Longhorn News/Discussion (Non-Recruiting)

[Sirhornsalot]

Did Curt Flood deserve raise & extension with OL in 2025 & his non stellar recruiting?

I think he does. We began the year with an OL with one starter returning. That's four new faces. They were hurting on experience as well as playing together as a unit.

I don't blame Flood for the evaluations because Sark has the final say. Sark himself may have been the one advocating for staying put. It would make sense. And here's why . . .

You will remember prior to this year's portal opening that Sark was interviewed and he complained that more or less Texas was one of the few schools adhering to the salary cap initiated by the NCAA. He may have felt he had little recourse with the OL as a result.

I think Sark has gotten over the delusion that a salary cap will be enforced as evidenced by all the spending we just did in the portal.

Where I pat Flood on the back is that he took that OL and made them into a good OL as the season went on. Steady improvement. Thats coaching.

The issue with Connor Stroh may have been a Sark call as well. Stroh had been around a while and had time to develop. He needed to do more than take up roster space. So Sark decided to find out what we had in Stroh and I believe Stroh probably did look okay in practice at times.

Stroh didn't pan out, so now he's taking up roster space at Kansas.

 

[63_Texas_1]

This We began the year with an OL with one starter returning. That's four new faces. They were hurting on experience as well as playing together as a unit.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[tejasrulz]

The softball team won a double header yesterday taking down #16 Arizona 12-2 and #10 Stanford 4-3 in a tournament held at Stanford.

They play Boise St and Santa Clara today and Arizona again tomorrow.

 

[okiehorn]

Guy was so electric. I wanted him at Texas that cycle. Sad.

 

[tejasrulz]

The men and women's swim & dive teams both won $ec conference titles yesterday.

The softball team also won their double header vs Boise St (10-0) and Santa Clara (10-2).

 

[Baron]

 

[83Dee]

This We began the year with an OL with one starter returning. That's four new faces. They were hurting on experience as well as playing together as a unit.

Gerry Hamilton has been saying for a couple of years now that, in this brave new world, there is absolutely no excuse for a team like Texas to "be young." Resources available, portal and all....

Hind-sight is 20/20.... but the OL play at the beginning of the year indicates a ball was dropped by someone. Legend has it that support staff emphasized - we needed portal help on the OL, and Coach Flood resisted.... Sark sided with Flood. Whether or not that is true.... the play on the field was ridiculous. Now, I do agree that there was a lot of improvement as the year went on.

 

[63_Texas_1]

Gerry Hamilton has been saying for a couple of years now that, in this brave new world, there is absolutely no excuse for a team like Texas to "be young." Resources available, portal and all....

Hind-sight is 20/20.... but the OL play at the beginning of the year indicates a ball was dropped by someone. Legend has it that support staff emphasized - we needed portal help on the OL, and Coach Flood resisted.... Sark sided with Flood. Whether or not that is true.... the play on the field was ridiculous. Now, I do agree that there was a lot of improvement as the year went on.

Gerry says a lot of things. Some accurate; some not so accurate. Everyone needs to remember that Gerry is an armchair GM/coach/recruiting analyst in the form of a podcaster. If Gerry is so wise, including Ketch and Eric Nahlin, they should get coaching jobs and go undefeated every year instead of making money critiquing.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Gerry says a lot of things. Some accurate; some not so accurate. Everyone needs to remember that Gerry is an armchair GM/coach/recruiting analyst in the form of a podcaster. If Gerry is so wise, including Ketch and Eric Nahlin, they should get coaching jobs and go undefeated every year instead of making money critiquing.

I wouldn't throw Gerry into any comparison with Ketch and Nahlin. Gerry works. He travels and sees kids in person. I don't think there's a harder working recruiting savant out there. For that reason, he knows more than most, even inside Moncrief.

You often see Gerry withhold certain information or names. Thats because he doesn't burn sources. I respect that and it shows some professionalism about him.

I'll say this though, sometimes you see Gerry throw something out there that's not a known fact, but simply him connecting dots. So here and there, he's wrong. Just not very often.

I won't name names but can say with great certainty that one of the ones you mentioned tries very hard to not have to leave his home. Phones and email are fine, but there's no substitute for being there. Thats how you get to know how and what and why of your beat.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

https://usnow.daily24.blog/posts/br...tball-forever-shinichi-phuongluu123-team-tien

 

[63_Texas_1]

I wouldn't throw Gerry into any comparison with Ketch and Nahlin. Gerry works. He travels and sees kids in person. I don't think there's a harder working recruiting savant out there. For that reason, he knows more than most, even inside Moncrief.

You often see Gerry withhold certain information or names. Thats because he doesn't burn sources. I respect that and it shows some professionalism about him.

I'll say this though, sometimes you see Gerry throw something out there that's not a known fact, but simply him connecting dots. So here and there, he's wrong. Just not very often.

I won't name names but can say with great certainty that one of the ones you mentioned tries very hard to not have to leave his home. Phones and email are fine, but there's no substitute for being there. Thats how you get to know how and what and why of your beat.

I agree with your points, especially about not burning sources and holding information when others have to be the first to let the cat out of the bag. He tries to do it the right way.

My point of mentioning him and other podcasters is they all have opinions. Some are accurate; some are not. I take their opinion with the grain of salt.

My other point I didn't articulate well:
Making a bad decision years ago is behind us. The only thing the staff one can do is learn from it and move forward.

PS - Remember Ketch talking how bad the punt returner was. LOL

 

[83Dee]

Gerry says a lot of things. Some accurate; some not so accurate. Everyone needs to remember that Gerry is an armchair GM/coach/recruiting analyst in the form of a podcaster. If Gerry is so wise, including Ketch and Eric Nahlin, they should get coaching jobs and go undefeated every year instead of making money critiquing.

I understand quite well the that Gerry works for On Texas Football and he's not a coach. He's entitled to his opinion just like you or I... without being coaches. He's not a coach - this doesn't mean the specific point he made that I referenced is wrong. I actually think it's a good point. If you have Texas resources.... there's no need in the portal era to run out a completely inexperienced offensive line. And furthermore, what was reported by On Texas Football - about disagreement in the room.... if it's true, that makes things even worse IMO. Do you disagree with the specific point Gerry made?

 

[63_Texas_1]

I understand quite well the that Gerry works for On Texas Football and he's not a coach. He's entitled to his opinion just like you or I... without being coaches. He's not a coach - this doesn't mean the specific point he made that I referenced is wrong. I actually think it's a good point. If you have Texas resources.... there's no need in the portal era to run out a completely inexperienced offensive line. And furthermore, what was reported by On Texas Football - about disagreement in the room.... if it's true, that makes things even worse IMO. Do you disagree with the specific point Gerry made?

I'm not aware of the arguments/discussions that you mentioned. I don't subscribe to any of the paid sites. Anything I could opined would be based on third party hear-say (or gossip).

Starting the season with four new OL was definitely a disadvantage. I posted on that, along with pointing out new WRs, TE and basically a new QB before the season started. Most of the starting offense was new. Even Manning was on a learning curve.

I posted on that because Urban Meyer and Paul Finebaum had Texas #1 and claim Texas was the most talented in the country. I felt like they were setting up Texas for failure. Urban Meyer knew how many new faces were starting.

If what is reported is true, hopefully staff learns from its mistake. I posted earlier what I thought in previous post:

Making a bad decision years ago is behind us. The only thing the staff one can do is learn from it and move forward.

I would think CDC has had discussions with Sark on that. If so, it was probably a private discussion.

To your point, it was frustrating at the beginning the season.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

PS - Remember Ketch talking how bad the punt returner was. LOL

That was definitely not a good look for him. lol

 

[Sirhornsalot]

https://longhornswire.usatoday.com/...v6TF-h_BYofmZTlXyx_aem_kKxeaWyeZ07UX_TmnhSQ3A

 

[83Dee]

I'm not aware of the arguments/discussions that you mentioned. I don't subscribe to any of the paid sites. Anything I could opined would be based on third party hear-say (or gossip).

Starting the season with four new OL was definitely a disadvantage. I posted on that, along with pointing out new WRs, TE and basically a new QB before the season started. Most of the starting offense was new. Even Manning was on a learning curve.

I posted on that because Urban Meyer and Paul Finebaum had Texas #1 and claim Texas was the most talented in the country. I felt like they were setting up Texas for failure. Urban Meyer knew how many new faces were starting.

If what is reported is true, hopefully staff learns from its mistake. I posted earlier what I thought in previous post:

Making a bad decision years ago is behind us. The only thing the staff one can do is learn from it and move forward.

I would think CDC has had discussions with Sark on that. If so, it was probably a private discussion.

To your point, it was frustrating at the beginning the season.

A few things....

I think we're pretty much in agreement here. "Most of the starting offense was new." I would add inexperienced (particularly on the OL). That's the point, the portal makes this unnecessary. And to your point, I do believe they learned from this experience... this offseason was markedly different. They may not have brought in a bevy of 5-star Offensive linemen.... but it wasn't because of a lack of effort. Last year was.

I bought into the preseason hype last year... This past season was a huge let-down for me because I bought what people like Burton and Hamilton were selling.... I'll be more of a critical listener going forward. They kind of preach the party line if you will. I know this won't be popular, but Orangebloods gives more unbiased info.... the much maligned Ketchum is a Baylor grad and his sidekick, Chad Hastings is an aggy. Funny they are hosting a show about Texas.... but I find their info a little more accurate at times.

And... FYI - I don't sign up for any of those sites either. I watch the shows on YouTube when I have nothing better to do - or when I'm procrastinating doing something of worth. A good time-kill if you're a Texas fan.

 

[83Dee]

I wouldn't throw Gerry into any comparison with Ketch and Nahlin. Gerry works. He travels and sees kids in person. I don't think there's a harder working recruiting savant out there. For that reason, he knows more than most, even inside Moncrief.

You often see Gerry withhold certain information or names. Thats because he doesn't burn sources. I respect that and it shows some professionalism about him.

I'll say this though, sometimes you see Gerry throw something out there that's not a known fact, but simply him connecting dots. So here and there, he's wrong. Just not very often.

I won't name names but can say with great certainty that one of the ones you mentioned tries very hard to not have to leave his home. Phones and email are fine, but there's no substitute for being there. Thats how you get to know how and what and why of your beat.

These guys are in the entertainment business. I like Gerry Hamilton... he's funny and as you said, he does work hard.

My problem with On Texas Football (Bobby, Gerry, Rod and CJ) is that they are really pom-pom waivers for Texas. It's good entertainment if you're a Texas fan... but man do they spin stuff... if you watch them you'd believe that every recruit is better than the All American leaving the Texas program. Quinn, in his three years, had some terrible games. He just did.... and those guys would scold fans and act like overthrowing 19 open receivers in one game is to be expected from a young QB.

Ketch would at least be honest.... if Quinn stunk, he would say as much. I actually don't believe he is a Texas fan at all. I certainly don't think Chad Hastings is. But I do enjoy an honest evaluation in post game or offseason. Just my opinion... not worth more than anyone else's.

By the way..... the one who won't leave his house.... Bobby or Ketch.... that's my guess.

 

[Baron]

That was definitely not a good look for him. lol

While he was sitting on the couch using his phone to conduct his "work".