Coleman Feeley
On the line
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2013
- Messages
- 177
submitted Today, 05:25 PM in Texas Longhorns Football By Coleman Feeley
Simply put, there is no substitute for a confident coach. Confident coaches are tested and tried while still having the knowledge and fortitude to do what it takes to win.
Charlie Strong, as a coach, has been a part of seventeen bowl game victories, seven conference championships, two national championships, and two Big East Coach of the Year awards. To me…this looks like a confident man.
In terms of wins and losses, the worst season of Charlie Strong’s coaching career, 1999, saw South Carolina go winless and lose eight games by two touchdowns or more.Clearly it wasn’t just Coach Strong’s defense that needed improvement, but it was evident that Charlie Strong needed a new approach.
Strong found the solution to his problem by reviving a defensive philosophy that had been written off as simply a fad – the ‘30-Stack’ (3-3-5). By utilizing the 30-Stack, Strong boosted his defense from 58th in the nation in 1999, to 6th after the 2000 season. Putting his career and reputation on the line, Coach Strong’s new defensive philosophy essentially carried him to two national championships at Florida, the head coaching position at Louisville, and most recently, the head coaching job at Texas.
In the past, Strong stated that the identity that he’s looking for is, “an aggressive football team.†Strong’s unorthodox defensive play calling gave him a reputation as a supremely confident coach within the ranks of college football. He clearly displays this confidence with a smile, startlingly honest discussions about his team…and a mock turtleneck.
College football coaches live in a surprisingly small world, and reputation is everything. Coaching for Urban Meyer, Lou Holtz, and Steve Spurrier gives any coach an instant credibility boost, however, when you hear what these coaches have to say about Strong, you begin to understand why he is so well respected.
Lou Holtz hired him on two separate occasions and is quoted as saying, “[He] found as [they] went along that [Coach Strong’s] greatest asset was common sense. He's great with players…but he's not a hip-hop coach. He really, truly could have coached for Woody Hayes with no problem whatsoever."
Many Texas fans already understand what Holtz meant, considering the endured The Great Reckoning that came before the 2014 season – Strong dismissed nine players for various violations of team policy before the season ever started.
Strong’s actions announced the official beginning of the Charlie Strong era at Texas. While some point to a 6-7 finish last season and a looming quarterback battle this year, it’s Strong’s quiet confidence that should give fans hope.
Simply put, there is no substitute for a confident coach. Confident coaches are tested and tried while still having the knowledge and fortitude to do what it takes to win.
Charlie Strong, as a coach, has been a part of seventeen bowl game victories, seven conference championships, two national championships, and two Big East Coach of the Year awards. To me…this looks like a confident man.
In terms of wins and losses, the worst season of Charlie Strong’s coaching career, 1999, saw South Carolina go winless and lose eight games by two touchdowns or more.Clearly it wasn’t just Coach Strong’s defense that needed improvement, but it was evident that Charlie Strong needed a new approach.
Strong found the solution to his problem by reviving a defensive philosophy that had been written off as simply a fad – the ‘30-Stack’ (3-3-5). By utilizing the 30-Stack, Strong boosted his defense from 58th in the nation in 1999, to 6th after the 2000 season. Putting his career and reputation on the line, Coach Strong’s new defensive philosophy essentially carried him to two national championships at Florida, the head coaching position at Louisville, and most recently, the head coaching job at Texas.
In the past, Strong stated that the identity that he’s looking for is, “an aggressive football team.†Strong’s unorthodox defensive play calling gave him a reputation as a supremely confident coach within the ranks of college football. He clearly displays this confidence with a smile, startlingly honest discussions about his team…and a mock turtleneck.
College football coaches live in a surprisingly small world, and reputation is everything. Coaching for Urban Meyer, Lou Holtz, and Steve Spurrier gives any coach an instant credibility boost, however, when you hear what these coaches have to say about Strong, you begin to understand why he is so well respected.
Lou Holtz hired him on two separate occasions and is quoted as saying, “[He] found as [they] went along that [Coach Strong’s] greatest asset was common sense. He's great with players…but he's not a hip-hop coach. He really, truly could have coached for Woody Hayes with no problem whatsoever."
Many Texas fans already understand what Holtz meant, considering the endured The Great Reckoning that came before the 2014 season – Strong dismissed nine players for various violations of team policy before the season ever started.
Strong’s actions announced the official beginning of the Charlie Strong era at Texas. While some point to a 6-7 finish last season and a looming quarterback battle this year, it’s Strong’s quiet confidence that should give fans hope.
