Six ways Art Briles changed Baylor football

Bruce Feldman on firing of Art Briles - "The Herd"

Baylor football fired coach Art Briles on Thursday amid the university"s sexual-assault scandal, but his impact on the athletic department and university remains unquestioned. Despite coaching only eight seasons, Briles has the second most wins and second highest winning percentage of coaches since 1950.

Briles" effect on Baylor University will exist on campus for years -- both the good and the bad. Here are six ways Art Briles changed Baylor football.

Reviving a sleeping giant

Baylor football had historically been a mediocre program at best. The Bears had really only seen sustained success under former head coach Grant Teaff. Art Briles came in and quickly turned things around.

In just his third season, the Bears reached bowl eligibility for the first time in 16 seasons. Just three years later, Baylor captured its first ever Big 12 title, the first of a back-to-back. Heading into the 2016 season, the Bears expected to be national title contenders once more. Briles helped turn Baylor into a true power program.

Heisman Trophy

It"s easy enough to say that Briles recruited a raw athlete named Robert Griffin III to Waco, but that does not quite do justice to how significant a part he played in creating what RGIII became. Briles created the perfect situation for Griffin to thrive.

Griffin was one of the most electric talents in college football history, but much of that came under Briles" tutelage. The Art Briles system allowed Griffin to show off his incalculable ability throughout his college career, and eventually let him put up the mind-boggling numbers that earned him a Heisman Trophy. The award transformed the university.

McLane Stadium

It has been called the "Palace on the Brazos," and it would not exist if not for Art Briles. The team had significant success early, but Briles had the foresight and plan that Baylor needed to upgrade its facilities to become a major national player.

The effect has been unquestionable. McLane Stadium is one of the most technologically-equipped stadiums in all of college football. It also stands on I-35 as a gargantuan advertisement for the team and university. Having a stadium of that caliber will be attractive when it comes to finding a new coach.

Inspired fanbase

Before Art Briles arrived at Baylor, the Bears struggled mightily to draw fans. The attendance was so poor at times that Baylor decided to put a tarp over an entire section of Floyd Casey Stadium. In fact, the Bears reached the listed attendance capacity of 50,000 seven times in its 63 years of existence.

The fans have come out in full force since the Bears started winning again. Briles has led the Bears to 50 wins over the last five seasons, and demand for tickets has reached an all-time high. McLane Stadium"s capacity was reduced to 45,000, but the Bears have reached at least 97 percent capacity in every game they have played at the venue.

National branding

Baylor has always been somewhat of a regional brand, with a fanbase contained within the state of Texas. However, the Heisman Trophy and subsequent success on the field by Briles" squad helped the Baylor brand reach new heights.

Even academically, application rates are exploding and standards continue to improve. Students do not necessarily attend just for the football team, but increased national branding helps draw students to the university. Baylor was a no-name team that could barely gain a foothold in Waco before Briles got to campus -- things have changed.

Program in turmoil

Briles accomplished many great feats for Baylor football, but ultimately leaves the program in a difficult position. Waco has never been an ideal location for a coach, but having a football team in this position makes it all the harder.

Baylor"s next coach will have the difficult duality of having to restore trust in the athletic program, while also trying to attract talent to Waco. As many have proven before, it is difficult enough to try and accomplish one of those tasks. It will take tremendous leadership from athletic director Ian McCaw and the next university president to find a willing candidate.

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Source: http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/baylorbears/2016/05/27/six-ways-art-briles-changed-baylor-football