After a weekend of alleged turmoil with the 2014 Texas recruiting class, and the “chicken little†syndrome running rampant across the social media universe that is the Longhorns fan base, I think it is best for us to slow down a bit and take a look around. With that in mind, I have selected a few points I see being discussed across the fan base which need to be addressed or further discussed.
1 – Based on the last two weeks, Charlie Strong is already proving to be a bad hire: This is as ridiculous an assertion as you can find on the internet. Coach Strong has had exactly 13 days since the dead period lifted to not only evaluate what he has, but recruit, plug leaks, and meet an entire state of coaches. Every other coach in the conference or elsewhere has been in place at least a year. They’ve developed relationships. They’ve met the kids. Coach Strong has not had that chance. The telling stats on Charlie Strong as it pertains to recruiting will be the 2015 and 2016 classes.
2 – Charlie Strong is not recruiting Texas kids: This one has caught traction as Coach Strong has made several ’14 and ’15 OOS (out of state) offers already. These are all guys he was clearly evaluating or had evaluated at Louisville, and there is nothing wrong with going after the familiar, especially in the 2014 class which are badly needed right now. I also remember a time where the fan base was displeased because Brown refused to get into the fray on top OOS prospects. Once National Signing Day passes, and the staff truly has a chance to begin its evaluation of in state kids, the offers will go out. Again, its been 13 days, let the man work.
3 – Winning will cure all ills: Not immediately, but in time yes. Everyone will (should) give Charlie Strong a pass on what happens on the field this year, though I expect it to be 8-9 wins. He inherited a dumpster fire all around, especially at the quarterback position, and again (you’ll get tired of hearing this) it will take time to overcome that. If Shawn Watson is the QB coach I think he is, it will show this season, and it better.
4 – Texas A&M is the “cool†school: They’ve got the hot name right now, and the cool uniforms (something we are going to have to at least look at), and the fancy helicopter. What they also have is the early beginnings of the same soft, entitled culture which took down the Longhorns. Johnny Manziel did a great many things for Texas A&M, and one of them is proving the team is player led, not ran by the coaching staff. Texas was that school until last month. Now all of a sudden if you are a 2014 recruit, you realize coming to Texas means you WILL be dedicated, you WILL go to class, you WILL work your tail off, and you WILL meet high standards.
If that isn’t for you, there is a trip to a much more relaxed atmosphere. I caught the rage of an ag earlier for the following statement being “spinâ€, but it is fact. The new culture at Texas is not going to be for every kid. Some of them can’t handle it, as some of us couldn’t handle the same kind of change at our job.
The Closer – What is going on right now is the end game of a very lackluster four years under Mack Brown and the pillow soft culture it spawned. Blame also has to lay at the feet of those who let an embarrassing situation after the end of the Baylor game play out for far too long.
Be patient, and give the new staff and administration time to do their jobs. They are having to rewire the entire ship, and that isn’t an overnight job.
