The Fat Lady Is Singing. Is Anyone Listening?

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by dukesteer, Oct 4, 2015.

  1. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    This is not intended to be an attack on Charlie Strong. Like almost everyone on this board and for so many reasons, I desperately wanted Strong to not only succeed but to prosper at Texas. He is a fine man, probably a great husband and father, and clearly an excellent role model for young people. Charlie is genuine and immensely likable. But... there is a time for unbridled enthusiasm, a time for patience and a time to accept what is, and acknowledge reality. In my judgment, we have reached the time to acknowledge reality.

    Many are criticizing Kris Boyd for the retweeting incident. While his decision at halftime yesterday demonstrated poor judgment, there is a much more important message. Boyd's behavior is a symptom. There is reason to believe that Strong has not only lost Longhorn Nation but that he may have now lost the team.

    Here's another example of a symptom. For those of you who didn't catch the halftime analysis on the LHN, while Ricky and David Thomas seemed to be giggling about what they saw in the first 30 minutes yesterday, VY had lost his composure to the extent that, for the portion I watched, he couldn't even make a comment. Like I said, a symptom.

    While we should all applaud the example Strong has set for the program by cleansing the bad actors and establishing a code of conduct, he was hired and is being paid at a level among the top five in his profession for one reason: To bring Texas Football back to prominence. By that singular and most critical measure, Strong has failed, and quite badly. He deserved a pass for 2014 but not now. The facts are the facts. They are indisputable.

    Many have and will continue to argue that Strong needs more time. More time to install his program. More time to recruit "his guys." I would like to accept that argument, but I can do so no longer. With a record of 6-6 or 5-7, or more likely 4-8 or 3-9, even Knute Rockne probably couldn't attract top talent in these times and in this state.

    There were signals early on that many of us chose to ignore. (Of course, we had no choice.) Is this too big a stage for Charlie Strong? If we were winning or even showing progress, such questions may not be relevant.

    I cannot forget the visual of Strong sitting at that introductory press conference, between a smiling Patterson and Powers. They were ecstatic. Strong was a deer in the headlights. Not a big deal? I'm not so sure. Strong was completely out of his element, and he has been out of his element at virtually every press conference. While I don't expect an Obama-esque orator proficient at reading teleprompters, I do expect for the coach of a premier program in the country to be able to proficiently field softball questions from a reluctant press that is acutely aware of the groundbreaking nature of his hire.

    An area of great concern for me is judgment. Armed with the knowledge that he was coming into an offensive minded conference and facing high powered programs, and, with a blank check, Strong not only insisted on bringing Watson with him -- against the advice of virtually anyone knowledgeable about football in this conference, but he appeared to abdicate any responsibility for that side of the ball. That lack of judgment may ultimately seal his fate.

    Then there's the on-field performance. Let's look beyond the scoreboard which should tell us everything we need to know. The past three weeks are a microcosm of what concerns many of us. I get freshmen mistakes. They are expected. But the epidemic of mental mistakes coming from everywhere is beyond troubling. I'm referring not only to players out of position, missed snaps, dropped kicks and missed field goals. Perhaps more troubling have been the decisions to field punts, or not field punts, kickoffs, to go for 4th and 17, to jump routes. And finally, to stubbornly continue to feature a runner that, sadly but clearly will never live up to the expectations and is obviously not our best choice at the position. These are coaching decisions, and they reflect poor judgment. Which leads me to perhaps the most profound observation:

    Does Coach Strong have the "coaching acuity" to succeed at a program like Texas? Discounting political correctness and any other criteria, the question is valid, and it has nothing to do with where Strong came from or how he looks. I could give a damn. I didn't like the pompous wine-sipping John Mackovic but, had he brought a winner to Texas, I would have embraced him.

    Make no mistake about it, the Texas Football Program is at a precipice. This is not like the 60s when there was perhaps only one or two other programs competing for the talent. Not only do we not own the state anymore, we are rapidly becoming an afterthought for many of the players that, in times past, would have begged for an offer. Not only are programs like TAM, Baylor, TCU and OU likely to clean our clocks, but up and comers like Houston and SMU are now somewhat formidable. Some are suggesting that we may have lost the high school coaches, the "farm system." We can no longer say "We Are Texas." We are not "that" Texas anymore.

    I do not relish the position that Fenves and Perrin will likely face, soon. But in my judgment, the fat lady is indeed singing and we should be listening.
     
    • Like Like x 6
  2. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    It all boils down to we've got a coach learning on the job. Or better yet, suffering big failures and trying to learn how to get better from it. Texas is not the program to hire coaches that require on-the-job training.

    People seem to dislike this comment, but from press conferences to game day, he's undeniably in over his head at this higher level. There are countless horrible decisions to support this conclusion, and just as many non-competitive losses.

    There's no way after 18 games that our team should still perform worse than game 1. There's no way we should still be getting blasted by top 10 teams, even if we lack the talent to beat them.

    After the Watson/Swoopes combo was given the keys to this season...again...I truly realized Strong's ceiling will never be high enough to get back where we need to be.

    Everyone with football sense knew that pair was a guaranteed flop. CS avoided making hard but apparent choices before serious damage was done to his team's psyche.

    But I still held out hope and prayed eating crow was on the menu. After what I saw at TCU, there is nothing left to assumption. Strong had his team near the corner and needed a solid (even losing) performance.

    At that critical juncture when fans and recruits were waiting with baited breath...his team did what they always do...wet the bed and all but forfeited.

    There's no doubt in my mind this ship has sunk. 5-7 or 4-8 in the second year will signal to everyone, especially recruits, that the promises made at Texas are empty. Even Strong's players don't lay it on the line for him and fight to the last breath.

    I know if I didn't have a dog in the hunt and my kid was asking my opinion of Texas, TCU, or Aggy...I'd tell him anywhere but Texas. Not because we are losing, but it's the way we are losing, and the coaching is so much better elsewhere.

    Another season is only postponing the inevitable. I'd let him go after the season and make a splash head coaching hire with an innovative staff. That way the new guy would get a mulligan year in 2016 with similar results to what Charlie will do.

    Then in 2017 we'd actually have a real shot at the conference title. Sadly, 2016 will be a wasted year either way. Even going from 4-8 to 8-5 in a 3rd season is a waste of time. Three years later we'd have the same record as when he took over. Might as well let a more talented coach have that season to build with it.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2015
  3. Driver 8

    Driver 8 Amor Fati

    If Charlie wants support from the fans he needs to earn it now. His political capital and good will are spent as far as I'm concerned.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  4. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    This!!!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    The SWC was pretty good in the 60s. Do not hate on the SWC's glory years. Actually, it was pretty good from the 30s all the way until it was not and died. (I guess I should be prepared to be called out for defending the SWC.)
     
    • Like Like x 2
  6. rickysrun

    rickysrun 2,500+ Posts

    I think you're all a bunch of babies. You know why the team is playing poorly, they have no talent above the freshmen/sophomore level, none. Go make a cake with no eggs or oil. CS is starting from scratch. Take uor pick
     
  7. shaggy refuge

    shaggy refuge 500+ Posts

    ********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
  8. shaggy refuge

    shaggy refuge 500+ Posts

    I don't see much talent at FR and SOPH level either! All of these UT boards are loaded with blind, sunshine pumper loons.
     
  9. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Correct Htown.

    What killed the SWC was the cheating by SMU and aggy plus the absolute abysmal Baylor and TCU Athletic Departments and fan support. What is killing the Big XII is a failure by Texas to "retire" Mack after the Alabama game; ou's failure to live up to Big Game Bob's constant boasting (remember Big Game Bob and Mack have the same number of MNC's); TCU's lack of control of their "star" players; and Baylor's outlaw program.

    Sad to say buy the Big XII is broken and should be put out of its misery. Texas, ou, sand aggy and oklahoma aggy to the PAC-12. The other four will have to settle for the Mountain West as aggy will blackball TCU and Baylor from the SEC.
     
  10. The Apache

    The Apache 25+ Posts


    This is cop out excuse making. There are plenty of examples of new coaches coming into difficult situations, programs that were down and out and the coach finding a way to coach up the guys he inherits while bringing in his own guys. These coaches made a visible difference and got their programs back to respectability within a couple of years. Strong's teams look worse than when he got here, bad scheme, demoralized players and a fan base desperate to find something to cheer for (Heard). Bill Parcells always said you are what your record says you are. Be a man own it and do something about it instead of making excuses.
     
  11. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    So what's your excuse for all the players that have been on the team since Strong got here? Why are few of them markedly better after 18 games?

    Doesn't a good coach make his players noticeably better after 18 damn games, even if they aren't as talented as you'd like?

    Funny, but I see the same amount of suck from most veteran starters as I did when Strong arrived. I mean how's that experienced DL doing? Weren't several of our OL here when Strong arrived? Why aren't they hardly any better now?

    What about Swoopes and Gray after a year, did they improve an ounce? Just keep on making excuses and you'll keep on deserving the loser product we see on Saturdays.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  12. old65horn

    old65horn 1,000+ Posts

    I said the same thing before the TCU game and got hammered for it.

    Better duck.
     
  13. OrngNugz

    OrngNugz 500+ Posts

    I still dont understand why CS is saying all we are missing is 1 key player, does he think we are stupid or something. CS needs to be the leader for this team. After that 15 yd penalty vs OSU I wish CS would have gone ape **** and gotten kicked out of the game. At least he would show some passion and fire, the very same thing he wants his players to play with.

    Show the team your willing to sacrifice everything for them and they might start doing the same for you CS. As soon as one thing goes wrong in a game this team implodes. My kid plays in little league football and let me tell you when any kid starts pouting in a game or even practice they are sent to their mothers to go "cry" it out. After this happened to three kids no one ever pouted in a game or practice again. CS should send the players with head down or pouting up to the stands with mommy to cry it out, maybe give them a barbie doll and some panties to go with it.

    I dont want to hear CS giggle again about this team, f-that ****. The joke is on you CS, why the F are you laughing. Stop it, you look like a idiot doing it.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. LtSwtCrude

    LtSwtCrude Guest

    .... This is not like the 60s when there was perhaps only one or two other programs competing for the talent. Not only do we not own the state anymore ..."
    -- opening post

    Correct. Decades ago reasons to choose Texas were products of a culture that no longer exists. The eyeball test for why to go to Texas is far from what mattered to young lads growing up from the 60s thru the 90s and into this century. The landscape of what matters in choosing a program is in part affected by perceptions driven by television saturation, enhanced by empires ESPN and FOX, pumped by social media of every conceivable platform and delivery. Moms probably don't want that to be what draws in a kid, but...

    Recruiting decisions based on optics of a complex nature. Success breeding success. Coaching styles and offensives schemes driving the bus. Skill positions magnified more ever. Quarterbacks and receivers the new rock stars. Bravado stellar defensive players.

    The head coach's job at Texas is of mammoth proportions. The product on the field must still sell itself. Fire catches fire.

    The coach is the fire starter. The Leonidas as it were.
     
  15. Creek

    Creek 1,000+ Posts

    To simplify, the football is bad and is getting worse than bad. The person in charge is getting $5m per year to make it good. No worries or tears as that person is set for life. It'd take a guy making 200k per year, 25 years to make that. Find someone soon to make it good.
     
  16. Hipsquare

    Hipsquare 100+ Posts

    CS is in over his head. Earlier in the week he was miffed at the Horns being an 18 point under dog. TCU covered that midway through the FIRST quarter. That alone tells me he doesn't have a clue.
     

Share This Page