Most Texas fans, at least those who approach things rationally (as few and far between as they may be), will tell you that Mack Brown did a lot for the Texas Longhorns football program during his tenure in Austin. After all, he resurrected a sleeping giant by assembling one of the best teams to ever take the field on the 40 Acres and coached them to their first national title in over three decades.
Most Texas fans will also tell you, however, that despite all the good he brought to the program, Coach Brown hung on a little too long. In his last few seasons in Austin, the Longhorns had grown complacent, accustomed to a culture of entitlement and comfort. The players, long considered soft by the national media, frequently underperformed. They often lost games to teams with far inferior talent.
There is no doubt, despite all the good Mack did for Texas, the program was desperately in need of a culture change.
Enter Charlie Strong.
When Strong stepped off the plane from Louisville to Austin, he brought with him an immediate and much needed paradigm shift in the culture that defines Texas Football.
Gone are the days of living off campus, unless you are a senior and your grades are up to par.
Gone are the days of smoothies and flat screen TVs in the weight room.
Gone are the days of players being allowed to wear earrings in football facilities.
Gone are the days of missing class. Ever.
In short, gone are the days of entitlement.
Strong has laid down the law, and he’s proven right out of the gates that he’s not messing around.
But is it too much?
Since Strong and Company arrived in Austin, the Longhorns have lost more than their share of recruits, leaving some wondering if he’s coming on too strong (no pun intended) or if Texas made the wrong hire.
The answer is an adamant and resounding NO.
Sure, the Longhorns may lose a few recruits in this class, but that’s only to be expected. The sky is not falling. Strong isn’t “too mean.†Again, a rational fan will tell you that these recruits did not have a chance to build a relationship with Strong, while other coaches across the state have been recruiting them for years. It only makes logical sense that they’d gravitate towards those they know well over those they hardly know.
But what about future recruits? Why would they come play for Strong, with his strict rules, lofty demands, and high levels of accountability when other coaches across the state are flashier, more hip, and possibly even more fun? Why come to Austin and puke your guts out working with Coach Moorer in the weight room when you could go to “other†places and party all night with Drake and the like?
Sure, he may lose a recruit or two along the way, but the players Strong will bring to Austin will no doubt be here for one thing and one thing only: to play football.
Under Strong, the Longhorns will never again be considered soft. If his first few weeks on the job is any indicator, he will not allow his teams to fail to live up to the ridiculously high expectations that should be placed on Texas football.
Yes, he will be tough (incredibly tough) on his players; he’s already proven that. Nevertheless, Charlie Strong is exactly what this program needs.  He came here to win championships and he’s clearly a man that refuses to settle for anything less.
He’s ready. Are you?
