Too often ignored, Boise State-Baylor connection brings attention to campus assaults | Idaho Statesman

In the last two weeks, Minnesota considered boycotting the Holiday Bowl after players believed there was a lack of due process in the suspension of 10 teammates following a sexual assault investigation, and a shocking tape of Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon punching a woman was released.

This spring, three Boise State players were expelled or suspended after a Title IX investigation. None had their sentences repealed, and they are no longer with the program. Coach Bryan Harsin said he believes the school has been proactive in preventing and punishing acts of violence against women.

“You see it, you read about it. What do you do with that? You learn from it,” Harsin said. “Take what’s happened somewhere else and you apply it, try to learn from it and make it better.”

Boise State and Baylor, facing off in the Cactus Bowl on Tuesday (8:15 p.m., ESPN), have never played, but have one obvious connection. Sam Ukwuachu played for Boise State in 2010-11 before being kicked off the team.

He transferred to Baylor, but never played. In August 2015, he was convicted of sexual assault for an incident that took place in Waco, Texas, two years prior. He served two months in jail and was given 10 years probation.

How Baylor responded to the Ukwuachu case, along with other allegations, led to coach Art Briles being fired in May, and the school’s athletic director and president both resigning.

“I don’t think that’s anything I should be focusing on coming toward this game, anything I need to talk about right now,” Hoyte said.

Harsin said stopping violence against women is discussed soon after newcomers arrive on campus. He also realizes it is something that starts at the top, and coaches are part of that.

“I don’t know how much it’s changed as far as the awareness of it, because ever since I’ve been a part of this program, it’s been a topic,” Harsin said. “The awareness from everybody now, it’s so much bigger on campuses, which it should be. ... It’s also something that’s very concerning, as well.”

In Baylor’s case, the mishandling not only left the school’s leadership teetering, but the team has dealt with the fallout. None of the current players on the team, which has lost six in a row, were part of the allegations, but simply being Baylor football players has brought negative connotations.

“It’s been more than just a long football season, long summer and a long spring,” Baylor senior wide receiver Lynx Hawthorne said. “I’d be lying if I said it was easy to just ignore all of it. People looked forward to seeing us take a fall. ...