Creek, If we win in Lubbock, we are definitely back, but back to what? Being able to beat a 4-4 team, who only has one win against a quality opponent, and that opponent has a head case for a QB? Tech has wins over SFA, LaTech, Kansas and TCU WHEEEE! Back to being able to go on the road and hold our own against a so-so team? Break out the big red sodie water and let's celebrate!
Ya gotta start from where you are. We are a 4-4 team. If we win in Lubbock (and right now that looks like a very big if to me) then we will be 5-4. Better than 4-4, but no big whup. Its one week at a time. Build it one game at a time. If we win out then we'll be 8-4. That's a long way into the future. Each week will be an adventure with this team. I'm giving my full support to Charlie and the Texas Longhorns right now. And anyone who isn't just doesn't seem to get it, as far as I'm concerned. All will be evaluated at the end of the season.
UT lore already has a legendary Bib, well, actually Bibb, so Bill in Bandera kind of runs into a wall.
LOL .... great thread! y'all are a hoot! Hat Tip! Seriously, though, and some of you, ahem, hard-nosers, can call this pandering/rationalizing/whatever ... I think one day we are going to learn just how hamstrung was Charlie in '13 with staff building. he's made his own mistakes and he's owned up to 'em; between dismissing a significant number of starters, I find this year is his second "of record." Anyhow ... I think the Patterson experiment cost us more than a season or two.
We're 8 games into his third season and Coach Strong has a 15-18 overall record at UT. I'm sorry, but those aren't the kind of numbers that merit even a one-year extension--let alone five years.
A Tech victory is nothing more than a second win over the bottom 4 conf teams below us. Not a single one has a winning record in conf play or the season. Yay, after a Tech win we'll be 2-0 against the 4 worst, non-winning teams. WVU is the last real measuring stick, since both KU and TCU are below us in the bottom 4 non-winning teams along with Tech. WVU is the last game against the top 5 conf teams above us. The only 5 teams with either a conf or overall winning record. All 5 have winning records in both. Right now we're 1-3 against those 5 better conf teams with winning records. If we're 1-4 after a WVU loss it doesn't matter how bad we beat all 4 bottom dwellers. Losing 4 of 5 (80%) to the 5 best conf teams during a third season is garbage.
I think I understand what Bill is saying, at least it's part of what I've been thinking. From where we are now I see three paths forward. 1. We win out and win a bowl. 2. We lose enough to have a losing season, but win a couple of more games maybe even bigger ones like WVU and TCU. 3. We lose out or come close to it. If it's 1, then what do you do? There will be those that want to keep Charlie, and you could at least make a case for keeping him. There will even be those (Steven A. Smith) that will say we wanted to get rid of him from the start. Problem here is, who would he get to come in as DC without a contract extension? 2. Scares me the most. Will they (Fenves and Perrin) have the balls to do what needs to be done or will we wonder in the land of Mackovic for a few more years. 3. This would stink, but at least it would be clear cut. Damn I hate the land of Mackovic.
Right now, I'm not for any extensions of his contract especially beyond the 2 years remaining. I'm also going to let the season play out and see what happens and refrain from calling for his termination until after the T+1 game. Win out the remaining 4 games and a bowl win might be enough to allow Strong to come back next year. That would leave one more on the original contract. At the other extreme, should he lose out, then termination and payoff appear to be the best move. Either way, no contract extension at this time, is merited beyond what he currently has which is the 2 remaining years. Should he get the 10 wins next year he's gone on record saying, and he starts off 2018 well winning at least 10 again, then if Perrin and Fenves want to discuss an extension, there would be some positives to see and not merely speculate about.
