You will never believe this...

Discussion in 'In The Stands' started by Austin_Bill, Nov 18, 2019.

  1. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    After the ISU loss, I wrote a letter to the athletic department expressing my concerns about the state of the program.

    I get an e-mail back from the department asking for my phone number, so I gave it to them. Well I just got off the phone with Chris Del Conte. I sure didn't expect that.

    We talked about replacing Tom Herman. In his words, Texas over the last 10 years have had 3 ADs, 3 Football coaches, 2 basketball coaches 2 baseball coaches and turnover in the overall leadership of the University. In his words, he isn't going to throw the baby out with the bath water. He is aware of the situation and know things need to be done, but a drastic change isn't likely to happen. He also mentioned the state of recruiting and that two more commitments will be coming.

    Take it for what it's worth.
     
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  2. TEXnSEATTLE

    TEXnSEATTLE 1,000+ Posts


    AMAZING....just that he asked for you number and the call happened....good sign
     
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  3. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    Very interesting. CDC engages with fans quite a lot on Twitter so I’m not at all surprised you got a call.

    Like it or not, major college sports programs (especially football) are modern corporations, and winning generates lots of cash at places like Texas. Part of the AD’s job is to optimize that so I expect CDC has had a talk with TH, or will very soon.
     
  4. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    CDC is pretty amazing to be able to make that phone call.

    As mad as I am at TH, i have faith in CDCs judgment.

    I don’t think TH is the guy, ultimately. But there is something to be said for continuity and firing TH after 3 years is probably not wise.

    Don’t ask me what I think in two more weeks if we drop both games to Baylor and Tceh. Probably won’t be as willing to concede to giving him more time then.
     
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  5. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    A few other notes on the conversation with regard to Tom Herman. He used the example of Dabo Sweeney at Clemson. Basically Dabo won 13 games his first 3 years at Clemson and won the national title in year 8. In this he was basically asking for patience.

    He said this call was because we are passionate fans an he wanted to reach out personally. He is a very stand up man, I can appreciate this.
     
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  6. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    This thread is useless without pics.
     
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  7. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I think we are both right there, who knows how I will feel at the end of the season but I know this is just not where we should be with all the great players we have.
     
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  8. AC

    AC 2,500+ Posts

    Great work and tenacity Bill! Thank you for doing that and reporting. I agree with CDC.
    I remember going 4-8 my sophomore year and dates I had were why I went to games back then. I have more passion now, but agree that the cupboard was empty almost when TH started. I think he’ll end up with 25 wins or so after year three. Well ahead of Dabo Sweeney! :thumbup:
     
  9. mb227

    mb227 de Plorable

    Any indication on where he stands with getting rid of the dead wood posing as coordinators?
     
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  10. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    Did he tell you the usernames of coaches and staff on Hornfans?
     
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  11. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    You want a picture of Austin_Bill peeing and shitting in his pants when he answered the call?
     
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  12. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    Hmmm....
     
  13. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    AB now that is cool. Make me upset the times I’ve seen him around on game days I didn’t go ahead and talk some shop instead of merely exchanging pleasantries.
     
  14. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    You just reminded me of something. I understood the situation of him needing to create continuity within the Athletic department, but I specifically asked him about losing to teams like TCU and ISU.

    He talked about the jumping off sides on the field goal. I don't even know who jumped, he said after the game that guy was an emotional wreck, crying like he just lost his parents (His words).

    My thought, why did it get to this point? why were they able to just march down the field like that? We never should have been in that situation to begin with. (And no, this was a question I didn't ask, that I should have).

    I just hope we see some change because we have lost two games we never should have with the talent we have. No coach on the defensive side of the ball should be safe after this season.
     
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  15. rick mueller

    rick mueller Burnt Orange Bleeder

    Agree that CDC is a stand up man to make that call. I trust him to steer the ship.
    However, in regards to Dabo, I would counter that with Ruhle at BU. He took over a program that was a mess. His third year and he will play for the conference championship. He reeled off 9 in a row before taking Blow U to the limit. TH took over a team that for sure had some issues, but also had significant talent on both sides of the ball. BU is where UT should be and clearly is not. If we have to struggle to beat teams like K-State, Kansas and Okie Lite, and lose to TCU and ISU, we clearly are not anywhere in the same hemisphere with "Elite."
     
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  16. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    It’s really cool that CDC made the call. Perhaps he reads HF. Wouldn’t surprise me.

    I’m convinced that he gets it and frankly, with respect to TH, what else could he say except to express or infer support? He understands that if Longhorn Nation’s support is wavering, it’s not inconsequential. But right now, his options are limited. I suspect that they won’t be (limited) if we are in the same place this time next year.
     
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  17. MajesticII

    MajesticII 1,000+ Posts

    If the women's basketball season goes the way it looks like it is going, and CDC doesn't give Karen a pink slip, we can all lose total confidence in CDC's handling the football problem.
    On the subject of turnover...Its called hiring the wrong people....keeping those wrong people IS NOT the answer !
    With Herman's contract you have to give him year 4, but the burner under his seat should be set at medium HIGH starting right now.
     
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  18. MajesticII

    MajesticII 1,000+ Posts

    Did you mean to type "two more commitments will be coming", or that two more DE-commitments will be coming. ?
     
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  19. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    In CDC's words, he said we have the #5 recruiting class and are about to add two more.
     
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  20. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    LISTEN, TOM. BILL IS CONCERNED. HE THINKS WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES, AND I TEND TO AGREE WITH HIM. I NEED YOU TO STEP UP YOUR GAME OR WE (BILL AND I) WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE CHANGES FOR YOU.
     
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  21. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    What I appreciate most, Bill, is that you obviously wrote a well-thought out letter. CDC is not going to engage an anonymous buffoon. Thanks! For being a good fan.
     
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  22. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I laughed.

    The moment I took the call, inside I asked myself, what the heck is he wanting to talk to me for? I'm not an alumni, I didn't attend the game, but his reason was plain. Texas fans are passionate about Texas football and he wanted to just reach out and assure me that we need to stay the course. That was the entire jest of his message. He said earlier that day he had a phone interview with ESPN and they were thinking the same thing, he told me that he gave them the same message he gave me.
     
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  23. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    While its cool he called you I hate it when anyone uses 1 example of success and ignore the probable 10 others that won 13 games their first 3 years and never got any better or even got worse. It also bothered me when so many were saying we're back after the SB win, but failed to acknowledge Texas lost to some clearly inferior opponents. You can't ignore the bad when looking at success/failure.

    Damn, if I could do that I could get rich in Vegas because I won 1 hand of blackjack.

    I'm not saying get rid of TH, but significant improvement in decision making and execution has to be seen next year.
     
  24. I35

    I35 5,000+ Posts

    when you play up or down to your opponent’s then you are going to have very close games every week that can come down to one play. In this case it came down to one play that was a mistake. If we just watched the Iowa St kicker kick it and not rushed then we win. Because the kicker shanked it and missed when the refs whistle was blown. The player was senior captain Roach. I feel bad for him because he has been the defensive leader this year. Close games will get you win and losses pretty much guaranteed. But at Texas we don’t expect losses so they have to be more dominant against teams we should beat.

    I’ll put it like this. Our best game this year was against LSU and it was a loss. If we played the rest of our schedule that way with intensity we would be 9-1 right now. LSU would be our only loss.
     
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    Last edited: Nov 19, 2019
  25. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Nice work / post Bill.

    As previously stated, you must have written a well thought out and balanced letter to express your concerns (while not throwing any bombs). I'm also impressed with how you handled THAT telephone call. I think most of us, if we got that call, would perhaps not only be shocked but would have felt some level of anxiety.

    Secondly, I'm impressed with how CDC handled and responded to you. It says a lot about him and his approach to the program. He must be an extremely busy man and to take time to make a phone call to some random fan complaining says a great deal to me. He probably knows that kind of action will result in you telling 50 people (or more in this case) about the positive experience you had with him, but he didn't do it for that reason.

    Like DKR was known for saying: the mark a man is him taking time for a person that can't do anything for him (or something like that) - IMHO that is what CDC did with you.

    :hookem:
     
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    Last edited: Nov 22, 2019
  26. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I think me being here posting our conversation is exactly what he was hoping for.
     
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  27. Horn6721

    Horn6721 10,000+ Posts

    Well Bill thanks to you I and I would guess some others on here will lay off the FIRE TH
    for a short time.
    I hate being reminded of all the lousy hires that have been made in just 10 years
     
  28. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    he deserves credit for that. understanding who we are and willing to connect with us on shared goals.
     
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  29. BurntOrangeLH

    BurntOrangeLH 2,500+ Posts

    Are at least a recording of the conversation.
     
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  30. ShAArk92

    ShAArk92 1,000+ Posts

    reposted for emphasis.
    Well said, Rick.
     
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