Jim Grobe, Baylor differ on version of player's dismissal

Baylor interim coach Jim Grobe says former player Jeremy Faulk was suspended rather than dismissed after being accused of sexual assault.

Baylor interim head coach Jim Grobe disputes the school's version of how former defensive lineman Jeremy Faulk was dismissed from the football team this summer.

Grobe says Faulk was suspended by the team after he was accused of sexual assault. He later called a local television station to say it was not his decision to dismiss Faulk from Baylor and take his scholarship.

Faulk transferred to Baylor after playing at Garden City Community College in Kansas and was dismissed from the football team in June for violating the school's and athletic department's Code of Conduct after being questioned about a sexual assault that allegedly occurred on campus in April. He was also questioned about an incident while enrolled at Florida Atlantic.

Faulk was never arrested and has not been charged with any crime.

"I think that's the way most coaches deal with problems if you've got kids that have issues," Grobe said. "They may come back to the football team, but they may not temporarily be able to represent the football team, and that's not just Jeremy—it's any kid on our football team."

Baylor continues to be under a spotlight over how it handles cases of sexual assault allegations and subsequent investigations.

Last week, Baylor's former Title IX coordinator Patty Crawford said that administrators undermined her efforts to investigate sexual assault claims on campus and were more concerned with the school's brand than the students.

Baylor hired Philadelphia law firm Pepper Hamilton earlier this year to investigate the school's response to sexual assault allegations, which led to the firing of head coach Art Briles.  

University president Ken Starr was demoted and later resigned, athletic director Ian McCaw was suspended and resigned, and other department employees were fired as a result of the Pepper Hamilton report.

Grobe was hired in May to replace Briles for this season. Baylor (5–0) is ranked No. 11 in this week's AP Poll and takes on Kansas this weekend.

– Scooby Axson