Charles in charge

[Embrey]

Last year's surprise victories over both OU and Baylor show what this team can do when they are written off for dead.

How great it will be when Texas trucks ou in Dallas?

Will all the Charlie haters be as brazen in their criticism?

Don't get me wrong, legitimate criticism is always necessary but some of the protestations have not offered a solution. They have been personal attacks that have been allowed to slide because everyone is frustrated.

If Charlie wins 6 or fewer games I can see the case to let him go.

On the other hand, if he turns this team and this season around, why wouldn't we want to keep him in place? He would have gone through the growing pains of being head coach under live fire. Regardless of how he had to relinquish control of the OC and possibly the DC, the issues might just be fixed. He would be left to make executive level decisions in game and run his program.

Why is it so ridiculous to have a recruiter-in-chief?

 

[utb040713]

Will all the Charlie haters be as brazen in their criticism?

Why is it so ridiculous to have a recruiter-in-chief?

1) "Charlie haters?" If you think all of this criticism is because people dislike Charlie personally or have some vendetta against him for some reason, then that's ridiculous. It's a young team. I get that. However, the mistakes that are killing the Longhorns are not "rookie mistakes", by and large. It's fundamentals. It's missed tackles, blown assignments, and a lack of focus. Additionally, his teams aren't mentally tough. We're 1-12 when the other team scores first. We're 0-13 when trailing at halftime. He completely botched the OC/DC positions the past few years. He's had several questionable in-game decisions and gaffes. And no, if we beat OU, the fans/media will quiet down. If we win out, they'll quiet down. That's just how it works. You'd be insane to still advocate firing him if Texas runs the table from here on out. But if we have another 6-6 season, I don't see how they can keep him.

2) Recruiting top-level talent and having top-5 recruiting classes means nothing if they just languish once they get to campus. Look at Mack's last few recruiting classes; not many of them panned out.

I really and truly want Charlie to succeed, but I don't see a clear path to him staying next year, unless this defense turns it around practically overnight.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

1) "Charlie haters?" If you think all of this criticism is because people dislike Charlie personally or have some vendetta against him for some reason, then that's ridiculous. It's a young team. I get that. However, the mistakes that are killing the Longhorns are not "rookie mistakes", by and large. It's fundamentals. It's missed tackles, blown assignments, and a lack of focus. Additionally, his teams aren't mentally tough. We're 1-12 when the other team scores first. We're 0-13 when trailing at halftime. He completely botched the OC/DC positions the past few years. He's had several questionable in-game decisions and gaffes. And no, if we beat OU, the fans/media will quiet down. If we win out, they'll quiet down. That's just how it works. You'd be insane to still advocate firing him if Texas runs the table from here on out. But if we have another 6-6 season, I don't see how they can keep him.

2) Recruiting top-level talent and having top-5 recruiting classes means nothing if they just languish once they get to campus. Look at Mack's last few recruiting classes; not many of them panned out.

I really and truly want Charlie to succeed, but I don't see a clear path to him staying next year, unless this defense turns it around practically overnight.

UTB hit the nail on the head!

I don't hate Charlie but I sure as hell HATE his current record at Texas of 13-16! And if he can't fix it, then f...ing find someone that can!

And I'll add a point 3 to utb's 2 points. If what I read on another site is accurate, there is exactly one coach from his original staff at Texas still coaching at the same position they were then. That is mind-boggling and it tells me that he is a piss-poor manager. And that has shown up in how he manages games as well. 

 

[Epictetus]

Thing I like about the rest of the season is the schedule in terms of home and away games.

Once past OU, if that can be done, here are the teams that will be played in DKR.

Iowa State

Baylor

West Virginia

TCU

Road games at K-State, Texas Tech, Kansas

Two of those three road games are not gimmees, but can be handled better than if those four home games were road games.

The whole matter of the program is getting 60 min of play at the level to match the talent and potential here and then doing it every game!!

So far it has not happened. It's been one-off wonders here and there.

Statesman report mentioned that the loss Sat was by 18 points, and that since Charlie came, Horns have lost by 18 or more points, ten times. So if the defense was ever getting it, it was not for long.

After 2-1/3 seasons, only one of nine original coaching members of the 2014 season remain, or are in their original position.

Overall, worst won-loss record of any coach at Texas currently at 13-16 (.448), and so far for this season allowing 38.3 pt/game on defense, 5 points worse than the school record set in 1997.

With the offense showing good signs and just needed stellar defense and special teams and smart play... next 8 games are winnable, but it's not just winning them but showing consistent play at a level to match the better years and seasons in recent memory.

I'll take an ugly win or two, but really need to see predictable high level of play comparable to what I saw last weekend in several of the biggest college games. Mack lost 5 in a row to OU, two of those by 60+ points given up, and stumbled against an already-beaten Colorado in that Big12 title game, but managed strings of 9-win and 10-win seasons with many big wins in near-miss seasons of not getting a conference title.

If I recall he only won two Big12 titles over 16 season, but there was consistent high level play in a huge percentage of games, and I don't think he ever fell below 9 wins. Did he?

 

[Embrey]

Please note I never called either of you Charlie haters. Do you deny that there are Charlie haters?

I appreciate both of your comments. I really didn't appreciate Red McCombs comments about Charlie being unqualified to be a head coach at the time. I was wrong. I am simply stating that Charlie may be at the end of the on the job learning curve that McCombs implied. I just wanted to keep options and minds open in case Charlie turns this thing around.

For example, if Texas were to win out or just win 8 games and get a decent bowl game do you think the call for his replacement is a bit premature?

I think Charlie has to perform but if one thinks that he needs to be gone at the end of the season, regardless of what happens between now and then, why would those same people not call for his immediate firing?

 

[Bear19]

IMO if Charlie only wins 8 games he should be fired just as quickly as if he only when's five.

And I am definitely not I Charlie hater.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Please note I never called either of you Charlie haters. Do you deny that there are Charlie haters?

I appreciate both of your comments. I really didn't appreciate Red McCombs comments about Charlie being unqualified to be a head coach at the time. I was wrong. I am simply stating that Charlie may be at the end of the on the job learning curve that McCombs implied. I just wanted to keep options and minds open in case Charlie turns this thing around.

For example, if Texas were to win out or just win 8 games and get a decent bowl game do you think the call for his replacement is a bit premature?

I think Charlie has to perform but if one thinks that he needs to be gone at the end of the season, regardless of what happens between now and then, why would those same people not call for his immediate firing?

I think that there are very, very few people who literally hate Charlie. I think that there are lots and lots of people who literally hate Charlies record and performance as the head coach of the Longhorns. 

So far, Red's comments have not been proven to be wrong. The jury is still out on that.

Obviously, if Texas wins out, the call for his replacement now would have been proven a bit premature. But if they win just 8 games, I'm not sure. 

From what I read on various boards, there are some people who think the decision to fire him should be made now regardless of what happens and they have said exactly that. 

 

[utb040713]

Please note I never called either of you Charlie haters. Do you deny that there are Charlie haters?

I appreciate both of your comments. I really didn't appreciate Red McCombs comments about Charlie being unqualified to be a head coach at the time. I was wrong. I am simply stating that Charlie may be at the end of the on the job learning curve that McCombs implied. I just wanted to keep options and minds open in case Charlie turns this thing around.

For example, if Texas were to win out or just win 8 games and get a decent bowl game do you think the call for his replacement is a bit premature?

I think Charlie has to perform but if one thinks that he needs to be gone at the end of the season, regardless of what happens between now and then, why would those same people not call for his immediate firing?

Right, I get that we're not being called Charlie haters. I think there's been some of those (i.e. people calling for his ouster since Week 1 of 2014), but most criticism I've seen lately has been at least somewhat grounded in facts and stats. If we go 8-4, I think he should stay, provided that we look competitive in those losses. If we have multiple blowouts or embarrassments from here on out, then I think he needs to go.

Also, midseason firings rarely work out for the better in the long run. Who would replace him in the interim? Tom Herman (and most other reputable coaches) aren't going to come to Austin mid-year. Our recruiting, which is already in the doldrums, would be totally killed if we fire him mid-season.

 

[Embrey]

Everybody seems very sensitive to the possibility that they are perceived as a Charlie hater so, like the good point you made, I will clarify:

When I refer to Charlie haters I am specifically referring to those who 'we're calling for his ouster since week 1 of 2014'.

I do not conflate any well thought out criticism of Charlie's performance on the field as evidence that you might be a Charlie hater.

http://www.campusrush.com/charlie-strong-hot-seat-texas-football-oklahoma-2030068344.html

Article about saving Charlie's job.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

Thing I like about the rest of the season is the schedule in terms of home and away games.

Once past OU, if that can be done, here are the teams that will be played in DKR.

Iowa State

Baylor

West Virginia

TCU

Road games at K-State, Texas Tech, Kansas

Two of those three road games are not gimmees, but can be handled better than if those four home games were road games.

The whole matter of the program is getting 60 min of play at the level to match the talent and potential here and then doing it every game!!

So far it has not happened. It's been one-off wonders here and there.

Statesman report mentioned that the loss Sat was by 18 points, and that since Charlie came, Horns have lost by 18 or more points, ten times. So if the defense was ever getting it, it was not for long.

After 2-1/3 seasons, only one of nine original coaching members of the 2014 season remain, or are in their original position.

Overall, worst won-loss record of any coach at Texas currently at 13-16 (.448), and so far for this season allowing 38.3 pt/game on defense, 5 points worse than the school record set in 1997.

With the offense showing good signs and just needed stellar defense and special teams and smart play... next 8 games are winnable, but it's not just winning them but showing consistent play at a level to match the better years and seasons in recent memory.

I'll take an ugly win or two, but really need to see predictable high level of play comparable to what I saw last weekend in several of the biggest college games. Mack lost 5 in a row to OU, two of those by 60+ points given up, and stumbled against an already-beaten Colorado in that Big12 title game, but managed strings of 9-win and 10-win seasons with many big wins in near-miss seasons of not getting a conference title.

If I recall he only won two Big12 titles over 16 season, but there was consistent high level play in a huge percentage of games, and I don't think he ever fell below 9 wins. Did he?

This is not the University of Charlie Strong it's The University of Texas. I am becoming more amazed everyday that people are more in love with Strong than the actually university. I could careless if I am perceived as a Strong hater. I love Texas more than I will ever like a coach. Coaches come and go but the university is a constant and will be here forever.  

 

[longhorn_mig]

This is not the University of Charlie Strong it's The University of Texas. I am becoming more amazed everyday that people are more in love with Strong than the actually university. I could careless if I am perceived as a Strong hater. I love Texas more than I will ever like a coach. Coaches come and go but the university is a constant and will be here forever.  

This comment caused traumatic flashbacks of mackbrown-texasfootball.com.