Crossfire - 6/13

[HornSports Staff]

This edition of Crossfire touches on the topics of Augie Garrido’s future, Steve Patterson, football recruiting, the Stansbury case and a little surprise on who might be interested in joining the B12. Be sure to comment below and tell us what you think…

McPhaul:  How are you?

FOB:  Doing well, we are up in Omaha.

McPhaul:  Boy I wish I was up there with you.  Have you had the chance to talk to any of the coaches or team members and if so, what is the overall vibe?

FOB:  I have and both the coaches and players are feeling good about their chances.  One coach I spoke with was concerned that the loss of Dillion Peters was going to have a negative effect on the mental state of the team before the Regional started but, after having several arms come through and winning both the Regional at Rice and the Super in Austin, the team now has the confidence that the pitching staff can and has taken up the slack for the loss of Peters. 

McPhaul:  What are the players saying?

FOB:  Several of them have mentioned that they believe this was their destiny so, I’m certain that the coaches must have mentioned the term “Destiny” in several of their team speeches.

McPhaul:  Do the players appear confident and loose?

FOB:  When I expressed to several team members how much the family loves taking a vacation to Omaha, two of them simultaneously replied that this is a business trip for them.  So, to your question, yes, they appear confident and also very focused.

McPhaul:  We have had several discussions pertaining to Augie’s future, does earning a trip to the CWS change any of it?

FOB:  Darrell, since the beginning of the season, this topic has been all over the table.  Augie has done an about face and wants to continue coaching.  I however believe that Augie should step away since he “fixed” the program by getting them back to Omaha.   As you and I have spoken, there are several other factors pertaining to Augie that would make this a good time for him retire.

McPhaul:  Who do you think will replace Augie?

FOB:  Skip Johnson is deserving of a shot and my fear is if we don’t give it to him soon, we are going to lose him.  Not to take anything away from Augie but, the kids look at Skip as the manager of the team.

 

McPhaul:  So what does that make Augie?

FOB:  Augie is the figure head of the program but has mainly focused on motivational speeches more so than the X’s & O’s on the field. 

McPhaul:  So, make your call.

FOB:  I will be spending time with some good folks this week so, let me get back to you on that.

McPhaul:  Switching gears on you…how is Steve Patterson getting along?

FOB:  Steve is a relentless worker.  I think it is safe to say that he inherited the job at a time where there are many crossroads that have to be covered.  It has not been all fun and games to say the least.

McPhaul:  Can you elaborate?

FOB:  I can but, have to be very careful here.  First let me say that there are a lot of very good people that work for the University of Texas – that, of course, includes the Athletic Department under Steve.

It is no secret that we have some overhead built up over the years.  This is common occurrence when the previous AD has held the job for over 30 years, and the football, baseball & basketball coaches have had very long tenures. 

Texas makes a lot of money and had no problem spending it if they believed it supported the programs.  The problem with that is every coach and or administrator wanted their own people in positions that solely supported their sport and not the whole athletic department. 

McPhaul:  Go on.

FOB:  This scenario created rifts between support staffs that can be defined as feuds.  This situation created a finger pointing environment that is not healthy.  It also created a lot of redundancy in roles & responsibilities. 

Steve has to figure out what roles & responsibilities should be combined.  Some good people are going to be let go. Additionally, some employees that have been feuding with other staffs are now going to have to work closely with going forward. 

McPhaul:  So we can expect more layoffs?

FOB:  Certainly can.  It started with the Football program where complacency and entitlement was at an all time high.  Brian Davis was the first to be let go and I don’t want to get into naming names but, Patterson has his work cut out for him.

McPhaul:  Let’s switch gears again…there is some concern from our fans that coach Strong is not making the impact that they believed a black coach would have in recruiting at Texas.

FOB:  I understand that to a certain extent.  However, recruiting is not about color.  Recruiting is about relationships and familiarity.  Coach Strong has been on the job for 5 months and is going up against other staffs that have been on these kids for at least two years. 

The Texas staff is pointing towards the 2016 class as a true evaluator of their recruiting prowess and I’m okay with that.  I think we need to realize that kids don’t pick a coach by color; they pick a coach by feel.

McPhaul:   Some people believe that A&M is having recruiting success because Sumlin is black and playing it up to the black culture.

FOB:  Sumlin and Strong have a few things in common.  They are both head coaches at the top two universities in the state of Texas and they are both black.  It pretty much stops there. 

Black culture (laughing)...I don't even know what that means? Rap music and acting thug is not "black culture".  Rap & Hip Hop is the music this generation of kids listens to today.  Yes Sumlin is playing that up but, he's also dealing with lots of arrests and investigations. I'm not saying there's a connection but I will confidently say that Strong will never let the Texas program run wild like what's happening at A&M. 

Sumlin has lost nine signees from his first recruiting class.  He now has to bring in outside consultants to assist him in getting some type of control over the program. It's not even in the ballpark of how Strong operates.

McPhaul:  Speaking of arrests, what is the status of the Rice/Stansbury case?

FOB:  The Harris County DA is still putting the case together.  It’s just a matter of time before the main stream media picks up the story.

McPhaul:  You have given us a lot today.  You got anything on realignment?

FOB:  I do but, don’t shoot the messenger… I have now heard from two different BMD’s that Arkansas put out feelers to the B12.

McPhaul:  Arkansas?

FOB:  You heard me right.  If I hear anything else, I will let you know.

McPhaul:  Appreciate everything and don’t come home without a national championship (laughing).

FOB:  That’s the plan.

 

[BudreauReye]

Hmmmm! ...  Arkanassas!  Interesting!  The thing I do not like about that is that it sets a precedent for Aggroid when they realize that the SEC! SEC! SEC! is not as great as they thought it would be.

 

[DougNTexas]

I hate Arkansas, but I would take them back in a heartbeat. Arkansas and LSU would be my two choices, I am not that high on BYU at all. I hope it happens quickly.

 

[castlebravo1]

Arkansas to the Big 12????  When pigs fly.  What motivation would they have to make a move?  I know a lot of arkie fans and they have a bigger inferiority complex than aggie.  Being in the SEC is their only ego boost.

 

[Capn Hook]

Maybe the state of Arkansas is over its hate of everything Texas (i.e., UT).  If so they would be a good addition.  I never enjoyed going to games there because the fans were so hostile.

 

[texasdobbs]

Ar-kansas....

 

[BudreauReye]

Arkanassas!  Arkanassas!  Pigs can fly!  Pigs can fly!  I even heard that they have airports there now!  We need us some Liz Honey!  Who would not want to share a pre-game table at Dirty's with Liz Honey? 






If I wuz not married!  Whooo weee! 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Arkansas to the Big 12????  When pigs fly.  What motivation would they have to make a move?  I know a lot of arkie fans and they have a bigger inferiority complex than aggie.  Being in the SEC is their only ego boost.

I find this hard to believe, too, but who knows?

Arky has been in the SEC since 1991 with no meaningful success.  Maybe they see multiple road games in TX as a better deal than games with LSU, Bama and Mizzery?  It's certainly not about money, because they'd stand to make more with the launch of SECn.

 

[Randolph Duke]

With all the litigation decisions about to come down, including at least one that could affect the future of bundled cable channels (the foundation of the conference network business model), it makes sense for every player to talk "what if" with everyone who wants to listen. That doesn't mean every conversation is a step in any direction.

 

[doc longhorn]

The last time Arkansas had national relevance was when they were in the SWC.  In those days they made decisions shoulder to shoulder with OU and UT.  When they joined the SEC the nation forgot who they were.  And, most importantly, so did the Texas recruits.  Aggy joining the SEC, has and will cost Arky what few Texas recruits they were getting .

The Arky BMD's know all of this and they know the future does not bode well for them as a lackey of the SEC.  Becoming a political player in the Big 12 in fact DOES translate to $$.  This is particularly true when they are trying to position themselves for being in the top 4 of the playoffs.  They have to figure their chances are better in the Big 12.  So, even though they stand to make a couple of million more in the SEC, in the long run their financial chances are infinitely better in the Big 12.  They LIKE the idea of a smaller conference and bigger slices of the pie - particularly in light of the good possibility the SEC will expand even more.

Besides, this gives them a way to hedge their bets and making an inquiry is the smart move.

All of this seems like fantasy land, because regardless what Arky wants, the Big 12 has to be on the same page and that looks as remote to me as BYU does.

 

[streettopeschel]

ok...for the sake of discussion let's say arky has put our feelers. fine, but why would the big 12 be interested? the little rock tv market? the fertile recruiting grounds of arkansas? do they really bring any monetary value (and what else really matters)?

 

[BudreauReye]

The last time Arkansas had national relevance was when they were in the SWC.  In those days they made decisions shoulder to shoulder with OU and UT.  When they joined the SEC the nation forgot who they were.  And, most importantly, so did the Texas recruits.  Aggy joining the SEC, has and will cost Arky what few Texas recruits they were getting .

The Arky BMD's know all of this and they know the future does not bode well for them as a lackey of the SEC.  Becoming a political player in the Big 12 in fact DOES translate to $$.  This is particularly true when they are trying to position themselves for being in the top 4 of the playoffs.  They have to figure their chances are better in the Big 12.  So, even though they stand to make a couple of million more in the SEC, in the long run their financial chances are infinitely better in the Big 12.  They LIKE the idea of a smaller conference and bigger slices of the pie - particularly in light of the good possibility the SEC will expand even more.

Besides, this gives them a way to hedge their bets and making an inquiry is the smart move.

All of this seems like fantasy land, because regardless what Arky wants, the Big 12 has to be on the same page and that looks as remote to me as BYU does.

I hear what you are saying, and I tend to agree with you.  I just do not understand why anyone, meaning any of the established conferences,  would want to even consider a possible move until all of these lawsuits are settled.

 

[castlebravo1]

I think this is Liz's best effort.  I've always thought that's she's probably hotter than those videos give her credit.

 

[BudreauReye]

I think this is Liz's best effort.  I've always thought that's she's probably hotter than those videos give her credit.

But the question is, if you were available, would you want to move to Arkanassass to be with her?  My bro-in-law in New Jersey has assured me that he would not.  He found himself a hot lawyer mama in Westchester County in New York State. 

I gotta say that this entire discussion is just a tad peculiar!  It is Friday night, castlebravo1, you and I apparently do not have enough to do!  ;(

 

[Los Corralles]

FOB is dead on regarding Augie and Skip.

 

[doc longhorn]

ok...for the sake of discussion let's say arky has put our feelers. fine, but why would the big 12 be interested? the little rock tv market? the fertile recruiting grounds of arkansas? do they really bring any monetary value (and what else really matters)?

No argument from me.  I didn't say the interest was reciprocal.  But, by the same token, what did TCU bring to the conference - Fort Worth?

 

[bcherry168]

Nobody will be added to the Big 12 unless they can add $22 million in revenue. The current 10 team conference earned $220 million last year. Nobody will be interested in diluting their share by adding another team unless it can bring earnings.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Wow, Arkansas. Never would have thought it.

 

[hornrush]

Arkie.  Man did I call that one after aggie's first season in the SEC over on TOS.  Got laughed at pretty good too as I recall.

Hook'em!