Questions

[utisdabomb12]

Texas lost at home today to OU in volleyball (a pretty huge upset). I got a text from a club volleyball coach before the game, and she said watch out Elliott might throw this game on "purpose". I laughed it off, but she was adamant that Elliott likes to lose games at this time of the year. I know that may sound weird, but Elliot has a history of losing games at this time of the year to try and motivate the team before the tournament. In 2012 when Texas won the national title, Texas lost a match to Iowa State they should have never lost. Texas also lost a game in 2011 at about this time to a below average OU team. In 2012 Elliott also said something in an interview about how he hates to be undefeated in the regular season because it adds pressure in the postseason.  

Do you think coaches actually throw games? Do you think a loss is actually a good thing? 

I think it's an interesting conversation. I don't know if I'm buying into the "throwing" games narrative, but if you look at Elliot's history and interviews it seems like there's some truth to it. 

 

[monarch]

great coaches offer sound strategies...​

whatever works.​

just win baby!​

 

[Sirhornsalot]

If they ever do – IT BETTER NOT BE OU

 

[utisdabomb12]

If they ever do – IT BETTER NOT BE OU

That was my thought, but some of things Elliott did today schematically/personnel wise was interesting. For one, he didn't play Neal one of our better players because of a "sore shoulder". He also played a lot of players that normally don't play like Baker. That's the only reason I give this a thought. Some of the things he did really feeds into the "throwing" game narrative. 

 

[Johnstark23]

I've never coached to lose, but I have coached to humble.

 

[streettopeschel]

wow. i'd hope not. i don't know squat about coaching volleyball, but the players presumably are smart enough to know if a coach is trying 'not' to win. how could they think that's good?

somehow, several of John Wooden's UCLA teams, Don Shula's Dolphins and numerous college football teams didn't think the same way.  

odd if you ask me. 
 

 

[Lastcall8]

He didn't "throw" the game. He did however use people and lineups that he doesn't normally use to get some depth onto the team. No one including himself coaches to lose. What he takes away from this is that everyone has to be ready to play even backups because you never know. It Also rest some starts. The club coach was right in a sense. He does this every year.

 

[utisdabomb12]

He didn't "throw" the game. He did however use people and lineups that he doesn't normally use to get some depth onto the team. No one including himself coaches to lose. What he takes away from this is that everyone has to be ready to play even backups because you never know. It Also rest some starts. The club coach was right in a sense. He does this every year.

I can agree with that. 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I'm with Sirhornsalot

Let's not experiment with our starting line-up against OU.  We need to pound the dirt burglars in everything!

 

[utisdabomb12]

I'm bumping this thread because it's a good discussion. 

I honestly think Elliott throws games at this time of the year on purpose. Maybe not "throws" but experiments with stuff and is willing to take a loss. We were swept by TCU tonight in volleyball, literally 3 days after we were swept by OU last year. We also lost to Iowa State in '12, OU in '11, and Nebraska in '10 around the same time. 

I don't think it's a stroke of luck we lose a random game almost every year at this time of the year. Elliott would be one hell of an interview, because he's kind of an odd ball, and this type of approach really isn't surprising based on who he is. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

great coaches offer sound strategies...​

whatever works.​

just win baby!​