Texas vs. N. Texas - Non-game observations

I am 100% behind the change and the new coaching staff. I do agree CDC was faced with a very different situation with Shaka and Karen. I just reported the perception that Aston supporters have and it is fueled mostly by the message that the last 5 years were bad an unacceptable for Texas. I would say Karen was a great bridge out of the GG years and reestablished ties to traditional recruiting grounds. The Brooke and Ariel years were special. She brought the program back to the edge of the national conversation. Herman in mind is different because he is making top 5 money and he brags how great he is. When you set that table, you better not lose to TCU and ISU.

 

He's actually NOT in the Top 5 head coaching salaries. He's at #12

College Football Head Coach Salaries - USA TODAY

 

I can’t tell if zztx1’s post is preemptive to make sure no one disparages KA or a reaction to something in particular so I won’t pontificate.

But from my perspective most ppl have been appreciative of what Karen did at Texas but also eager to move on. Comparing her to smart is counter protective and apples to oranges. She was not fired, her contract simply was not renewed. While that may seem like a game of semantics, it makes a huge difference. Asking an AD to grant an extension to an underperforming coach is almost never going to happen.

Shaka benefited from four things

1. His contract was not up, and it would’ve cost the university around $10million to buy out the contracts of him and his staff.
   
2. his players and incoming recruits made it known that if he were fired they would go elsewhere
3. Tom Herman being on the hot seat. If CDC was going to have any fiscal wiggle room to move on from Tom Herman he simply could not buyout Shaka and staff. Had football not been on the hot seat and covid had not out the revenue in the crapper this would’ve been of little to no consideration
4. Shakas finish to the season. When you win your last 5 games including a top 10 win on the road in one of the toughest venues in the country, and trend toward the NCAA tournament (every bracket projection had them in the tourny) you give your AD cause to play out your final season

 

Pontificate huh? I love that word. I’ll need to look it up first for clarity. However, I now have a new word I can look for a place to use. Other huge factors in Smart’s favor are that apparently CDC simply likes Smart and how he operates a program. Plus the national media considers him one of the better coaches. The first one is true. The second one is open for discussion. Neither point is throwing shade on Aston.

 

I wrote this when I found several decades plus season ticket holders not renewing and when I asked them why they told me they thought UT was dumping on KA. Then I heard to announcers on TV say, Coach Vic was hired to bring this program back and I went back and read the UT promotion of the new hire. I agree Shaka's situation is different and if he can keep this going we are fortunate to have him.

I am looking forward to going to the A&M game on Sunday.

 

It's not uncommon that a program overhaul reaches further than the bench, even reaching as far as those in the stands who can't wrap their heads around REAL change. I suspect, based on your previous post, a gender issue more than anything else. Just sayin...

Hopefully, if Coach Vic and his staff CONSISTENTLY put the right product on the floor, we can replace those "several" with hundreds and maybe even thousands. That said, this is the first Texas team I've seen get after it defensively, press, and push tempo like our teams did in the 80s... the signature of identity that Coach Conradt stamped on the program. We know the results it brought and the number of butts it put in the stands.

I supported the program under Jody, Gail, and Karen to include welcoming each changing of the guard. I will support Coach Vic in the exact same way, wholly and fully until there's a reason not to.

Hook 'Em Then
Hook 'Em Now
Hook 'Em ALWAYS!