HornSports Staff
HornSports.com
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2013
- Messages
- 2,468
“From The Bench†with McPhaul...
I have some good news concerning a new sponsor. I have been contacted by several pharmaceutical manufactures that specialize in anti-depressants. They are under the impression that there is a good market for them on Hornsports.com!
I don’t’ care who you are, that is funny.
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With the jokes out of the way let me get a bit serious for a minute. When I was asked to join the Hornsports ownership team I did so; with the understanding that this site was going to be a refuge of sort from all the disrespectful & negative behavior that has gone on for years on some other sites. I and many of our members have yearned for a site that can view a glass half full instead half a glass half empty. The old coaching regime made it very hard for some of us to maintain that perspective.
We now have what we wished for: a new coaching staff. For the life of me I cannot fathom that some of my Hornsports brethren have already deemed them a failure six months into their jobs. I would suggest that some of us need to take a very hard look and what it is you believe you are contributing to the site & community. If you can't constructively articulate an opinion - negative or positive - please think twice before posting. There isn't any need to repetitively repetitively post the same position - again, negative or positive - because you're likely affecting the entire board and that's not productive for any of us. Please fix it or the administration will.
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I was fortunate enough to speak with one of my sources within Belmont on Thursday. Now that I help run a web site I rarely reach out to this particular source but, given some of the topics on the board over the last week, I made the call:
After reviewing some of the points made on the board, the response was I got was, "WOW! Where should I start?"
In summary, here are the points from my call...
1) How do any of your members know who is under-performing? I take it because they read on some website it must be true?
2) Let me address what Patterson has to deal with. The employees at Texas are government employees and some of them have received sterling job evaluations for ten to twenty years. Do any of the members comprehend how difficult it is to fire a government employee with that kind of track record? Do your members understand the legalities involved?
3) Apparently not...DeLoss Dodds was here for thirty plus years but, Steve is supposed to have “changed†everything within six months? That is not realistic. I understand that we live in a microwave society but, the real world does not work that way.
4) Your members are sorely mistaken if they think Patterson is ignoring anything. However, he is not going to go off half-cocked and give some half-baked reporter the time of day, making it appear what was written has any merit. Former A&M AD Bill Byrne was one that took that sort of bait and he came off as an emotional amateur hillbilly. Thankfully that’s not what we do at Texas.
5) National sportswriters are going to kick this program while they can - it's that simple. I would hope that your readers are smart enough to see that.
6) "Regarding Patterson & Strong's stance on academics...every AD & University President is taking the same hard line but, don’t let that fact get in the way."
The other issue I wanted we talked about is the idea that Charlie Strong's hire isn't generating buzz or delivering immediate recruiting results. Here is what I heard:
1) Anyone that believes that is not paying attention - the LHN has done a wonderful job of sharing with the Texas fans who Charlie Strong is and what he stands for. Evidently your members would rather believe to sportswriters that are writing opinion pieces with agendas. Those writers are never going give Charlie his due until he wins, and even then it's questionable if they will.
2) I keep a saying from Lao Tzu above my desk and it reads:
If you are depressed then you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
Reality is Texas hired a football coach first and foremost. A coach that had the second best record in college football for the last two years combined. Charlie Strong is going to get his recruits. Texas did not hire a coach because he sounds good in front of the media - they hired a coach to rebuild a program and return the Longhorns to winning on & off the field.
3) "I know Kevin and I know Art, if you really believe than are any more engaging than Charlie then you have not spent any real time around any of them. It is absolutely amazing that our fans believe we can make up the ground work that both Kevin and Art have put in the last two years and three on some of these kids in five months. Recruiting is based off of relationships and track records which we have just begun. I will say this, when it is said and done, the next class will be around a top ten class and the following year is shaping up to be a top five class."
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Friend of BEVO
McPhaul: Welcome Home, although I know you wish you were still in Omaha.
FOB: Thanks and yes, we were not ready to come home.
McPhaul: Our return next year looks promising.
FOB: We have some talent returning next year and some good HS talent coming in. It should be one of Texas most talent team in years.
McPhaul: Any concerns?
FOB: Yes, some other school luring Skip Johnson away.
McPhaul: How serious of a threat do you think this is?
FOB: It’s a serious threat and not only in college but, the pro’s have taken notice too. Not sure whether you are aware but, Skip has said thanks but, no thanks to several interviews. Quite certain the offers and the money are going to increase.
McPhaul: Ok, let’s cut to the chase. Augie has one more year left on his contract and has asked for an additional three year extension to his current contract. Do you believe he will get it?
FOB: It's a complex situation....the team loves Augie but, this is Skip’s team.
McPhaul: So, what is your take on Augie requesting an extension?
FOB: Not something the administration wanted to deal with but, apparently they may need to work something out.
McPhaul: I know you have to run so, thanks for taking the time.
FOB: Let’s grab lunch next week.
McPhaul: You buying?
FOB: Don’t I always?
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