOne_9) May 26, 2016
