WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Over a hundred players from the 2013 and 2014 Big 12 Championship teams gathered at George’s to celebrate with coach Art Briles and his staff after the coaches were cut from the roster guests to Baylor for a weekend of events planned to honor the team.

The players hosted the party at the George Restaurant on Speight Avenue, where a tent was set up outside the banquet hall to welcome guests.

Although it wasn’t open to the public, fans gathered outside the marquee to show their support for Briles in T-shirts that nodded to him.

Several players also wore CAB jerseys, which stands for Coach Art Briles.

When Briles learned that a group of fans had been waiting outside for more than an hour to see him, he came outside and took a picture with each fan.

The players in attendance included three quarterbacks under Briles; Bryce Petty, who played at Baylor from 2010-2014 and was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, where he played until 2017.

Petty now lives in the Dallas Fort Worth area and works in banking.

Seth Russell was also there with his wife and children. He played for Briles from 2013 to 2016.

Backup quarterback Chris Johnson was on hand. Johnson is currently a high school coach in his hometown of Bryan.

Several other standouts from the teams were in attendance, including Corey Coleman, Clay Fuller, Eddie Lackey and Shawn Oakman.

Coach Briles addressed the teams saying he is more proud of the people they are than the rings they won.

“The thing I’m so proud of is not the two Big 12 championships,” Briles said. “I mean I’m proud to see dads, daughters, sons, husbands because that’s the legacy. A lot of you guys are first generation graduates. I mean, you’re the only one in your family that ever graduated college, and to me that’s what it’s all about. I want that little son or daughter to look up and say, “Daddy did it, I can do it.”

Briles then thanked the players for their love and support and ended it by leading a familiar chant with the teams.

Several players spoke to the crowd about the impact Briles and defensive coordinator Phil Bennett had on their lives. Former linebacker Eddie Lackey said he even named a child after Bennett.

Bennett was present.

Former player Shawn Oakman also emotionally addressed the crowd, saying that Briles raised him into men, and Briles is a living testament to why he never gave up and continued to follow his dreams.

Oakman was acquitted in a rape trial in 2019.

The players will be recognized on the field at McLane Stadium when the Bears take on TCU at 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

Briles traveled to Waco from Stephenville, where Stephenville ISD announced they are naming their new football stadium after him during a Friday night game.

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