Santa Gertrudis
V.I.P.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2013
- Messages
- 163
Gents-
Been quite some time since I've posted. One of the thngs that I admire about this board is that everyone on this board is an adult. Not some tweny-something punk that is 10' tall and bulletproof behind a keyboard on the vast Internet, but in person is a 29 year old, 5'9" 165lb mildly asthmatic that still lives at home with mama and has yet to be laid. Immediately the typcial OB poster comes to mind.
I was initially THRILLED with the hiring of Steve Patterson as AD replacing an old fart that had oulived his usefultness after he signed the LHN deal. Dodds had been mailing it in for some time and I believed Patterson to be just what the doctor ordered. That was until Mack refused to step down and Patterson had to be told that Mack HAD to go and anything less was unacceptable. My understanding is that Patterson was going to "let it ride" for another season with Mack and had to be coerced into going back to Mack on that fateful Saturday to tell him coming back was NOT an option.
I know all of the stories surrounding Saban. I also know that Powers wasn't interested in hiring Saban when he found out that we had a rogue BMD going "broken arrow" and he wasn't going to have none of it. Once Powers found out it was "game over." That's fine, there is more than 1 great Football Coach out there however to cower from a fight with an old geezer like Joe Jamail because he was threatening legal action if we hired ANY Jimmy Sexton client was TOTALLY WEAK! $100M to UT upon his death or not, Joe Jamail is NOT the only big money guy writing checks to the University of Texas. The BMD's had told Patterson that they had his back if it came to "lawyering up" to fight with Jamail. And Jamail would have lost. Would the case embarrass the Universtity? Probably. But to be held hostage by some crusty old bastard that had become a pariah in recent years because he MAY sue on behalf of Mack Brown. No court in the land would have ruled in favor of Brown and Jamail. But nonettheless, we have Charlie Strong as our Head Coach and thank God for the change. Is Charlie Strong my preferred candidate? No. But I'll take Charlie Strong and his new approach over the Bullsh@t I have been witnessing over the past 4 seasons in a heart beat.
Patterson going "lone wolf" on his Head Coaching selection is perhaps just what the doctor ordered but I would have preferred to see some sort of consensus on the hire than what happened. Unlike many, I actually trust some of our key BMD's. I'll be honest here amongst fellow adults, the hiring of Charlie Strong was a bit underwhelming to me. Like many of you, I wanted a "home run" hire. After all, WE'RE TEXAS! By God, it is our GIVEN RIGHT to make the biggest splash not just in College Football, but ALL Football!
Neverhteless, I wanted to hold out and see whom Strong hired as his OC. Now I know on paper that Joe Wickline is our "Offensive Coordinator" however Shawn Watson is calling our plays offensively and I am underwhelmed to say the least. Yes, I realize Shawn Watson developed Teddy Bridewater. I also realize Greg Davis developed Colt McCoy & Vince Young. And after looking at Shawn Watson's track record, I can't believe I am saying this but I would take Greg Davis over Shawn Watson as my OC or play caller. A 70-3 comes immediately to mind. You don't score 70 points on a team in a Big 12 Championship (National Championship Team loaded wtih Pro Players or not) unless you have a offense turn over the ball quite a bit. And that day, Colorado turned the ball over an awful lot.
To compete in the Big 12, we are going to need to move the football. We've seen the 3 yards and a cloud of dust over the past 3 seasons an it has been a train wreck. Perhaps with a change in mindset, a change in strength & conditioning programs and coaches, and a change in the country club atmosphere with grandpa Brown handing out ribbons and cookies for "blood spilled on the field of battle" to a more Spartan approach is a huge step in the right direction. Huge step or not, we're going to have to move the ball in this conference or we are going to get not only beat, but embarrassed. I don't care how good of a defensive coach Charlie Strong is!
The Spring Game was very enlightening to many of us. Yes, I know the season has not even kicked-off but I what I saw that Saturday looked like a continuation of '13 and had me longing for Case McCoy as QB. First Greg Davis and now Case McCoy? REALLY?! Unfortunately yes BUT help is on the way in Wittek and hopefully Ash will be back and won't break again. The track record doesn't look good.
Anyway, other quick observations:
1. The defense looked like they were in position to make the play for the most part of the Spring game. After Manny Diaz for 3 off seasons, that is a big step for us to say the least.
2. I wish Steve Patterson would quit worrying about building our brand abroad and focus on our brand back here at home. I don't give a God D@mn about EVER seeing my beloved squad play in Mexico. How much money do we need anyway? Don't we need to eventually start winning championships along the way?
3. Playoffs or not, the Big 12 sucks. Easy way to playoffs or not, kids want to play against the best competition out there and the SEC is the gold standard currently. Either we need to upgrade Conferece Membership or get the Hell out of the Big 12. Hell, I'd be happy to be in the ACC. Tell me, where would you rather travel to see a game? Aimes, IA or Chapel Hill, NC? Manhatten, KS or Tallahassee, FL? Lubbock or Clemson, SC?
4. If we are going to have an alternate jersey to "excite" the kids then that crap that we practice in is great if you're a pumpkin or looking to dress up for Halloween. That crap is butt ugly and needs to go the same way as Mack Brown!
5. I keep hearing about what a great recruiter Charlie Strong is but Mack Brown was kicking ass in his first full recruiting season at UT. Yes I realize Strong's approach is different than Brown's, but the truth of the matter is Sumlin is still kicking our ass on the recruiting front. Winning will change things but after what I saw a couple of Saturdays ago, that may take some time. Like I said, kids don't give a damn about what old farts want as it pertains to taking the "easiest path to a National Championship," they want to play against the best talent period week-in, week -out. The Big 12 as it stands does not represent that today.
6. First foot dragging with Mack Brown and now Augie? So much for all of th radical changes and ass-kicking approach that I was promised about Patterson. I realize the jury is still out but..
7. As a Spurs' fan, and as an old school guy, I have a great appreciation for the tough love Charlie Strong and his staff are dealing out these days. As much as I may appreciate that approach, I wonder how well it resonates with the top recruits. Again, winning cures all that ails the University of Texas Football Program, but it may be a while before we are winning the way we need to be winning. And by the way, style points matter with recruits. From what I've seen in the past, Shawn Watson's offense doesn't produce a lot of style points.
8, Glad to see the commit by Miles Turner. And after you consider all of the talent coming back this season we should be loaded for bear to make a serious run in March. But after 16 seasons with Rick Barnes at the helm, I have seen enough of a sample of work to know how this is going to end. Hope I'm wrong.
9. Man oh man, this is the understatement of the century but we REALLY need David Ash to be healthy all of next season or it is going to be ugly. Perhaps Wittek can step in if Ash goes down. I really don't see a true freshman coming in and having a great deal of success in leading this squad to a season that we as Texas fans would consider to be a success.
10. i don't care how the season ends, Augie needs to move on. It's just time.
That's all I got for now. Again I would have never posted this on other sites because it would digress into downward spiral of name calling and all other things. If you don't agree, I would enjoy to hear different perspectives. I am just not thrilled about where our program is right now. I am not thrilled with the way Mack Brown and Deloss Dodds left things. I am not thrilled by what I see is a lack of enthusiasm and excitement for the program and Univerisity I love. But, like I said, winning cures all.
Hook 'em and have a great week!
SG
Been quite some time since I've posted. One of the thngs that I admire about this board is that everyone on this board is an adult. Not some tweny-something punk that is 10' tall and bulletproof behind a keyboard on the vast Internet, but in person is a 29 year old, 5'9" 165lb mildly asthmatic that still lives at home with mama and has yet to be laid. Immediately the typcial OB poster comes to mind.
I was initially THRILLED with the hiring of Steve Patterson as AD replacing an old fart that had oulived his usefultness after he signed the LHN deal. Dodds had been mailing it in for some time and I believed Patterson to be just what the doctor ordered. That was until Mack refused to step down and Patterson had to be told that Mack HAD to go and anything less was unacceptable. My understanding is that Patterson was going to "let it ride" for another season with Mack and had to be coerced into going back to Mack on that fateful Saturday to tell him coming back was NOT an option.
I know all of the stories surrounding Saban. I also know that Powers wasn't interested in hiring Saban when he found out that we had a rogue BMD going "broken arrow" and he wasn't going to have none of it. Once Powers found out it was "game over." That's fine, there is more than 1 great Football Coach out there however to cower from a fight with an old geezer like Joe Jamail because he was threatening legal action if we hired ANY Jimmy Sexton client was TOTALLY WEAK! $100M to UT upon his death or not, Joe Jamail is NOT the only big money guy writing checks to the University of Texas. The BMD's had told Patterson that they had his back if it came to "lawyering up" to fight with Jamail. And Jamail would have lost. Would the case embarrass the Universtity? Probably. But to be held hostage by some crusty old bastard that had become a pariah in recent years because he MAY sue on behalf of Mack Brown. No court in the land would have ruled in favor of Brown and Jamail. But nonettheless, we have Charlie Strong as our Head Coach and thank God for the change. Is Charlie Strong my preferred candidate? No. But I'll take Charlie Strong and his new approach over the Bullsh@t I have been witnessing over the past 4 seasons in a heart beat.
Patterson going "lone wolf" on his Head Coaching selection is perhaps just what the doctor ordered but I would have preferred to see some sort of consensus on the hire than what happened. Unlike many, I actually trust some of our key BMD's. I'll be honest here amongst fellow adults, the hiring of Charlie Strong was a bit underwhelming to me. Like many of you, I wanted a "home run" hire. After all, WE'RE TEXAS! By God, it is our GIVEN RIGHT to make the biggest splash not just in College Football, but ALL Football!
Neverhteless, I wanted to hold out and see whom Strong hired as his OC. Now I know on paper that Joe Wickline is our "Offensive Coordinator" however Shawn Watson is calling our plays offensively and I am underwhelmed to say the least. Yes, I realize Shawn Watson developed Teddy Bridewater. I also realize Greg Davis developed Colt McCoy & Vince Young. And after looking at Shawn Watson's track record, I can't believe I am saying this but I would take Greg Davis over Shawn Watson as my OC or play caller. A 70-3 comes immediately to mind. You don't score 70 points on a team in a Big 12 Championship (National Championship Team loaded wtih Pro Players or not) unless you have a offense turn over the ball quite a bit. And that day, Colorado turned the ball over an awful lot.
To compete in the Big 12, we are going to need to move the football. We've seen the 3 yards and a cloud of dust over the past 3 seasons an it has been a train wreck. Perhaps with a change in mindset, a change in strength & conditioning programs and coaches, and a change in the country club atmosphere with grandpa Brown handing out ribbons and cookies for "blood spilled on the field of battle" to a more Spartan approach is a huge step in the right direction. Huge step or not, we're going to have to move the ball in this conference or we are going to get not only beat, but embarrassed. I don't care how good of a defensive coach Charlie Strong is!
The Spring Game was very enlightening to many of us. Yes, I know the season has not even kicked-off but I what I saw that Saturday looked like a continuation of '13 and had me longing for Case McCoy as QB. First Greg Davis and now Case McCoy? REALLY?! Unfortunately yes BUT help is on the way in Wittek and hopefully Ash will be back and won't break again. The track record doesn't look good.
Anyway, other quick observations:
1. The defense looked like they were in position to make the play for the most part of the Spring game. After Manny Diaz for 3 off seasons, that is a big step for us to say the least.
2. I wish Steve Patterson would quit worrying about building our brand abroad and focus on our brand back here at home. I don't give a God D@mn about EVER seeing my beloved squad play in Mexico. How much money do we need anyway? Don't we need to eventually start winning championships along the way?
3. Playoffs or not, the Big 12 sucks. Easy way to playoffs or not, kids want to play against the best competition out there and the SEC is the gold standard currently. Either we need to upgrade Conferece Membership or get the Hell out of the Big 12. Hell, I'd be happy to be in the ACC. Tell me, where would you rather travel to see a game? Aimes, IA or Chapel Hill, NC? Manhatten, KS or Tallahassee, FL? Lubbock or Clemson, SC?
4. If we are going to have an alternate jersey to "excite" the kids then that crap that we practice in is great if you're a pumpkin or looking to dress up for Halloween. That crap is butt ugly and needs to go the same way as Mack Brown!
5. I keep hearing about what a great recruiter Charlie Strong is but Mack Brown was kicking ass in his first full recruiting season at UT. Yes I realize Strong's approach is different than Brown's, but the truth of the matter is Sumlin is still kicking our ass on the recruiting front. Winning will change things but after what I saw a couple of Saturdays ago, that may take some time. Like I said, kids don't give a damn about what old farts want as it pertains to taking the "easiest path to a National Championship," they want to play against the best talent period week-in, week -out. The Big 12 as it stands does not represent that today.
6. First foot dragging with Mack Brown and now Augie? So much for all of th radical changes and ass-kicking approach that I was promised about Patterson. I realize the jury is still out but..
7. As a Spurs' fan, and as an old school guy, I have a great appreciation for the tough love Charlie Strong and his staff are dealing out these days. As much as I may appreciate that approach, I wonder how well it resonates with the top recruits. Again, winning cures all that ails the University of Texas Football Program, but it may be a while before we are winning the way we need to be winning. And by the way, style points matter with recruits. From what I've seen in the past, Shawn Watson's offense doesn't produce a lot of style points.
8, Glad to see the commit by Miles Turner. And after you consider all of the talent coming back this season we should be loaded for bear to make a serious run in March. But after 16 seasons with Rick Barnes at the helm, I have seen enough of a sample of work to know how this is going to end. Hope I'm wrong.
9. Man oh man, this is the understatement of the century but we REALLY need David Ash to be healthy all of next season or it is going to be ugly. Perhaps Wittek can step in if Ash goes down. I really don't see a true freshman coming in and having a great deal of success in leading this squad to a season that we as Texas fans would consider to be a success.
10. i don't care how the season ends, Augie needs to move on. It's just time.
That's all I got for now. Again I would have never posted this on other sites because it would digress into downward spiral of name calling and all other things. If you don't agree, I would enjoy to hear different perspectives. I am just not thrilled about where our program is right now. I am not thrilled with the way Mack Brown and Deloss Dodds left things. I am not thrilled by what I see is a lack of enthusiasm and excitement for the program and Univerisity I love. But, like I said, winning cures all.
Hook 'em and have a great week!
SG
