Rhule bringing Temple discipline to new challenge at Baylor
Matt Rhule faces a big task in leading the Baylor program out of the shadow cast by the sexual assault scandal under Art Briles, and one way the former Temple coach plans on doing so is by creating a tight structure for the players.
Some of the new regulations for members of the program include mandatory breakfast and dinner, sitting in the first two rows of each class, and increased community service and time in study hall.
"I have a lot of rules. I have a lot of structure," Rhule told Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News. "I always let kids ask me why. I'm not like, 'It's my way or the highway.'"
Rhule is the third head coach for Baylor in the past year, and comes over from Temple after experiencing great success with that program. The Owls finished with 10 wins in each of the last two seasons, and the structure Rhule implemented in the American Athletic Conference school is something he will bring to Baylor.
"Same thing I did at Temple and same thing I would do anywhere else," Rhule admitted. "I believe kids at that age, 18 to 22, need structure. If we're putting new rules in now because of what happened, we weren't doing it right."
Along with the scandal off the field, Baylor struggled with interim coach Jim Grobe on the field last season, finishing 7-6 after three straight double-digit-win campaigns. Rhule's task isn't just cleaning up the reputation off the field of the program, but also getting the Bears back to the heights that Briles brought them on the field.
He gets his chance to make a statement when the season kicks off on Sept. 2nd against Liberty.