As far as Matt Rhule's coaching chops are concerned, we reserve the right to pass judgment until public inspection of his Baylor football teams. Give him at least a couple of seasons, anyway.
But he's already got my vote as salesman of the year.
Any coach who could sell Baylor football Wednesday _ he was entertaining a group when news broke of a lawsuit alleging 52 sexual assaults by former football players over a four-year period _ clearly has special communication skills.
Let's hope the young men who bought Rhule's pitch live up to the standards we should expect anywhere, much less an institution built on Baptist principles.
And if Rhule lives up to his message, as well, maybe Baylor and its fervent supporters could at long last get past the months of embarrassing internal feuding that made acknowledgement and atonement seem less of a focus than settling scores and restoring a disgraced coach's honor.
First encouraging sign: Art Briles dropped his defamation suit against selected Baylor regents and officials.
No, we don't know for sure what Briles knew. For that matter, we don't know if the latest allegations are the truth. Or even close to it. A series of events uncovered by a plaintiff's lawyer isn't exactly the same thing as an independent investigation.
Let's say for argument's sake it's only half-true. Do 26 rapes sound any less horrific?
And we're to believe the head coach is clueless?
Either number exceeds what was in the Pepper Hamilton report, which has been criticized, and rightfully so, for its lack of detail and transparency. A group of prominent Baylor boosters might even have been right to demand a new investigation.
Except the motivation for such a demand was betrayed by the biggest Baylor Bear of them all, Drayton McLane, when he confessed that he'd like to see Briles' honor restored.
I'm guessing the numbers released in Friday's lawsuit might have dampened any enthusiasm for opening another investigation.
Meanwhile, incredibly, the business of college football goes on. Beautiful new stadium on the Brazos. Seats that need to be filled.
Games that must be played. The new coach seems up for it.
Rhule has dealt with the scandal head-on. He had no choice. When the latest news broke Friday, a recruit asked him up front, according to a USA Today account.
Rhule, son of a minister, told his recruits they could be agents of change in Baylor football.
Judging by Wednesday's results, they've bought in.
"I still believe in this coaching staff, and the University itself," tweeted Gavin Holmes, a three-star recruit from Justin, Texas, "and know this 2017 class still believes as well, or else we wouldn't have chosen to partake and be a part of this program.
"Change is coming!"
Not any too soon, either.
