CBS: Gundy: UT network a 'failure,' elimination key to B12

[smupony94]

You have to be kidding me. Every conference wants Texas

[Digetydog]

[quote="TidePony"]I don't think UT-Austin has much of a chance at joining the SEC - that shipped sailed. Joining the SEC would be admitting failure. Plus, they would not like the fact that they would have zero clout compared to Georgia, Florida, LSU, and Bama and even Kentucky (BB) - they are viewed as mediocre now. OU would have a [b]better shot.[/[/b]quote]

In addition to the reasons you mentioned, I don't think that the Horns would ever AGREE to join the SEC because (a) they won't agree to follow the Aggies in anything and (b) they have better options. But, if they want to join, they can get an invitation with a phone call.

[Stallion]

Texas can join whatever conference it wants whenever it wants to-that has always been the case-the fact is that it has not to this point wanted to leave the Big 12 under the conditions it needs to make a move3

In another Texas note-did anybody notice that Texas actually had the No. 1 recruiting class in the Country based on Rankbyoffers.com. That may be because they finished with players who were "in play" all the way to the finish line-which might have inflated their score. Not sure how to account for that-but found it surprising as most had their Class at about 8-12

http://www.rankbyoffers.com/2016fbteams/

[peruna81]

It would seem that UT has a bit of difficulty "coaching them up", if that is the case.

[Digetydog]

It would seem that UT has a bit of difficulty "coaching them up", if that is the case.

Keeping a mediocre coach in place to face off against the coaches from Baylor, TCU, OU, and OSU was not a genius move IMHO.

[footballdad]

Interesting how everyone agrees it's going to take 4-5 years for Morris to recruit his guys and get this program anywhere near competing for AAC championships, but many expect Strong to be fired in year 3.

Not a Texas fan so I don't really care, but this year and next are the only reasonable years to make judgements about Strong. He had to clean house, he has recruited great, he has had a very young team. If he can't figure out the QB situation, and work his way back to the top of the B12 over the course of the next 2 years, I'm sure he'll be gone.

He (or his OC & DC) coached just fine at Louisville, so we'll see if he can do the same under much more pressure in Texas? All the other noise is basically UT hate, nothing more.

[Digetydog]

Interesting how everyone agrees it's going to take 4-5 years for Morris to recruit his guys and get this program anywhere near competing for AAC championships, but many expect Strong to be fired in year 3.

Not a Texas fan so I don't really care, but this year and next are the only reasonable years to make judgements about Strong. He had to clean house, he has recruited great, he has had a very young team. If he can't figure out the QB situation, and work his way back to the top of the B12 over the course of the next 2 years, I'm sure he'll be gone.

He (or his OC & DC) coached just fine at Louisville, so we'll see if he can do the same under much more pressure in Texas? All the other noise is basically UT hate, nothing more.

As a graduate of both schools, the two coaches inherited vastly different situations.

1) Morris inherited team coming off a 1 win season caused by a train wreck of a roster. As a result, he was required do a complete rebuild of the roster. Although our team only won two games last year, (with the possible exception of our DC) our coaches didn't seem to get "outcoached" by the opposing side. Early in the season, we hung in there with some very good teams.

2) In contrast, Strong inherited a roster full of 3-5 star talent that was coming off another bowl appearance. Although Strong is a good (probably above average) defensive coach, his ability to build any kind of high powered offense (necessary in the B12) is questionable. For example, when OU's offense started having problems, they fired the OC and hired Lincoln Riley to replace him. For reasons known only to Strong, Texas hired the guy OU fired?

Ultimately, Strong's biggest problem is the fact that Briles, Patterson, and Stoops are Hall of Fame caliber college coaches. Unless he can figure out a way to outcoach them, he'll never get the results that UT fans demand.

[Charleston Pony]

While it may be true that more kids grow up in Texas with the dream of playing for UT and the program's brand also allows them to recruit highly rated kids on a national level, it still comes down to talent evaluation and development of your players. If you sign enough 4 & 5 star guys who peaked in H.S. or have that prima donna attitude that creates problems once they get on campus, you aren't going to dominate any P5 conference...and that's what UT faithful have obviously come to expect. Charlie Strong might not be the best x's and o's coach out there but he's got a pretty solid track record for building programs. I watched him build a solid D for South Carolina before moving on to Florida and back when Bennett was hired, I had hoped we might give Charlie a look as our HC. As with any coach, you have to get "your guys" on the field and Charlie inherited too many good players who weren't motivated to do it his way. It will be interesting to see if the UT brass and prominent faithful will allow Charlie enough time to build "his" program.

[peruna81]

Although this borders on the absurd and football blasphemy, I have wondered if JJ's staff in hindsight did a decent job of "coaching them up" in relation to the overall lack of talent per recruiting.

You have to have both. We didn't during the Tiki's reign, and UT seems to be suffering a bit from not having both either. It will be interesting to see if they do this year.

[Stallion]

Strong did a complete culture change and tear-down of the UT program-maybe even more of a tear down than SMU did as far as turning the roster over. That's what Texas wanted and when you tear down the roster like that you have got to give a Coach 3-4 years to get it done. He needs to win 8 games this year

[Digetydog]

Although this borders on the absurd and football blasphemy, I have wondered if JJ's staff in hindsight did a decent job of "coaching them up" in relation to the overall lack of talent per recruiting.

You have to have both. We didn't during the Tiki's reign, and UT seems to be suffering a bit from not having both either. It will be interesting to see if they do this year.

IMHO - the biggest surprise of the Jones era was Mason's consistent ability to fashion a decent defense out of the talent he had. Most years (including the last year), Mason's defense outperformed Jones' offense.

[mtrout]

Although this borders on the absurd and football blasphemy, I have wondered if JJ's staff in hindsight did a decent job of "coaching them up" in relation to the overall lack of talent per recruiting.

You have to have both. We didn't during the Tiki's reign, and UT seems to be suffering a bit from not having both either. It will be interesting to see if they do this year.

June had 1/3 of his starting roster end up in the nfl at one point. Thanks Bennett?

[ghost]

I think he is on to something. LHN might be a money-maker for UT at this time but the 24 hour exposure is very bad for some of the sports, especially football. Can you imagine the time Charlie Strong has to spend doing interviews and being micro-analyzed instead of putting the majority of his focus on preparing his football team to win? And the up close and personal shows the flaws in personalities of these coaches instead of having an aura and unknown quality about them. Could that be the reason for the downfall of UT football and eventually it's long-time old fans who like the good old days instead of being sold something on the video board every timeout or threatended with losing their seats unless they donate even more and naming their state athletic facilities after people with big pockets but bad reputations! Sad that our state institutions are stooping so low and making a statement that it is all about the money.

[dcpony]

While it may be true that more kids grow up in Texas with the dream of playing for UT and the program's brand also allows them to recruit highly rated kids on a national level, it still comes down to talent evaluation and development of your players. If you sign enough 4 & 5 star guys who peaked in H.S. or have that prima donna attitude that creates problems once they get on campus, you aren't going to dominate any P5 conference...and that's what UT faithful have obviously come to expect. Charlie Strong might not be the best x's and o's coach out there but he's got a pretty solid track record for building programs. I watched him build a solid D for South Carolina before moving on to Florida and back when Bennett was hired, I had hoped we might give Charlie a look as our HC. As with any coach, you have to get "your guys" on the field and Charlie inherited too many good players who weren't motivated to do it his way. It will be interesting to see if the UT brass and prominent faithful will allow Charlie enough time to build "his" program.

^^^ THIS^^^

MIchigan also had this problem. There was piece a year or two or so ago about how NFL scouts were down on UT guys because they didn't have that edge.

[LA_Mustang]

You have to be kidding me. Every conference wants Texas

If the conferences had a school draft, UT would be drafted #1 overall IMO. Michigan, Alabama and Oregon (Nike) are the only schools who come close to making money like UT football.