Crossfire - 6/20

[HornSports Staff]

McPhaul:  How is it going up there in Omaha?

FOB:  We are having a blast up here and we are not ready to come home.

McPhaul:  Have you gotten to spend some time with the team?

FOB:  We have and I can’t tell you what a great bunch of kids we have.  As a matter of fact we have been fortunate to get to meet some kids from some of the other teams too. 

McPhaul:  What do they think of the Texas fan contingent?

FOB:  They are in awe of our fans and the numbers we have brought to Omaha.  I have heard nothing but compliments from opposing teams and fans.

McPhaul:  That is good to hear. Our members may like the feel good stuff about your trip to Omaha but what they really want to hear about is the scoop on Augie…

FOB:  Darrell, I don’t know yet.  As I have shared with you, there are some personal issues going on with Augie that are going to play into the decision. I understand that you do not feel comfortable printing any of it and I don’t blame you.  I will say let’s hope we win it all this year. Augie deserves to ride off into a championship sunset.

McPhaul:  Are you implying that Texas is ready to move on?

FOB:  You know damn well what I’m implying.

McPhaul:  Augie has one more year left on his contract.  Does this have an impact on his decision?

FOB:  With what you now know, what do you think?  If he retires on his own, that makes things pretty simple. This has a chance for a Disney-style ending for everyone.

McPhaul:  Ok, let’s move on.  I see where Texas has lost another recruit to A&M in the WR Lodge.  Let me ask you, why on earth does a kid that wanted to commit to Texas not even give them a sniff with the new staff?

FOB:  As you know, Lodge and Daryl Wyatt were extremely close. In fact, Lodge would have most likely signed with Texas if Wyatt was still here.  I told you before that Mack Brown has not and will not give the new staff an endorsement and neither will the former assistant coaches. 

McPhaul:  Why on earth wouldn’t Lodge even give us the time of day?

FOB:  Look, the former staff isn’t going to lift a finger to help our new staff.  Strong was interested in Wyatt but, Wyatt didn’t want to be only considered for WR coach.  

McPhaul:  So, how long is it going to take the new staff dig themselves out of this situation?

FOB:  LOL.  You are improving my boy.

McPhaul:  What do you mean?

FOB:  Referring to this as a situation…the staff understands the handicap they are playing with this year. They are also confident that the 2016 class had not had a chance to build relationships with the former staff to the extent that the 2015 class did.

McPhaul:  Alright, let me ask you if all the arrest taking place at A&M is going to eventually going to reverse the trend?

FOB:  That depends.

McPhaul:  Depends on what?

FOB:  Depends on whether the College Station police are going to start looking the other way.  Aggie boosters are doing what they can to get these players on board.   I told you before that Sumlin is/was a really good guy before he got to A&M but, the pressure in College Station is crushing that.  It happens everywhere to some degree.

McPhaul:  Go on.

FOB:  Even at Texas, there are rumors that professors had to be persuaded to work with the program because some kids didn’t go to class. Ashton Dorsey supposedly had several strikes against him before he was dismissed from the team. Serious strikes at that. The short version is that Strong is having to clean up a bigger mess up than is seen on the surface by you or your readers. 

McPhaul:  Are you saying this is effecting recruiting?

FOB:  Most certainly.  Kids talk and the attractive country club that Texas was viewed as by the recruits is no longer an option.  You are going to go to class now, you are going to graduate, you are going to be disciplined when it comes to your workouts.  Understand, this is not the Texas that most of the recruits, players or fans have envisioned for the last 10 years.

McPhaul:  I don’t know how to take all that.

FOB:   You give it time.  Time has to pass.  Time is our ally and the football program must show progress.

McPhaul:  Let me ask you this, why are your buddies withholding their support of Strong?

FOB:  Darrell, we have had this conversation several times.  They want to see results.

McPhaul:  I understand that but, a few of them didn’t help by supporting Brown. 

FOB:  Those two are endowing over 100 million dollars to the school…a certain amount of respect is warranted.

McPhaul:  I appreciate everything.

FOB: Later.

 

[CCausey11]

Wow, what an appropriate and timely Cross Fire with excellent information!  It sounds like the previous staff while not sabotaging the current group, might certainly be making it very hard on/for them.  Very interesting comments from a source that sounds like he knows!

As always a great read.

 

[Randolph Duke]

Wow, what an appropriate and timely Cross Fire with excellent information! It sounds like the previous staff while not sabotaging the current group, might certainly be making it very hard on/for them. Very interesting comments from a source that sounds like he knows!

As always a great read.

I'm sure glad we created that spot on the payroll for Mack to pad his buyout. That $500,000 sure sealed the goodwill between Mack and the program. I guess his reputation and relationship with the program can be considered cast in concrete at this point.

I hope he never sets foot on campus again.

 

[ATX89]

Feels like the SEC affiliation for A&M is winning out for a lot of kids as well.  Winning 8 games a year and finishing 4th in your own division apparently doesn't really matter to kids choosing the Ags which is bizarre.  The longer we are tied to the Big 12 I fear the harder things will get in recruiting.  Having current players apparently dogging our dorm food options and facilities such as the dorms and weight room etc. isn't helping either and they need to stay off twitter with that junk.

 

[streettopeschel]

So what exactly did I learn about Augie's future in that exchange?

 

[Randolph Duke]

Feels like the SEC affiliation for A&M is winning out for a lot of kids as well. Winning 8 games a year and finishing 4th in your own division apparently doesn't really matter to kids choosing the Ags which is bizarre. The longer we are tied to the Big 12 I fear the harder things will get in recruiting. Having current players apparently dogging our dorm food options and facilities such as the dorms and weight room etc. isn't helping either and they need to stay off twitter with that junk.

By the time the season starts, the Aereo decision will be handed down as well as the decision in the O'Bannon case. If amateurism rules are tossed out and the conference networks crumble because bundling of channels becomes a thing of the past, there will be a whole new structure for college sports built on economic considerations and not on geographic considerations. In short, imagine a world where the SEC, Big 12, Big 10 and ACC no longer exist.

 

[pringlelake]

So now it's Mack Brown's fault that we can't recruit???  That is just such a crock that I can't stay silent about it.  

Has Charlie ASKED for help???  I've never heard the phantom FOB once mention that Charley Strong...or any of staff...has ever..reached out to Mack Brown or one of his staff. If the current staff isn't asking, I don't blame Mack for not wanting to come kiss ass. Personally I think the reason Mack isn't helping is because Charley Strong does not want his help. If he did, he'd ask for it.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

So now it's Mack Brown's fault that we can't recruit???  That is just such a crock that I can't stay silent about it.  

Has Charlie ASKED for help???  I've never heard the phantom FOB once mention that Charley Strong...or any of staff...has ever..reached out to Mack Brown or one of his staff. If the current staff isn't asking, I don't blame Mack for not wanting to come kiss ass. Personally I think the reason Mack isn't helping is because Charley Strong does not want his help. If he did, he'd ask for it.

Agree 100%

Mack wants a clean break, Charlie is his own man.  We really shouldn't expect Mack to help us sell Strong's program or "vision".  Unrealistic expectation.  Time to move on.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

So we shouldn't get upset and wring our hands about recruiting just yet?

 

[Chris Flanagan]

My take after reading that (which I trust FOB):

1. Augie will retire if he can get to the

championship series. He will have proven those last 2 years were flukes and he will be satisfied that he got Texas where it belongs. That would make Texas baseball an even more attractive job because the cupboard won't be bare for 2015.

2. As always, don't fret about recruiting losses when Charlie Strong hasn't even coached a game at Texas. The Aggies have the momentum clearly but Strong has been on his own in the state of Texas for a while now and he has his work cut out for him. Knowing that man's work ethic and humility, he wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

How long are going to blame Mack Brown? For the record based on what I have seen of the current staff recruiting Mack Brown would dominate them too.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

So now it's Mack Brown's fault that we can't recruit???  That is just such a crock that I can't stay silent about it.  

Has Charlie ASKED for help???  I've never heard the phantom FOB once mention that Charley Strong...or any of staff...has ever..reached out to Mack Brown or one of his staff. If the current staff isn't asking, I don't blame Mack for not wanting to come kiss ass. Personally I think the reason Mack isn't helping is because Charley Strong does not want his help. If he did, he'd ask for it.

It is easy to continue to blame Mack Brown then to hold Strong and his staff accountable for their terrible recruiting efforts so far.

 

[texasdobbs]

Lol... yall need to get a grip. ..

 

[Bear19]

FOB's friends withholding support of Strong until they see results is rather chickenshit.

Why not help him achieve those results?

 

[Matt Cotcher]

For the record based on what I have seen of the current staff recruiting Mack Brown would dominate them too.

The list of coaches that got dominated by Mack Brown in recruiting is long & distinguished.

 

[Topstarr]

well I guess it is over......I can not take it anymore!!!!  :angry:

 

[Santa Gertrudis]

How long are going to blame Mack Brown? For the record based on what I have seen of the current staff recruiting Mack Brown would dominate them too.

I COMPLETELY agree! Charlie Strong was going to be the "fix" that remedied our program however with (outside of Wickline) the weak hires that Strong has made at the coordinator and assistants have done little to nothing on the recruting front. Yes I realize we have to "win" on the football field and that will translate to winning on the recruiting front. However, at this point there is not 1 thing Charlie Strong has done from a recruiting standpoint in the meantime that shows me that he can reverse the trend of losing recruits to A&M. Yes, I realize we have yet to play a single play in a football game however Mack Brown had MUCH more success recruiting at this point in his stint at Texas than Charlie Strong has had.

Furthermore, we are losing recruits to Baylor, Tech, & TCU?! REALLY! I didn't realize Charlie was trying to convince kids to come to Aimes, IA or Manhattan, KS- I thought he was trying to lure them to Austin! Consider me UNDERWHELMED so far with Charlie Strong, his ability to put together a top notch staff, & his recruiting prowess.

Winning heals all but there isn't ANYONE on this staff outside of Wickline that has shown they can win big. Shawn Watson as OC, err, I mean QB Coach? REALLY?! Vance Bedford at DC? This 54 year old guy calls out a 21 year old on Twitter? Yeah, I can see right away that he's a real Kirby Smart at the DC position!

All I can say is for is Charlie better win and sooner than later or both he and Patterson will be out on the collective asses together.

SG

 

[Randolph Duke]

Strong seems to be focused on building the right foundation while Sumlin is focused on glitz and show. The foundation of Sumlin's program is as nonexistent as the glitz and show of Strong's program. Sumlin understands he is in the entertainment business. No one expects aggy to win. Not losing is enough for them. Strong understands he has to deliver consistent results. He is getting paid to win. Anything else is unacceptable. Two different objectives, two different programs.

Sumlin is exceeding expectations by delivering what the ags want - 1-6 conference record against ranked teams, seventh place conference finish, a chicken sandwich bowl berth and back to back bowl wins for the first time in almost a century. Charlie Strong is one eighth the way through his contact and hasn't delivered anything of significance. It is time for Charlie Strong to start reminding us why he was the right guy for the job. It all starts to get serious in about six weeks.

 

[Santa Gertrudis]

Strong seems to be focused on building the right foundation while Sumlin is focused on glitz and show. The foundation of Sumlin's program is as nonexistent as the glitz and show of Strong's program. Sumlin understands he is in the entertainment business. No one expects aggy to win. Not losing is enough for them. Strong understands he has to deliver consistent results. He is getting paid to win. Anything else is unacceptable. Two different objectives, two different programs.

Sumlin is exceeding expectations by delivering what the ags want - 1-6 conference record against ranked teams, seventh place conference finish, a chicken sandwich bowl berth and back to back bowl wins for the first time in almost a century. Charlie Strong is one eighth the way through his contact and hasn't delivered anything of significance. It is time for Charlie Strong to start reminding us why he was the right guy for the job. It all starts to get serious in about six weeks.

I understand the arguments for Charlie Strong.  I also understand that there isn't much buzz being created amongst potential recruits, fans, alumni, & donors by Strong and his staff to date.  Could that change with a successful season?  ABSOLUTELY!  But for now Charlie Strong has the keys to a 911 S and he is acting as if he is rolling around in a Chevy Mailbu.  Perhaps that works at schools like Louisville when you get the recruiting leftovers.  But at a place like Texas, his Spartan approach has put us on par with Tech & TCU from a recruiting standpoint.  Notice I did NOT mention A&M or even Baylor in that sentence.  When you have top recruits in the State of Texas snubbing even visiting the campus even with a brand new coach who is African American, well then you got a HUGE problem.

The only thing that will cure the problem is winning.  And when I say winning, I don't mean going to some Tier 2 or Tier 3 Chicken $hit Bowl.  I mean winning BIG!  And I don't know the guy has the staff to do so.  Apparently the recruits agree,

SG