Report: Preliminary vote to retain Art Briles was very close

A preliminary vote among Baylor's board of regents to suspend coach Art Briles for a year rather than fire him was very close, sources told KWTX in Waco.

While no further information was made available to the local news outlet, Baylor interim president David Garland all but acknowledged Monday that some of the university's key donors are in favor of retaining Briles.

"A lot of fans love what the coach did on the football field, and you can understand that," Garland said Monday. "But other factors have to be taken into consideration."

Related - Interim Baylor president: 'This is not an institution of football'

Baylor suspended Briles with an intent to terminate him May 27. The decision came following an investigative report by the Pepper Hamilton law firm that found Briles and other school administrators had turned a blind eye to numerous sexual assault allegations involving members of the football team.

In the aftermath of the scandal, Baylor demoted president Ken Starr, who later resigned his chancellorship; placed athletic director Ian McCaw on probation, though he's since resigned as well; and fired Briles.

While Garland also confirmed Monday the regents were scheduled to meet that night - after it was reported by several outlets - he said the gathering was unrelated to Briles.

A motion to keep Briles could be motivated, at least in part, by the looming buyout of his contract. Unless Baylor can prove it fired the coach for cause, the school could be on the hook for about $40 million, according to Clay Travis of FOX Sports. Briles signed a long-term extension prior to the 2014 season that locked him up through 2023.

Briles' success on the football field is no secret, either, as he turned what used to be a woeful program into a national contender over his eight years with the Bears.