Burnt Ends (1-12)

[HornSports Staff]

The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point and select edges off a whole brisket and return them to the smoker.

Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they a heavenly bites of smoky goodness? I suppose it depends on who you ask...

Rather than discard trimmings and fat, we chose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.


***DO NOT FORWARD***


Let’s open things up this week with some advice: when it comes to Burnt Ends, always take time to read between the lines. HornSports makes an effort for the entire report to be anonymous (including the authors of each segment) and since the site is now 100% free, being anonymous and vague will be a necessity in some cases.

We get some solid information and tips to pass on to our readers, but some things are too sensitive to share. For those subjects, we make an effort to tell readers as much as possible without compromising anyone.

We can think of several recent instances when Burnt Ends needed to be obtuse – one specific story that comes to mind is a recruit that made his commitment announcement. We knew his intention and provided several hints about his choice beforehand, but never specifically stated the info. Instead, we honored his trust in the site, and let him make the official announcement.

But the hints were there…our advice is to read into everything when it comes to Burnt Ends.

+++++

There is a rumor circulating that Les Koenning will be retained by Bellmont. Obviously he will no longer be an assistant coach, but he could be reassigned to another position in the football offices. To be honest, we didn’t put much credence into the rumor until we recently learned of a connection between Koenning and Jeff Hildebrand.

For those of you that don’t recognize the name, Hildebrand serves on UT’s Board of Regents (since 2013) and is Chairman and CEO of Hilcorp. When Forbes and Texas Monthly produce their Wealthiest lists, Hildebrand makes the cut – his net worth starts with a ‘B’ not an ‘M’.

With all of the flux at UT in the last 18 months, the Jamail, Hicks, McCombos donor class has started fading into the background. The new group that is wielding the most influence is still being sorted out, but they’re all in Hildebrand’s age bracket.

Because of his position on the Board of Regents, Hildebrand is not a major donor to UT, but he has the respect of the new hierarchy being established. Big money knows bigger money and most of the guys watching football from a suite in DKR know that Hildebrand could write a check bigger than theirs – it’s akin to the unspoken hierarchy of athletes that know, but don’t discuss, who is better than them.

Rewind back to Les Koenning – there were some UT personnel that were surprised at the decision to fire Koenning. In their eyes, Koenning has solid experience, is a good teacher of fundamentals, and managed to get solid production from an average group of wideouts (including getting credit for John Harris’ transformation).

As stated, we didn’t think much of UT’s wide receiver coach staying on in Austin when we heard the rumor...until we dug a little and learned that Koenning and Hildebrand both played at Houston’s Memorial High School while Les Koenning, Sr. was Head Coach.

With even a limited understanding of the influence that Hildebrand has at UT, it could be very telling If Koenning is offered a position within the Athletic Department.

+++++

Courtesy of graduating from Mesquite Poteet in December, Malik Jefferson is set to be an early enrollee on the 40 Acres. With the departures of Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond, the depth chart at linebacker needs an infusion of talent for 2015. Being an early enrollee means that Jefferson will be able to participate in Spring practices and have a six month head start in the weight room over the other players in his signing class.

While those are all tangible benefits to next season, there is a big short term bonus to Jefferson’s enrollment timing. The 5* linebacker is scheduled to arrive in Austin on Saturday the 17th, which happens to be in the middle of an important recruiting weekend for Charlie Strong and company.

Defensive backs Holton Hill and Kris Boyd, as well as wide receiver Demarkus Lodge are all scheduled to be on campus this weekend. With that trio locked and loaded, this weekend sets up as the most important one left before signing day when it comes to recruits from Texas.

And right in the middle of their official visit – BAM! – the state’s top-rated player arrives in Austin to begin his career as a Longhorn. Given the relationship that some of the state’s top recruits have put together, do not underestimate the importance (or timing) of Jefferson’s arrival.

+++++

We asked a team source if there is a recruiting target still on the board that the coaching staff viewed as a top priority. The answer we got was Memphis University School offense tackle Drew Richmond.

Given the play at tackle and the musical-chairs-depth chart along the entire line, it didn’t come as a huge surprise to hear our source name an OT. As much as the coaching staff has talked up the benefits of open competition in practices, adding another body along the line makes total sense.

At the other end of the spectrum, Joe Wickline has steadily loaded this class up with players that fit the mold he prefers in a lineman. With three tackles already in the class, including a JUCO player, it was a bit surprising to hear our guy name yet another lineman.

So we asked the logical follow-up question to find out if it was Richmond or the depth chart that made him such a high priority. His answer?

“Both. The young man’s talent is so good that the staff thinks he competes to start at OT as soon as he’s on campus. Mix that in to the issues on the line, and he’s a definite priority.”

+++++

Team news is still trickling in even though Texas finished their season two weeks ago. The offensive output in the Longhorns’ last two games seems to be the lingering memory of Charlie Strong’s first year at the helm.

Over the weekend, we caught up with an acquaintance that is Head Coach at a high school program in Fort Worth. What he told us is that opposing teams have a different lasting memory than Texas fans.

Specifically, our friend spoke with Doug Meachum, TCU’s co-offensive coordinator, who told him that no defense they faced gave them the problems Texas did. According to him, Meachum’s words were:

"They really got after us in a way that disrupted a lot of flow. Thankfully their offense was pretty bad."


(Editor’s note: Thanks, Doug. You just had to throw in the bit about the offense, didn’t you?)

+++++

We checked in with two of our top contacts in the program to get the latest on the search for assistant coaches. Charlie Strong didn’t waste much time before ousting Bruce Chambers and Les Koenning. The move was so quick and rumors have been so rampant, that it’s somewhat surprising that neither job has been filled yet.

When we started asking what’s up and what’s taking so long, we got the same kinds of answers from both guys…there is no timetable for the coaching hires. Strong is more concerned with getting the right coaches for the staff than he is with the timing of the hires.

While the two answers reinforced each other, the info is still somewhat underwhelming. Then out of the blue we heard from a third source:

“Steve Patterson is pressuring Strong to make the proper hires for coaches. Strong was told that expense/salary will not be an issue to prevent the right hire from taking the job. Additionally, Patterson thinks a splash hire will help the program’s image and even with recruiting.”

The answer isn’t tremendously different from what the first two sources told us, but there were a few details that definitely made it more interesting.

+++++

We’re a little more than three weeks until National Signing Day, we had an opportunity catch-up with Galena Park North Shore Running Back Tristian Houston to talk about the near future. In the short term, the Texas commit is preparing for track now that football season is over – the Mustangs made a run in the playoffs before losing to Cy Ranch in the Regional Round (6A D1).

Just like Texas fans, recruits and commits are taking notice of the recruiting class Charlie Strong is amassing. We asked Houston what he thinks of his recruiting class and he had this to say, “I think it’s great that they [Texas] are getting these types of players. Texas needs help and the players they are getting – they are going to help Texas get where it needs to be…into the playoffs and in the championship game.”

As far as other plans, Houston told us he will take his official visit to Austin on the January 24th and, in his words, “that’s it.” No drama or any reason to doubt Houston, even though he holds offers from LSU, UCLA, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

When we asked what he will bring to the Texas offense, he replied, “ The Texas coaches tell me the one thing they are looking for, from me, is speed. The getaway speed after a catch or separation once I get past the line of scrimmage.”

+++++

Bits ‘n pieces:

• We caught up with Charles Omenihu this week to ask him about the rumors about his interest in Michigan now that John Harbaugh has been named Head Coach. When we asked if he’d be taking an official visit to Ann Arbor, Omenihu replied, “nah, it’s too cold there (laughs)."
   
• Despite recent public statements that he does not plan to attend UT for an official visit, we heard from at least one source that, contrary to that statement, the Texas staff still believes Daylon Mack will visit Austin before signing day.

 

[pringlelake]

So far as tid-bits of information, I think it's mildly interesting that Jeff Hilldebrand recently donated millions of dollars to Texas A&M to help them build a new equestrian center...and that his daughter attends Texas A&M (as did his father).

But both Jeff and his wife are graduates of UT and hopefully we are the beneficiaries of his billions when he starts writing the really big checks.

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/society/05-03-14-billionaire-ut-board-member-with-aggie-ties-gives-millions-to-new-equestrian-center/

 

[Randolph Duke]

Is it worrisome to anyone else that at a time when one of the Regents (Hall) is possibly facing indictment and is raising questions of improper use of influence by legislators to influence admissions, that another Regent is supposedly influencing the AD to create a job for one of his high school buddies who would otherwise be unemployed? Just yesterday the AAS came out with a story detailing how UT athletics didn't generate enough revenue last year to cover expenses. Doesn't anyone connected with the situation understand Regents padding the university payroll as favors to friends, when supposedly employees inside Bellmont are facing job cuts to get spending under control, is going to raise some eyebrows?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Is it worrisome to anyone else that at a time when one of the Regents (Hall) is possibly facing indictment and is raising questions of improper use of influence by legislators to influence admissions, that another Regent is supposedly influencing the AD to create a job for one of his high school buddies who would otherwise be unemployed? Just yesterday the AAS came out with a story detailing how UT athletics didn't generate enough revenue last year to cover expenses. Doesn't anyone connected with the situation understand Regents padding the university payroll as favors to friends, when supposedly employees inside Bellmont are facing job cuts to get spending under control, is going to raise some eyebrows?

First, can Nick Voinis get fired over this?

Have you thought of using a voodoo doll on him? lol I have.

 

[Randolph Duke]

Nick Voinis won't get fired until Texas gets an AD that knows how to run a high quality program. There is so much mediocrity surrounding Bellmont it is hard to make an argument Nick's job performance is in any way below average for members of the staff and Nick is the guy who couldn't even make sure "Texas" was spelled correctly in last year's media guide.

Eventually, the bloat inside Bellmont will be unsustainable and changes will need to happen, Patterson will be replaced and whoever takes over will do what Patterson should have done starting in 2013. My guess is the AAS article on the department operating at a loss is the beginning of a series of articles on UT athletics that are tied into whether Austin taxpayers should help fund the replacement to the Erwin Center. Asking taxpayers for money when spending is out of control and the payroll is padded with high school buddies of regents is bad politics. I can't believe the first order of getting financing for facilities upgrades in place wasn't getting Belmont's finances cleaned up. Sheer stupidity.

 

[HornEsch]

Nick is one slimy dude. I really don't like him hanging on. Thought he would be gone when the new administration came in. He always reminds me of one of those cliché used car salesman.

Great burn ends, HS! Though we are some impatient bastids, Charlie needs to make sure he gets the right people for the job.

 

[Hornstar]

So Lodge is visiting this weekend? I thought I read elsewhere that he was visiting ATM this weekend and that we may not even get a visit.

 

[Juan]

Good news that we will pursue Richmond until the end.

Seems like a longshot but he is worth the effort

Some recruiting gurus think he could have started for us as a high school senior.

At times, he seems flaky, constantly changing his mind.  But he may simply be messing with the recruiting media, ala Kris Boyd.

 

[86MEHorn]

Is it worrisome to anyone else that at a time when one of the Regents (Hall) is possibly facing indictment and is raising questions of improper use of influence by legislators to influence admissions, that another Regent is supposedly influencing the AD to create a job for one of his high school buddies who would otherwise be unemployed? Just yesterday the AAS came out with a story detailing how UT athletics didn't generate enough revenue last year to cover expenses. Doesn't anyone connected with the situation understand Regents padding the university payroll as favors to friends, when supposedly employees inside Bellmont are facing job cuts to get spending under control, is going to raise some eyebrows?

Was thinking the same. Perhaps Koeinning needs a soft landing soft if he showed merit in coaching up the WRs, but I thought we had a spend (not revenue) problem.

 

[Topstarr]

The budget concerns sound like my household.

 Richmond would be a nice add to our 2015 class of recruits. Hook'em

 

[echeese]

Great article from Forbes about the REAL story (not the sophmoric spin) of TEXAS' spending/revenues this year. . . btw, the situation is so dire, the athletic department was forced to INCREASE what they sent to the academic side of the house, just under $10 million. . . .. . pretty safe to say the sky isn't falling.

22 Dec 2014

The Texas Longhorns are still college football's biggest cash cow, but the team's lead on the rest of the field has shrunk this year. Texas is now worth $131 million, down 6% from a $139 million valuation last year. You might expect that struggles on the field have hurt the Longhorns' income, but revenue was actually up year-over-year. The team collected $34 million from ticket sales for six home games plus another $31 million in football-related contributions; those two revenue streams comprised almost 60% of the team's total revenue. Rather, the dip in value is largely associated with expenses that surged 40% to $38.4 million last year. That $10.8 million increase in spending was almost entirely the result of an expensive coaching transition.

Last year Mack Brown retired from his job as the Longhorns' head coach after 16 years, an impressive run during which the team went to six BCS bowls, including two national title games. He was replaced by Louisville's Charlie Strong. Buying out the coach's former contract with the Cardinals alone cost Texas $4.4 million, and that was in addition to the severance pay that went to Brown's former staff. And yet despite the spending surge, Texas is still worth more than 7% than any other team in college football.

 

[86MEHorn]

Great article from Forbes about the REAL story (not the sophmoric spin) of TEXAS' spending/revenues this year. . . btw, the situation is so dire, the athletic department was forced to INCREASE what they sent to the academic side of the house, just under $10 million. . . .. . pretty safe to say the sky isn't falling.

Hopefully the "spin" does not get flowed down by Patterson as justification to raise ticket prices. I agree there was a spend aspect for 2014.

 

[86MEHorn]

As far as other plans, Houston told us he will take his official visit to Austin on the January 24th and, in his words, “that’s it.†No drama or any reason to doubt Houston, even though he holds offers from LSU, UCLA, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

When we asked what he will bring to the Texas offense, he replied, “ The Texas coaches tell me the one thing they are looking for, from me, is speed. The getaway speed after a catch or separation once I get past the line of scrimmage.â€

After watching last night, I am jealous of "getaway" speed (plus YAC). How do you rank our/potential RBs? 

Daje (hybrid)

Catalon

Houston

Gray

Foreman

Warren / Brossette / Jamabo

 

[streettopeschel]

Is it worrisome to anyone else that at a time when one of the Regents (Hall) is possibly facing indictment and is raising questions of improper use of influence by legislators to influence admissions, that another Regent is supposedly influencing the AD to create a job for one of his high school buddies who would otherwise be unemployed? Just yesterday the AAS came out with a story detailing how UT athletics didn't generate enough revenue last year to cover expenses. Doesn't anyone connected with the situation understand Regents padding the university payroll as favors to friends, when supposedly employees inside Bellmont are facing job cuts to get spending under control, is going to raise some eyebrows?

very fair question.

 

[Randolph Duke]

Great article from Forbes about the REAL story (not the sophmoric spin) of TEXAS' spending/revenues this year. . . btw, the situation is so dire, the athletic department was forced to INCREASE what they sent to the academic side of the house, just under $10 million. . . .. . pretty safe to say the sky isn't falling.

22 Dec 2014

The Texas Longhorns are still college football's biggest cash cow, but the team's lead on the rest of the field has shrunk this year. Texas is now worth $131 million, down 6% from a $139 million valuation last year. You might expect that struggles on the field have hurt the Longhorns' income, but revenue was actually up year-over-year. The team collected $34 million from ticket sales for six home games plus another $31 million in football-related contributions; those two revenue streams comprised almost 60% of the team's total revenue. Rather, the dip in value is largely associated with expenses that surged 40% to $38.4 million last year. That $10.8 million increase in spending was almost entirely the result of an expensive coaching transition.

Last year Mack Brown retired from his job as the Longhorns' head coach after 16 years, an impressive run during which the team went to six BCS bowls, including two national title games. He was replaced by Louisville's Charlie Strong. Buying out the coach's former contract with the Cardinals alone cost Texas $4.4 million, and that was in addition to the severance pay that went to Brown's former staff. And yet despite the spending surge, Texas is still worth more than 7% than any other team in college football.

As I have said before, one of the first things Patterson should do is explain the variances between the Jan 15 NCAA financial report, the Aug 31 DOE financial report and whatever report they provided to the AAS in response to the open records request. The money sent to the academic side (above and beyond the graint-in-aid) is the President's Discretionary Fund of about $5 mil; an "Auxiliary Fee" of about $3 mil; Academic support (other than grant in aid) of about $300,000; Facilities Renovations reimbursements, Compliance support reimbursements and "Other expenses." This money isn't just being gifted to the university, a fair amount of it is to pay fees and expenses being allocated to the athletic department. Bellmont was "forced to INCREASE what they sent to the academic side" because costs charged to the athletics department increased.

The Statesman article said the audited financials for the year ending Aug 31, 2014 showed $161 million in revenue and $163.8 million in expenses. The figures supplied to the federal government (and filed under penalty of perjury) showed $145,984,816 in expenses and $161,035,184 in revenues (for the year ending Aug 31, 12014). Obviously the REAL story in Forbes may not be the REAL story after all. Patterson could settle the matter and make all the financial reports the university files readily available and not force people to file open records requests. Why he doesn't is for him to explain.

I'm still searching to see where the accusation was offered that "the sky is falling." That seems to be more likely a sophomoric spin of what others (myself included) have said, which is the spending at UT (if we are to accept the AAS figures) of $271,500/athlete/year is so insanely out of control that there needs to be some level of accountability restored to Bellmont's operations. Let's remember that the national average for public institution athletic spending is roughly $110,000 per athlete per year and (if we are to accept the DOE numbers), it was at $135,000 when Patterson was at ASU and for the latest fiscal year was at $117,000 at Ohio State, the most recent NCAA football champion and the university listed by Forbes as the most valuable college sports franchise in the nation (fyi- debt service at Ohio State is actually greater than at UT, so don't look there).

Where is all the money going? Why can't Texas, at a time where facilities spending is lagging that of other programs, demonstrate a level of responsible spending and stewardship of public monies like other athletics departments with far more successful sports teams? If it is not because of gross mismanagement, what is the problem at Texas?

I agree it is pretty safe to say the sky isn't falling. it is just as safe to say spending on Texas' athletics is irresponsibly out of control. At a time when Patterson is trying to raise roughly $1.2 billion for facilities upgrades and to endow athletic scholarships, there should be some indication Steve Patterson isn't turning a blind eye and allowing tens of millions to be squandered on bloat and waste. If Patterson plans to ask the taxpayers to contribute to building a replacement for the Erwin Center, he needs to demonstrate the money is truly needed and the reason Texas doesn't have millions more to put toward facilities isn't because of mismanagement and waste. So far, I think gross mismanagement is why spending inside Bellmont is so out of control. I don't think Patterson is any more capable of managing a budget as he is in selling football tickets and we all saw how inept he was at that this past year. The first time in twenty years Texas failed to sell out at least one home game and ticket sales at their lowest level since the stadium was expanded to present capacity. Saying there aren't serious problems inside Bellmont is just willful ignorance. I'm not seeing many solutions coming from Stave Patterson. 

DOE financial report database:

http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/GetOneInstitutionData.aspx

 

[bcherry168]

With very little knowledge, I would speculate that administrative expenses in all of the departments throughout the university could be cut by 1/4 or more without affecting performance at all.

Such is the nature of bureaucracies.

To get a more efficient administration will take strong leadership across the board. I do not know Patterson, but if he wants to make changes then he should be permitted to do so, or fire him and get somebody whose changes the BOR will approve. Or change the BOR.

We have had a dearth of good leadership throughout the university for several years. I hope Gov. Abbott will lead us to changes for the better.

 

[echeese]

As I have said before, one of the first things Patterson should do is explain the variances between the Jan 15 NCAA financial report, the Aug 31 DOE financial report and whatever report they provided to the AAS in response to the open records request. The money sent to the academic side (above and beyond the graint-in-aid) is the President's Discretionary Fund of about $5 mil; an "Auxiliary Fee" of about $3 mil; Academic support (other than grant in aid) of about $300,000; Facilities Renovations reimbursements, Compliance support reimbursements and "Other expenses." This money isn't just being gifted to the university, a fair amount of it is to pay fees and expenses being allocated to the athletic department. Bellmont was "forced to INCREASE what they sent to the academic side" because costs charged to the athletics department increased.

The Statesman article said the audited financials for the year ending Aug 31, 2014 showed $161 million in revenue and $163.8 million in expenses. The figures supplied to the federal government (and filed under penalty of perjury) showed $145,984,816 in expenses and $161,035,184 in revenues (for the year ending Aug 31, 12014). Obviously the REAL story in Forbes may not be the REAL story after all. Patterson could settle the matter and make all the financial reports the university files readily available and not force people to file open records requests. Why he doesn't is for him to explain.

I'm still searching to see where the accusation was offered that "the sky is falling." That seems to be more likely a sophomoric spin of what others (myself included) have said, which is the spending at UT (if we are to accept the AAS figures) of $271,500/athlete/year is so insanely out of control that there needs to be some level of accountability restored to Bellmont's operations. Let's remember that the national average for public institution athletic spending is roughly $110,000 per athlete per year and (if we are to accept the DOE numbers), it was at $135,000 when Patterson was at ASU and for the latest fiscal year was at $117,000 at Ohio State, the most recent NCAA football champion and the university listed by Forbes as the most valuable college sports franchise in the nation (fyi- debt service at Ohio State is actually greater than at UT, so don't look there).

Where is all the money going? Why can't Texas, at a time where facilities spending is lagging that of other programs, demonstrate a level of responsible spending and stewardship of public monies like other athletics departments with far more successful sports teams? If it is not because of gross mismanagement, what is the problem at Texas?

A)   I agree it is pretty safe to say the sky isn't falling. it is just as safe to say spending on Texas' athletics is irresponsibly out of control.

At a time when Patterson is trying to raise roughly $1.2 billion for facilities upgrades and to endow athletic scholarships, there should be some indication Steve Patterson isn't turning a blind eye and allowing tens of millions to be squandered on bloat and waste.

B)If Patterson plans to ask the taxpayers to contribute to building a replacement for the Erwin Center, he needs to demonstrate the money is truly needed and the reason Texas doesn't have millions more to put toward facilities isn't because of mismanagement and waste.

So far, I think gross mismanagement is why spending inside Bellmont is so out of control. I don't think Patterson is any more capable of managing a budget as he is in selling football tickets and we all saw how inept he was at that this past year. The first time in twenty years Texas failed to sell out at least one home game and ticket sales at their lowest level since the stadium was expanded to present capacity.

C) Saying there aren't serious problems inside Bellmont is just willful ignorance. I'm not seeing many solutions coming from Stave Patterson. 

DOE financial report database:

http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/GetOneInstitutionData.aspx

I wanted to highlight 3 of the "chicken little" comments. . . .and by that I mean comments that are long on emotion and which grind the axe of an agenda. . .regardless of whether or not the problems are as dire as the chicken little crowd would have you believe

A).  .. .2 statements. . .largely say the same thing. . .a difference without a distinction. . . .Irresponsibly out of control?   Sorry. . . just laughing at that overly emotional piece of hysteria. . . .

B)  there is a question that the money is truly needed?   I guess you are not aware they are planning to tear down Erwin to build a medical school. . . . ..so in your hysterical world, there is no need for a basketball/events center?   That alone is enough reason to build another one. . .. 

C)  You don't see solutions because you don't want to see them.   You remind me of the GD haters who even today, try to bend reality to fit their "opinion" that GD sucked despite the records and results on the field. . . .or a 9/11 conspiracist who truly believes that W had the WTC rigged with explosives and the CIA recruited the suicide bombers. . . 

 

[Randolph Duke]

I wanted to highlight 3 of the "chicken little" comments. . . .and by that I mean comments that are long on emotion and which grind the axe of an agenda. . .regardless of whether or not the problems are as dire as the chicken little crowd would have you believe

A). .. .2 statements. . .largely say the same thing. . .a difference without a distinction. . . .Irresponsibly out of control? Sorry. . . just laughing at that overly emotional piece of hysteria. . . .

B) there is a question that the money is truly needed? I guess you are not aware they are planning to tear down Erwin to build a medical school. . . . ..so in your hysterical world, there is no need for a basketball/events center? That alone is enough reason to build another one. . ..

C) You don't see solutions because you don't want to see them. You remind me of the GD haters who even today, try to bend reality to fit their "opinion" that GD sucked despite the records and results on the field. . . .or a 9/11 conspiracist who truly believes that W had the WTC rigged with explosives and the CIA recruited the suicide bombers. . .

I honestly hoped you wouldn't pick back up with your sophistry and evasion. This board is largely above using such crutches when discussing and debating various topics. I would ask you what level of spending you feel would demonstrate responsible financial management, but I honestly don't think you could offer a reasonable answer, so I will just skip the subject of spending.
A classic example of sophistry is your response on the financing of the replacement for the Erwin Center. Public money, my friend. Public money. Taxpayer subsidies. The need to build a replacement facility is well understood. The reason for taxpayer funds to be dedicated to subsidizing UT athletics isn't. I guess you missed that point. Public money. Taxpayer subsidies. Public welfare for a seemingly bloated and wasteful university athletics department that has unneeded six-figure salaries on the payroll for no other reason than the employees are high school buddies with a university regent.

And your last comments just left me shaking my head.

Texas will never have top performing teams as long as Bellmont is soft, bloated, inefficient and wasteful. It is impossible to demand excellence from the students athletes as long as what they see around them is laziness, waste, ineptitude and incompetence. There needs to be a standard of performance, excellence and competence. Bellmont is not headed to that direction with any level of commitment. Instead, status quo is all we should expect. How can Ohio State field 500 more athletes than Texas and do it on $25 million less? Stanford (the winner of 20 straight Director Cup trophies) spends even less. Something is very wrong with Bellmont.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Good news that we will pursue Richmond until the end.

Seems like a longshot but he is worth the effort

Some recruiting gurus think he could have started for us as a high school senior.

At times, he seems flaky, constantly changing his mind.  But he may simply be messing with the recruiting media, ala Kris Boyd.

Our staff is not swinging in the wind here. He's showing heightened interest.