I like the way Strong's time here thus far has presented an open book study of the question(s) "So just what do you want in a head coach? What makes a head coach? Anywhere, but in particular at Texas. Right here, right now."
I think I did not really know or fully address that until now. I've been told lately, just listening to some ex-players from Royal's earliest years here, that he was extremely tough. It was no foolishness, no funny business. It was extremely competitive. You had to have your 'stuff' together, and you had to be a very tough football player.
What Royal had that I would look for today is that 'whatever' it takes to gain the respect that when you talked, people listened. And they damn well did what they knew they must do. They did it because of something about you that they simply cannot deny. They know you mean business, and they know you know what you are talking about. They believe you completely. They dare not cross you or disappoint you.
They're all in. And it's not even a question.
For reasons I cannot explain, it feels that Charlie Strong has not a lot of that going for him right now. But I think it's what a coach has to have. I think to a man, Saban, Meyer and Belichick have it. No one on their team is going to ever question a damn thing, a player position change, a scheme change, a practice issue, a player acquisition. Nothing. Not a thing. Because they don't dare. In part because they really believe to the core the coach knows damn good and well what is best and how it's going to be. And if there's a question about it, you still don't dare.
So for me, what I look for is simply being in command. Demonstrating it by never ever tolerating anything less that what has to be done, from assistant coaches, to player personnel, to every detail about the program and season. No compromise. None.
That's what I would look for.
I believe when Royal came here he was 34 years old. But he does not look like an unseasoned coach in these pictures taken from his early years here. He looks like a man who is deadly serious and focused and knows exactly what he is doing.
And the players know it, too.
This first pic is David McWilliams and Scott Appleton
-
Like x 1
Last edited by a moderator: Oct 8, 2015