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sports Diasabra 14 augustus 2021

Baylor able to move forward with NCAA case finally resolved

(AP) - Dave Aranda be-
came Baylor’s coach about The penalties could have
19 months ago knowing been much worse consider-
that NCAA penalties were ing the scope of the allega-
coming for a scandal that tions, but the actual mishan-
embroiled the football dling of sexual assault claims
program long before he by Baylor was deemed out of
arrived. the NCAA’s jurisdiction.

It had been much longer Aranda knew about the case
for athletic director Mack when he took over at Baylor
Rhoades, who found “an in January 2020, fresh off a
institution and athletics de- 15-0 national championship
partment in turmoil” when as LSU’s defensive coordina-
he took over five years ago tor. He attended the school’s
in the wake of the revelation two-day virtual hearing with
of a sprawling sexual assault NCAA officials last De-
scandal that cost two-time cember, four years after the
Big 12 champion coach Art school received a notice of
Briles his job. inquiry from the NCAA en-
forcement staff.
With the NCAA case against
the Bears finally resolved, and The coach said he never
without any major program- thought in terms of feeling a
crushing penalties, they can sense of relief that the penal-
move forward without that ties weren’t harsher. The sur-
lingering unknown. vivors were the first thing he
thought about when he heard calling it a strong moment 2019.
“It’s been hanging around. this week that the penalties ADVERTISEMENT for the team just more than
It’s been a black cloud since were forthcoming. three weeks before its Sept. 4 Jim Grobe had come out of
I arrived on this campus,” Rhoades and Aranda met opener at Texas State. semiretirement to serve as
Rhoades said. “We’re glad to “I was at the trial in Decem- with the team on the middle interim coach for one sea-
have some closure and to be ber, so listening to it and just of the field during practice “There’s a lot of lessons to son after Briles’ dismissal in
able to to look forward and hearing the details and being Wednesday, after the penal- learn from it,” Aranda said. May 2016, leading the Bears
move forward. And again, re- part of it gave me greater in- ties were revealed. The AD “I’ll continue to meet with to a 7-6 record with a Cactus
member our mistakes, learn sight to it, and I was able to kept what was said between the team as we move for- Bowl victory.
from our mistakes, learn put myself in a lot of people’s them private, but said he was ward.”
from our past. And then we’ll shoes. I spent most of my proud of the players. Aranda said a primary focus
navigate whatever comes in time on that,” Aranda said. The Bears went 2-7 in Aran- for the Bears will be for each
front of us.” “They have been part of the da’s debut season, which player to be a better person.
The NCAA did find sec- culture change, each and ev- came without the benefit of
With no players or coaches ondary rules violations that ery one of them,” Rhoades spring drills last year because “The harder things get, the
remaining from Briles’ ten- occurred between 2011 and said. “And not saying we’re of the pandemic. more pressurized things get,
ure, Baylor was placed on 2016, including impermissi- perfect, not saying they’re the more stress you’re un-
four years of probation, but ble benefits for a player who perfect, but they have been Baylor hired Aranda after der, in those circumstances
could still play in a postsea- failed to follow an academic instrumental in the culture Matt Rhule left to become is when you need to be your
son bowl game. There will performance plan following change, the way they lead and coach of the NFL’s Carolina best,” he said. “That would
be recruiting restrictions in an academic violation. There the way they interact with Panthers. The Bears went be tied to the integrity of who
place for Aranda and his staff were also a predominantly one another.” from a 1-11 record in Rhule’s you say you are off the field.
during the 2021-22 academic female student host program 2017 debut season to 11 wins On the field, you would play
year, including a reduction of that improperly operated Aranda described what and their only appearance as a representative of that
30 official visits and a three- outside of recruiting proto- Rhoades said as “very fo- ever in the Big 12 Confer- standard. ... It’s tough to do,
week ban on unofficial visits. cols. cused and very on point,” ence championship game in easy to say.”

From Nigeria to Buffalo: Efe Obada's hard journey to the NFL

(AP) — Efe Obada has a beaming smile and is circumstances, Obada prefers not to talk too much and also had brief stints in Atlanta and Kansas City.
quick to crack a joke, such as when explaining of his childhood. At 29, he is focused on making
how he choose an NFL career over the UFC. a name for himself for his pass-rushing abilities Obada got his big break in 2017, when he was as-
rather than his past. signed to Carolina upon graduating the NFL’s In-
“I’m too pretty,” he said. ternational Pathway Program, which develops se-
And yet, Obada will allow a moment to share how lect international athletes unfamiliar to football to
If only it were that simple for someone who fortunate he feels every morning on his way to provide them a shot at making a roster.
couldn’t have envisioned such a choice when he training camp and getting his first glimpse of High-
was abandoned at 10 years old, or eight years ago mark Stadium on the horizon in Orchard Park, Four years later, Obada is coming off a break-
when he worked as a part-time security guard at a New York. through season in which he put up career-best
specialty foods distributing company in England. numbers with 5 1/2 sacks, four tackles for a loss,
“Absolutely every day, every single day I drive up forced his first fumble and recovered two more in
The easy-going approach belies the defensive end’s here,” Obada said with a hearty laugh. “I’m lucky Carolina.
difficult journey from Nigeria to North America. enough to not be from here so I can appreciate it
It’s one that involved Obada and his sister falling so much more.” A free agent in March, Obada signed a one-year
into the clutches of a human trafficking ring be- contract with Buffalo, where he’s reunited with
fore eventually being shuttled through foster care Listed at 6-foot-6 and and 265 pounds, Obada former Panthers defensive teammates Mario Addi-
homes in London, to now, preparing for his fourth came to the NFL’s attention playing tight end and son and Star Lotulelei as well as former coordina-
NFL season, and first in Buffalo. defensive end for the London Monarchs — the tor Eric Washington, who is in his second season as
equivalent of an American semi-pro team. He was the Bills defensive line coach.
Though an advocate for children caught in similar first signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad