Baylor prez acknowledges booster calls to bring back coach Art Briles

Baylorinterim president David Garland acknowledged Monday that a movement to bring back Art Briles as football coach in 2017 has gained momentum among a few key donors, though he indicated that nothing is imminent.

"A lot of fans love what the coach did on the football field, and you can understand that," Garland told WFAA-TV in Dallas. "But other factors have to be taken into consideration."

USA Today reported Monday that a "small minority" of Baylor donors have pushed to have Briles serve a one-year suspension, then return to coaching. The newspaper reported it was "unlikely" to happen.

Horns Digest, a publication for Texas football fans, reported Monday that the Baylor board of regents would vote Monday night on whether to bring Briles back, citing a source. Waco television station KWTX, citing sources, also wrote that a vote was scheduled for Monday, reporting that a preliminary vote on the matter was "very close."

Garland did confirm to WFAA.com that there was a previously scheduled conference call with Baylor's board of regents Monday night, but that it wasn't set up to be about Briles.

"The meeting was scheduled before, and for a quite different issue," Garland said.

Bears players have been informed of the plan to try to bring Briles back, according to KCEN-TV, citing a source.

Baylor did not return a phone call from ESPN seeking clarification on whether a meeting has been scheduled or will take place.

Bob Simpson, a co-owner of the Texas Rangers and Baylor donor whose name is on the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center on the Waco campus, told the Dallas Morning News: "We don't know yet. We'd like to see that."

Simpson reportedly is close to Briles.

Briles was suspended "with an intent to terminate" as coach of the Bears on May 26, in the wake of a report detailing a pattern of sexual assaults at the school, some involving football players. School president Ken Starr lost his title and athletic director Ian McCaw resigned several days later as a result of the report.

Outside the Lines attempted to reach more than 30 members of Baylor's board of regents Monday morning. Four regents refused to comment about the situation, and the others didn't return phone calls or emails.

Simpson, former Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. and Texas attorney Walter Umphrey also didn't respond to requests for comments about Briles' future with the school.