I haven't sat down and written an article in some time now, but after watching this Texas program the last couple weeks I feel it's time for me to set aside some time and write.
This program isn't in terrible shape by any means, but it is in serious jeopardy of moving into the second tier of major Divison 1 football programs. If you don't think this program is at a cross roads, just take a look at how the Texas coaches have changed their recruiting practices. They have now offered another JUCO player and are actively scouring the JUCO ranks to find immediate help because the coaching staff knows the window is closing and if they don't get it fixed sooner than later, this program will move into irrelevancy. Texas never had to recruit JUCO kids, it always could hand pick who they wanted. Oh how the landscape has changed in 3 years when your program has become just a shade above mediocre.
Texas is now 2-7 at home vs Big 12 opponents since 2010 and have lost seven straight vs Top 10 opponents. This isn't settling well with an already finicky fan base, but more importantly, it isn't settling well with some of its "investors".
I spoke with a few "investors" last night and today about the state of the Texas football program and the one thing that kept coming back in my conversations is there is major disappointment and they feel like they are not getting a return on their investment and if they don't start seeing the results they are expecting then as they put it, "something will change; either with their future investing or a change in another place" which I infer meaning that the seat that the current head coach sits in will begin to heat up. As one "investor" stated, "The gloss of that National Title has lost its shine and the head coach has used up a lot of those chips he has collected. These last couple years have cost this program and we are heading to a point of no return. It's getting to be put up or shut up time for the program."
I have argued for a year now that Mack allowed this program to get to this point because he was ready to step down after the 2009 season, but the loss in the National Title Game vs Alabama changed that thinking, but the downward spiral had already been set in place.
So we sit here with a Texas team that's 4-1 (1-1 Big 12) heading into their game vs hated rival #10 Oklahoma with HUGE question marks about the defense that can't cover anyone, can't tackle anyone and hasn't stopped the run in weeks. This team isn't very good on defense and if it weren't for a blown call in Stillwater, they could be 3-2 and sitting 0-2 in the conference. The offense has been outstanding and David Ash is the clear leader of that offense, but if you score 45 points and lose games, you are in for a long season. There is only 1 game left on the schedule that is a sure thing and that's @Kansas, but OU in Dallas, vs Baylor, @Tech, vs Iowa St, vs TCU and @K-State; Texas finds itself in a tough battle if its defense can't get fixed with them easily looking at a 4-3 finish and 8-4 once again.
Is that progress?
Ask the fans and the money people and they will tell you NO!
This will be an interesting 7 game stretch for Mack and his staff; it could be a career defining stretch.
Coach B
This program isn't in terrible shape by any means, but it is in serious jeopardy of moving into the second tier of major Divison 1 football programs. If you don't think this program is at a cross roads, just take a look at how the Texas coaches have changed their recruiting practices. They have now offered another JUCO player and are actively scouring the JUCO ranks to find immediate help because the coaching staff knows the window is closing and if they don't get it fixed sooner than later, this program will move into irrelevancy. Texas never had to recruit JUCO kids, it always could hand pick who they wanted. Oh how the landscape has changed in 3 years when your program has become just a shade above mediocre.
Texas is now 2-7 at home vs Big 12 opponents since 2010 and have lost seven straight vs Top 10 opponents. This isn't settling well with an already finicky fan base, but more importantly, it isn't settling well with some of its "investors".
I spoke with a few "investors" last night and today about the state of the Texas football program and the one thing that kept coming back in my conversations is there is major disappointment and they feel like they are not getting a return on their investment and if they don't start seeing the results they are expecting then as they put it, "something will change; either with their future investing or a change in another place" which I infer meaning that the seat that the current head coach sits in will begin to heat up. As one "investor" stated, "The gloss of that National Title has lost its shine and the head coach has used up a lot of those chips he has collected. These last couple years have cost this program and we are heading to a point of no return. It's getting to be put up or shut up time for the program."
I have argued for a year now that Mack allowed this program to get to this point because he was ready to step down after the 2009 season, but the loss in the National Title Game vs Alabama changed that thinking, but the downward spiral had already been set in place.
So we sit here with a Texas team that's 4-1 (1-1 Big 12) heading into their game vs hated rival #10 Oklahoma with HUGE question marks about the defense that can't cover anyone, can't tackle anyone and hasn't stopped the run in weeks. This team isn't very good on defense and if it weren't for a blown call in Stillwater, they could be 3-2 and sitting 0-2 in the conference. The offense has been outstanding and David Ash is the clear leader of that offense, but if you score 45 points and lose games, you are in for a long season. There is only 1 game left on the schedule that is a sure thing and that's @Kansas, but OU in Dallas, vs Baylor, @Tech, vs Iowa St, vs TCU and @K-State; Texas finds itself in a tough battle if its defense can't get fixed with them easily looking at a 4-3 finish and 8-4 once again.
Is that progress?
Ask the fans and the money people and they will tell you NO!
This will be an interesting 7 game stretch for Mack and his staff; it could be a career defining stretch.
Coach B
