Football Some thoughts following Charlie Strong's Monday presser

[Mike Roach]

1) One reason we weren't one of the sites itching to jump on the "breaking news" pile yesterday is that our sources were very clear that an official decision has not been made.  We know that Texas had a team meeting yesterday, and sources told us the message was conveyed that Strong would not return for 2017.  Players were understandably upset, and they voiced that displeasure over twitter.

 

2) Once Mike Perrin came out and denied reports of a firing yesterday we geared ourselves up for a potential circus.  Our only hope internally was that Charlie Strong would announce things on his terms.  

 

3) First thing's first.  Charlie handled that press conference like a true pro.  I thought he was very dignified in the face of a tough situation, and it's easy to see why players love him and recruits flock to him.  The problem is that the Texas AD just left the door open for a potential Les Miles moment.  Imagine Texas beats TCU (a team still fighting for bowl eligibility) and carries Charlie off the field on Friday.  They've now set the stage for a huge meltdown from players and some fans if they were to fire him.  In my opinion it should not even be up for debate after losing to a 1-9 Kansas team.  If it were to happen we'd have moved the bar for success from 8 wins at the start of the season, and 9 wins mid season to 6 wins at the end of the year.

 

4) We are following up with some sources today, but there is a concentrated effort to control the narrative after having several leaks yesterday.  Today's events turned Strong into a sympathetic figure advocating for his job with a strong show of support from his players.  Our sources were pretty adamant that a decision had been made, and several key people were notified yesterday.  That said, all bets are off with this administration.  If things stick to the way they were yesterday we expect an announcement to be made following the TCU game, but again the door is open a crack for a comeback.

 

5) This is what happens when you don't have an experienced AD presiding over things.  Texas has a potential PR nightmare on their hands for the 2nd time in 3 years.  That's not a great look leading into a potential job search.  Texas needs to make a move on the AD front as quickly as they can to establish some stability at the upper level of the program.  

 

6) The purpose of this is neither to scare you or calm you down.  We've reported what we've been told by reliable sources along the way, and we expect Texas to start a new coaching search a week from now.  We will continue to report what we hear, but what could have been an easy transition was made just a bit tougher by today's events.

[DMAC]

The problem is that the Texas AD just left the door open for a potential Les Miles moment.  Imagine Texas beats TCU (a team still fighting for bowl eligibility) and carries Charlie off the field on Friday.  They've now set the stage for a huge meltdown from players and some fans if they were to fire him.  In my opinion it should not even be up for debate after losing to a 1-9 Kansas team.  

 

Exactly

[shotime73]

Post of the year by Mike Roach

[Johnstark23]

The athletic department screwed up the Mack Brown firing, the screwed up the hiring of Charlie. They did their best to screw up the Rick Barnes firing with the old fire the assistants ultimatum. They screwed up the firing of Augie Garrido and the hiring of David Pierce.

 

Does anyone see a recurring trend here?

[Chris Flanagan]

Shouldn't be up for debate. He should be done. 

 

That doesn't mean there won't be fallout. Players will transfer, recruits will de-commit and there will be drama. That comes with the territory. But Texas has to get this hire right. 

 

Even if it isn't Herman (which I think some fans are too bullish that Herman is guaranteed to come to UT), if the next coach fails in 3 years, that means Texas spent the entire 2010s mired in mediocrity. Minnesota and Pitt were once powers and after years of mediocre football, they lost their edge and have never gained it back. That could happen to Texas. 

 

So it needs to be handled right, and right now the AD has stumbled out of the gate. Too many BMDs have too much power and there is no coherent message from UT athletics. 

[J.B. TexasEx]

....and it's easy to see why players love him and recruits flock to him.

 

They just don't play smart, disciplined, or winning football for him.

[North Texas Golfer]

Post of the year by Mike Roach

 

I read most of the other sites and I can tell that Mike is, without question, the most reasoned moderator/administrator or whatever you want to call them. BAR NONE!

[Chris Flanagan]

The athletic department screwed up the Mack Brown firing, the screwed up the hiring of Charlie. They did their best to screw up the Rick Barnes firing with the old fire the assistants ultimatum. They screwed up the firing of Augie Garrido and the hiring of David Pierce.

 

Does anyone see a recurring trend here?

 

To be fair, they did get Shaka Smart. 

 

That seemed to work out very well. But yeah, 1 out of 5 is still a 20% success rate so not that good. 

[North Texas Golfer]

To be fair, they did get Shaka Smart. 

 

That seemed to work out very well. But yeah, 1 out of 5 is still a 20% success rate so not that good. 

 

I think that is still above the Mendoza line, isn't it?

[HornSports Staff]

I read most of the other sites and I can tell that Mike is, without question, the most reasoned moderator/administrator or whatever you want to call them. BAR NONE!

 

Mike is our football reporter and Senior recruiting analyst.

 

And yes, he's damn good!

[echeese]

I think that is still above the Mendoza line, isn't it?

 

It is the Mendoza line so no, not above it.

 

Good job Mike, if I have not said it, have enjoyed reading your takes this season.

[shotime73]

Hey Mike if I were you I wouldn't report recruiting season lol til the s'''tshow is done lol

[Johnstark23]

I think that is still above the Mendoza line, isn't it?

It technically is right on the Mendoza line, although to be fair to him, he hit .216 for his career

[Randolph Duke]

Shouldn't be up for debate. He should be done. 

 

That doesn't mean there won't be fallout. Players will transfer, recruits will de-commit and there will be drama. That comes with the territory. But Texas has to get this hire right. 

 

Even if it isn't Herman (which I think some fans are too bullish that Herman is guaranteed to come to UT), if the next coach fails in 3 years, that means Texas spent the entire 2010s mired in mediocrity. Minnesota and Pitt were once powers and after years of mediocre football, they lost their edge and have never gained it back. That could happen to Texas. 

 

So it needs to be handled right, and right now the AD has stumbled out of the gate. Too many BMDs have too much power and there is no coherent message from UT athletics. 

 

No coach can watch how this is being handled and have much confidence in the leadership at UT.

 

If Texas wins Friday, Charlie gets carried off by the players and we have a Les Miles moment. If Texas loses, there will inevitable be some yahoos who boo and that will really piss off some players. Bad blood between the team and the fans won't make a new coach's job any easier.

 

No candidate for the Texas job can feel comfortable the leadership at UT is capable of making decisions that will be necessary to ensure the program is properly supported.

 

I am just in awe of how this is being mishandled.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Great stuff as always, Mike! Appreciate all of the work you do. 

[utparothed]

5) This is what happens when you don't have an experienced AD presiding over things.  Texas has a potential PR nightmare on their hands for the 2nd time in 3 years.  That's not a great look leading into a potential job search.  Texas needs to make a move on the AD front as quickly as they can to establish some stability at the upper level of the program. 

 

 

UT Leadership...

[MBHORNSFAN]

LOST TO KANSAS....

 

No other comments necessary

[DrTrey]

All this tells me is that there's a chance Charlie stays if we beat TCU. In my opinion that would be a colossal mistake. We will have made a statement that winning doesn't matter to us.

[texbound]

F it, if Charlie beats TCU then give the man thev4th year. That's not what any of us want, but give it to him with the stipulation that he must get to a New Years 6 bowl. If not, he will be gone. This would all but guarantee D'onta comes back, a lot of 2017 recruits would be talked into coming in for him, and there would be NO EXCUSES. I know this isn't the sentiment of this or any other board out there and we miss out on Herman this year. Herman may very well be available next year as well. I'm just tired of this and what's one more year? Plus it makes that much harder for kids to transfer that are Jr's and starting sophomores. I say F it.

[texbound]

Plus, it puts the pressure clearly on the players to put up or shut up. They don't do it, they can't cry about it.

[longhorn_mig]

F it, if Charlie beats TCU then give the man thev4th year. That's not what any of us want, but give it to him with the stipulation that he must get to a New Years 6 bowl. If not, he will be gone. This would all but guarantee D'onta comes back, a lot of 2017 recruits would be talked into coming in for him, and there would be NO EXCUSES. I know this isn't the sentiment of this or any other board out there and we miss out on Herman this year. Herman may very well be available next year as well. I'm just tired of this and what's one more year? Plus it makes that much harder for kids to transfer that are Jr's and starting sophomores. I say F it.

 

Not at a shot at you. Just made me think of the quote:

 

[texbound]

Not at a shot at you. Just made me think of the quote:

 

That was perfect

[Randolph Duke]

F it, if Charlie beats TCU then give the man thev4th year. That's not what any of us want, but give it to him with the stipulation that he must get to a New Years 6 bowl. If not, he will be gone. This would all but guarantee D'onta comes back, a lot of 2017 recruits would be talked into coming in for him, and there would be NO EXCUSES. I know this isn't the sentiment of this or any other board out there and we miss out on Herman this year. Herman may very well be available next year as well. I'm just tired of this and what's one more year? Plus it makes that much harder for kids to transfer that are Jr's and starting sophomores. I say F it.

 

Exactly what about LOSING TO KANSAS makes anyone think we are seeing improvement?

 

Texas just isn't a good fit for Charlie Strong. he isn't getting it done. First it was supposed to be eight wins and he keeps his job. Then it because seven wins. Now it's six wins.

 

UT Austin just has horribly weak leadership from the president to the AD. Nothing has been done to clean up the waste and bloat inside Bellmont, they can't manage the coaching issue with the football team and there is a very real possibility the coaching situation gets FAR worse in the very near future.

 

It's amazing how rudderless the athletics program is.

[utb040713]

F it, if Charlie beats TCU then give the man thev4th year. That's not what any of us want, but give it to him with the stipulation that he must get to a New Years 6 bowl. If not, he will be gone. This would all but guarantee D'onta comes back, a lot of 2017 recruits would be talked into coming in for him, and there would be NO EXCUSES. I know this isn't the sentiment of this or any other board out there and we miss out on Herman this year. Herman may very well be available next year as well. I'm just tired of this and what's one more year? Plus it makes that much harder for kids to transfer that are Jr's and starting sophomores. I say F it.

 

The administration has put UT in a position where this almost (not quite, but almost) makes the most sense.

 

There's 3 scenarios at this point, assuming Charlie is fired:

 

1) They reverse course and fire Charlie before TCU. This would be an embarrassment to the program, the players, and most of all to Charlie, and would be viewed as extremely disrespectful.

 

2) UT beats TCU, and they still fire Charlie. This could actually be the worst scenario of the bunch, as it will give the impression that the decision was already made. This will almost certainly piss off the players enormously.

 

3) UT loses to TCU, and the administration has even more justification for firing Charlie.

 

This whole situation should've been given the "Band-Aid" treatment: rip it off quickly to minimize the pain. Now, we're in a position where I would be willing to bet that the administration wants UT to lose their last game. We should never be in that position. They already have their justification for firing him, but they're not using it.

[longhorn_mig]

Exactly what about LOSING TO KANSAS makes anyone think we are seeing improvement?

 

Texas just isn't a good fit for Charlie Strong. he isn't getting it done. First it was supposed to be eight wins and he keeps his job. Then it because seven wins. Now it's six wins.

 

UT Austin just has horribly weak leadership from the president to the AD. Nothing has been done to clean up the waste and bloat inside Bellmont, they can't manage the coaching issue with the football team and there is a very real possibility the coaching situation gets FAR worse in the very near future.

 

It's amazing how rudderless the athletics program is.

 

I think texbound's comment had more to do with a complete lack of confidence in the administration and leadership. It stems from some shared sentiment that the administration and leadership is going to find some way to f@#$ this up.