MEMBERS TO MEMBERS, let's really talk about the spring game

[monarch]

everyone now knows, that "hornsports" is fast becoming the new essential... as per "texas" fansights are concerned.​

we are quickly becoming well known, for creating vs having, a lot of great fun... albeit, in the most respectful manner, upon this stellar forum.  however, every once in a while, whenever a foremost subject presents itself...  we should just take the opportunity, to just talk amongst ourselves, and learn.

TOPIC:  HOW DID YOU REALLY FEEL, AS HISTORY WAS BEING MADE, UPON THIS SEASON'S SPRING GAME AT DKR?

i briefly touched upon this particular topic upon "mcphaul's" illustrious "crossfire".  at this time, i would now like to present this query / topic, to all of our "hornsports" members, for whom were either at this season's "spring game"...  as well as for those members for whom would just like to mention a few words... as per the foremost "historical" aspects, of witnessing the first "african american" head coach to grace the sidelines as per "darrell k. royal memorial stadium".

i was very late upon arriving from abroad, and i wasn't able to get a flight to "bergstrom" in time to attend this season's "spring game".  i have been trying in earnest to place it behind me, but it "hurts" since i REALLY wanted to be in attendance.  i am a texan!  i am enamored with all things texan, and i really love the "university of texas".  therefore, being a live witness, to the historical significance of being able to see the first african american head coach as per one of the most "storied" of football programs upon all of america, upon the sidelines of "dkr...  is something that dreams are made of. 

for those of you, that were indeed truly blessed to be in attendance at this season's most historical beginning...  may you pleae take a moment to share upon your experience(s).  please know that we are well aware, that it can be a bit awkward to some, to reveal their inner most thoughts vs feelings, towards their approach to the "ethnicity / race" as per our new head coach.  however, please allow for me to remind you, that this is indeed a part of "texas" history.  your experiences are hereby significant, and we would love to know just how you, as well as your familiies, felt upon this historical day. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

My thoughts, . . . don't waste a lot of time or worry about the OL. We'll be fine there.

DL might be best I've seen in some time here. Very excited about that bunch.

Was mildly encouraged by how we utilized the TE in our offense.

Was VERY encouraged by the way we ran the screen pass. Finally, we're doing it right.

Hard to say about the LBs, the DL may have been making them look good.

Somewhat concerned about the secondary. Lots of talent there so I hope we come around.

Unfortunately, fearing the worst at QB. We don't have the answer right now. Not even close.

 

[Sean Adams]

Sirhornsalot, you hit the nail on the head....

The QB issue would scare the fire out of me if I was on the offensive coaching staff. There are a few scenarios where it is in a better position by the time camp rolls around but anyone that tells you that they know exactly what is going to happen at QB is lying. I'm very troubled by the QB position but I think it is safe to have a level of trust in the coaching staff.

The DL is on lock and could have a great set of tackles. Could be the best set since Casey and Shaun and that is saying something.

AND Lawd have mercy they need guys like Gray and Hicks to come back from injuries 100% and ready to be stars.

 

[streettopeschel]

My thoughts, . . . don't waste a lot of time or worry about the OL. We'll be fine there.

DL might be best I've seen in some time here. Very excited about that bunch.

Was mildly encouraged by how we utilized the TE in our offense.

Was VERY encouraged by the way we ran the screen pass. Finally, we're doing it right.

Hard to say about the LBs, the DL may have been making them look good.

Somewhat concerned about the secondary. Lots of talent there so I hope we come around.

Unfortunately, fearing the worst at QB. We don't have the answer right now. Not even close.

i don't think monarch was asking a football question.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Interesting topic, Monarch. Thanks for bringing it up.

I did indeed think about the significance of the moment, but only long enough to think, "I can't wait for the UNT game when it's truly recognized what is happening."

I didn't believe Texas would hire Strong due to racial motivations. I admitted as much on another forum. I trusted that the actual university is progressive enough to judge a candidate based on merit and disregard the color of his skin. I did not trust the donors behind the scenes. Realistically a large percentage of contributors were born in a generation that doesn't trust their hearts and puts too much faith in their eyes.

I, for one, am happy that Steve Patterson (reportedly) went rogue with the hire. If he hadn't done so, I'm still unsure today if Strong would be the Head Coach at Texas.

 

[monarch]

Interesting topic, Monarch. Thanks for bringing it up.

I did indeed think about the significance of the moment, but only long enough to think, "I can't wait for the UNT game when it's truly recognized what is happening."

I didn't believe Texas would hire Strong due to racial motivations. I admitted as much on another forum. I trusted that the actual university is progressive enough to judge a candidate based on merit and disregard the color of his skin. I did not trust the donors behind the scenes. Realistically a large percentage of contributors were born in a generation that doesn't trust their hearts and puts too much faith in their eyes.

I, for one, am happy that Steve Patterson (reportedly) went rogue with the hire. If he hadn't done so, I'm still unsure today if Strong would be the Head Coach at Texas.

beautifully articulated matt.  i'm happy that you were able to comprehend the theme of the topic.  now this is what i was waiting to see.

 

[chilly52]

Steve couldn't go wrong with hiring Strong...way too much upside and very little downside. Great black coach with all the creds necessary. The only thing that can go wrong is for Charlie to lose...and he won't! He'll win more than he loses, so the only thing left is if he'll win 10 a season and eventually a Natl Championship!

Lets just say Strong is a very good football coach (if you don't think so, you're smoking something legal in CO). So, guy knows what he's doing and he has that "Ill kick your ass" look in his eye, we should probably not doubt his ability or interest. He's not a question of if, but when to me.

Here's my How I Really Feel topic...Swoopes never plays a down as a QB at UT in an uninjured QB season! Oops sorry, he could be put into a game that we're winning by 30. If Witteck joins and stays healthy or Heard is what I expect, Swoopes never sees the field again as a QB. He might even transfer to SMU or something.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Thanks Sean, totally agree on the comparison with Sean and Casey. That is indeed saying something.

As for the race question and thoughts on that, I suppose it should mean more to me than it does. I don't see a "black" coach with Charlie Strong. I see a very good, possibly great football coach. Texas has had black coaches for some time now and black athletes for even longer, I suppose Charlie feels like family, if nothing else.

Early in the process of finding a coach, when Patterson was on the scene and a second attempt was being made with Saban, the name Charlie Strong came up with a source of mine. He said that some BMDs were enamored with the Aggy situation where their young, energetic, black head coach was having success and kids were wanting to play for him. They apparently saw something similar with Charlie Strong. That said, I think Patterson did his own thing and found the best coach available. But the idea of a black head coach at Texas had already been imagined by me due to that one conversation.

I think the day is nearing where we see a day where people truly are judged by the character and performance, not by their skin color. God Bless Martin Luther King.

 

[Duke C #11]

I'm with Matt.  I think that the "first African-American coach" story will have far more significance in the first home game in the Fall.  In the grand scheme of things, Spring Games aren't that important as far as "history making " goes.

 

[chilly52]

Steve couldn't go wrong with hiring Strong...way too much upside and very little downside. Great black coach with all the creds necessary. The only thing that can go wrong is for Charlie to lose...and he won't! He'll win more than he loses, so the only thing left is if he'll win 10 a season and eventually a Natl Championship!

Lets just say Strong is a very good football coach (if you don't think so, you're smoking something legal in CO). So, guy knows what he's doing and he has that "Ill kick your ass" look in his eye, we should probably not doubt his ability or interest. He's not a question of if, but when to me.

Here's my How I Really Feel topic...Swoopes never plays a down as a QB at UT in an uninjured QB season! Oops sorry, he could be put into a game that we're winning by 30. If Witteck joins and stays healthy or Heard is what I expect, Swoopes never sees the field again as a QB. He might even transfer to SMU or something.

BTW, have you seen that Gilbert is projected as high as 3rd round draft pick?

 

[drgilbert]

To me the color barrier has been broken. We have Obama as our president. I could care less about an individual's skin color, it's what is inside that matters. If he runs the program like he says he will then he is already a winner and a great ambassador for UT.

 

[killrjoe]

The thought of the significance of skin color never entered my mind. My thoughts revolved around the fact that the man patrolling the sideline is bringing with him the rebirth of the era of accountability that has, for too long, been missing from our football program. The jury is still out, but from what I've observed so far, he seems like the man that will 'git 'er dun'. That's my hope.

 

[streettopeschel]

my favorite longhorn team ever was the last all-white NC team in history and i was a student when donnie little was a black QB at UT and it was NEWS.

so, since the day strong was hired and his race was briefly mentioned, i'm not sure i've given it a thought. that's progress and a good thing, right ?

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I, for one, am happy that Steve Patterson (reportedly) went rogue with the hire. If he hadn't done so, I'm still unsure today if Strong would be the Head Coach at Texas.

Me too, having seen the changes in discipline and culture for our program.  Patterson has stuck his neck out.  Let's hope everything falls into place and Strong is successful at UT.  

 

[echeese]

I've been a Charile Strong fan for sometime (years)  he was on my list to chase if Mack left after 2010. . .I guess I need to realize that there are still enough racists in the world to care that he is black. . .I don't. . .I like what he does as a coach. . .but then I loved Eddie Robinson after hearing him speak in 1972 (ugh . ..that was hard to type  4 FREAKING decades ago)

In 2013, our OL play was adequate but not our standard. . .we lost 4 of those players.. . .with the plan being ball control offense. . .I'd be seriously concerned . .I think we have 5 starters . .we have ZERO backups. . .and our standard is BigXII title winner. . .

Here is my take on the spring game:

Let me open by saying Spring Games are frequently zero sum games, when the O looks good. . .it means your D looks crappy .. .
 
We'll start with some positives:
 
Malcom Brown. . . . pick a side is a BEAST. . . MB/DT. . . we're talking high NFL pick though granted our OL is a weak link right now (guess the negatives jumped in early). . .MB/RB. . .can see what the spring practice hype was about.
 
Sticking to offense. . .Jalen Overstreet. . .come on down. . . this is what is referred to as taking advantage of an opportunity. . this guy is scary on the edge and looks to have found a spot. . .
 
WTF is #44???? I assumed it was Erick Huhn but it's a walkon. . .sign him up. . .he can play. . .liked the way he played centerfield and lit guys up when he had a chance. . .
 
Our DL is going to be REALLY good. . .and since it starts up front. . .they are going to make the rest of the D look good. . .Ced Reed Malcom Brown Tank Johnson Caleb Bluitt and Shiro Davis are a formidable front. . .we need guys like Ridgeway and Cottrell to work into the mix for depth but really like the starters. . .
 
About the time I'm wondering where the flack are the TEs (oh crap another season without TEs). . Swaim with a couple of NICE catches. . .
 
Montrel Meander. ..come on down. . . loved the way he went up and grabbed that ball at the 2. . .would have had another sweet catch if he'd have seen a ball that hit him in the facemask. . .
 
Jaxson Shipley. . .no really. . .. stop me if you've heard this. . .a Shipley is a damn fine WR. . . I only hope we have the QBing to make our WRs shine. .
 
Again, stop me if you have heard this but some idiot on OB is already bitching about the O. . . did he really think this was going to be some offensive circus? Newsflash folks . . .this was blander than vanilla. . .
 
Let me talk about what I liked from the O. . . .RBs duh. . . bootlegs, play actions and sprint outs for the QB. . .duh. . you don't have strong QB play. . .make the O easy for them. Screen passes to RBs. . another great way to play to the strength of the O.
 
Swoopes is much like the spring game, zero sum game.. . .he looked AWFUL at times. . .he looked excellent at times .. .. . .so did Vince at this point (not that Swoopes is Vince by any means). . . I did like the way Swoopes settled down as the game went on. He is very raw. . . . but he has some talent. The question, can he develop it in time for fall? Cuz while I love Ash, he's one big hit away from being done. And I'd REALLY like to see Heard redshirt. . .
 
50 yard hail mary to Daje (was him being in the game an indicator he's committed?) from an off balance throw. . .now that's a cannon. . .2 overthrown wide open TDs to Shipley. . .now that's a lack of control. . . but you can learn control. . .ask Vince.. .
 
Saw a defense that tackled better and after the 2nd team recorded a great 1st drive, generally shut down the O the rest of the game.
 
My take:
 
QB Mixed bag, I really hope we have Ash for 13 games but we can win with Swoopes. . .
 
RB Feeling MUCH MUCH better after seeing Jalen Overstreet. . .even if Gray misses all of '14, we should be fine Toss up between RB and WR the biggest strength of the team
 
OL Weak link. . .Coach Wickline's work is cut out for him. . .
 
WR Love the talent. . .they will be handicapped by a lack of great QB play
 
TE Is McFarland gone? I really thought he'd be a stud. . .Swaim impressed.
 
DL STUDS!!!!
 
LB Demarco Cobbs looks like he might show up for his senior year. . .good group
 
DB We are DBU but face it, we started a Walk on. . . .Vance has some work to do
 
 
I still see this as a 3-4 loss team. . . .unless Ash is upright for all 13 games. . ..then I could see 2 losses but our schedule is brutal. . 3 Top 10 teams in our 1st 6 games. . .. 
 
 
 

 

[echeese]

PS, for those on OB, Alex Dunlop has a great "deep dig" this week . . .including a breakdown of our OL. . . .not for the squeamish. . .

 

[Chitownhorn]

Quite honestly It didn't even cross my mind, race that is, and to be honest I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. What I saw was the head football coach of The University of Texas more engaged in coaching his players than I've seen in the almost 6 years I've been in Austin an that is a great thing.

I agree with echeese that the Browns are strong and Overstreet brings an entirely new look to the offense and seems to have found a home.

 

[chilly52]

PS, for those on OB, Alex Dunlop has a great "deep dig" this week . . .including a breakdown of our OL. . . .not for the squeamish. . .

Much better analyses right here in Spring Game Focus: OL & DL.