Baylor coach Jim Grobe says Shawn Oakman comments ‘taken out of context’

In a Wednesday session with reporters, Baylor coach Jim Grobeclarifiedhis Monday statement that he didn’t know who former Bears player Shawn Oakman was.

"I don't know who Shawn Oakman is," Grobe originally told reporters. The former defensive end was spotted in the stands and the Baylor locker room after last weekend’s win over Rice. He was arrested in April and later indicted by a grand jury on charges of second-degree felony sexual assault, then went undrafted.

Grobe took over as head coach after Art Briles’s dismissal and after Oakman left. He explained that he was aware of Oakman’s situation, but that he had never met him before.

"When I left the press conference Monday I didn't think there would be any confusion," said Grobe, who has been Baylor's coach for less than four months. "I thought the basic assumption was that I didn't know Shawn Oakman. I would not recognize him, I'd never met him before. And to say I don't know who Shawn Oakman is does not mean I don't know the situation, but I don't him personally. And so I wouldn't be able to recognize him if he was in our locker room.”

Grobe also expressed frustration that he was not asked to elaborate, saying that he ‘obviously’ would have been able to discuss the basic details surrounding Oakman. Oakman reportedly spoke to the players after the game, and Grobe said he did not condone that.

“I do not believe it was a good idea for Shawn to be in our locker room, and had I been made aware of the situation in advance, it would not have happened,” he added.