Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Addressing the elephant in the room)

[TxshrnsNC]

How much longer until the UFC, and MMA altogether, becomes an afterthought? All of the stars that brought it to it's highest point in popularity are now gone. The one woman star that was said to be unbeatable has had her ass beat by the one truly skilled fighter she faced and has stated she thought about killing herself over the loss. Kimbo Slice is still making appearances. Can't help but think that it's best days are long gone.

 

[Bleed'n]

I also imagine it's a virtual lock that UT law dogs will be scrutinizing these proceedings the way they did Cedric Benson's weed arrest. They'll make things extremely difficult on whatever bullshit game Blue is running.

How do you know Mr. Blue is running a BS game and it's not true?

It's odd that so many are not willing to accept that CS could be guilty of having an affair.

 

[Craben]

I started getting very worried about this when Strong didn't address the insinuations head-on and also take the platform to reiterate his Core Values. Like it or not, that is Strong's program foundation he created. If it turns out he's a hypocrite, I'm not sure how long he will last here, especially being 11-13 $10M into the job.

Another hater with a hammer looking for a nail.

It remains to be seen how much, if any, of the information requested from Strong will even be allowed by the court. Kentucky is a no-fault divorce state, so only info that pertains to either child custody or property split is likely to be allowed. It would have been incredibly reckless of Strong to have given any response other than the moderate one his lawyers prepared for him.

 

[Colonel Banana Dark]

It's like an unending herd of elephants entering the room that is Texas football.

 

[HoyaHorn]

Sports writers suck as investigative reporters. I find it comical how many sports writers take the position that coaches infidelity, drug use in programs, under the table player payments, and sex discrimination/harassment in big time college programs should not be thoroughly investigated. It is a shame. Every sports writer who wrote negative commentary about Peyton Manning's 20-year old allegations should spend some time delving into their local college or alma mater's athletics department. I find the lack of consistency by sports writers to be comical.

Unless OB investigates UT athletics (which it has rarely done in the past), I hope OB reporters agree to never criticize Strong's tenure in the future if reports by others come out of drug use, infidelities by coaches, recruiting violations, etc. Hopefully, UT is clean but Strong's Louisville history would indicate there could be issues.

 

[Ketchum]

All in all, that was a negatively tinged collection of weekend thoughts.

Personally, I think our FB and BB teams are finally trending up.

a. It wasn't a weekend that featured a lot of positive vibes. Not like Strong and Perrin were releasing

I started getting very worried about this when Strong didn't address the insinuations head-on and also take the platform to reiterate his Core Values. Like it or not, that is Strong's program foundation he created. If it turns out he's a hypocrite, I'm not sure how long he will last here, especially being 11-13 $10M into the job.

I think there's some nervousness behind the scenes.

 

[Horn1515]

Let's wait for the facts before we hang Charlie. Unfortunately, we assume guilty until proven innocent if we are tried in the press. Hey, what if all Charlie did was accept gifts and be kind to the lady and the lady told her husband how wonderful Charlie was because he is respectful to women. The husband is pissed and rich. He is pulling out all the cards. So let's wait and see.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

- That Kimbo Slice fight was horrific. The main event was a joke. How can Ken Shamrock complain about a low blow when he went into the ring without his hands wrapped? How did the commission allow that? They check you before getting into the ring. Just ridiculous.

- I don't see how the Joseph Randle story ends well.

- Zoolander was that bad? Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Perdy]

I find it comical how many sports writers take the position that coaches infidelity, drug use in programs, under the table player payments, and sex discrimination/harassment in big time college programs should not be thoroughly investigated. It is a shame.

One of these areas you want investigated is not like the others. Infidelity only matters if it becomes public and an issue for a program. Sports writers should not investigate coaches infidelity.

This issue with Charlie is now public and if infidelity is alleged it becomes fair game. No sports writer should be the one who makes that kind of issue public.

 

[Ketchum]

Let's wait for the facts before we hang Charlie. Unfortunately, we assume guilty until proven innocent if we are tried in the press. Hey, what if all Charlie did was accept gifts and be kind to the lady and the lady told her husband how wonderful Charlie was because he is respectful to women. The husband is pissed and rich. He is pulling out all the cards. So let's wait and see.

a. Let's not use the word hang and Charlie in the same sentence. I know you meant nothing by it, but man, I cringed.
b. I think people have been pretty fair for the most part.

 

[lopez80]

The Randle kid is in serious need of an intervention!! If this does not happen, there is a little doubt he will end up hurting himself, or worse, someone else. He looks to be a lost soul, that in his own mind, believes he has nothing to lose. He is at rock bottom.

The whole Randle scenario has become pathetically sad. I really hope he gets the help he so desperately needs – and SOON!

 

[Ketchum]

BJM > Gilbert because of recruiting...smh. The recurring false narrative here that recruiting skills are on the same level as actual coaching ability is ridiculous. Those who played for multiple position coaches with varying levels of skill know exactly what I mean. It's no coincidence TCU and Baylor owned us on the field last 5 years even with mediocre recruiting classes.

So who is more important to us improving and winning 8+ games next year...SG or BJM? Without Gilbert taking over for Norvell, we had no shot. At the same time if we let BJM go tomorrow, I'm pretty sure the defense would be just fine with Charlie or Vance filling in coaching LB's. Sometimes the inner dynamics of how football teams operate is like Sanskrit to writers here. P.S.: Win 9 games and the waterboy could sell Texas to recruits.

No offense to Gilbert, but he's less proven than BJM pretty much everywhere. Also, do not discount the value of elite of the elite recruiting skills.

To answer your questions about 8+ wins, if you take the players BJM is responsible for bringing into the program out of the line-up, this team ain't winning six games.

 

[I Hear Voices]

a. It wasn't a weekend that featured a lot of positive vibes. Not like Strong and Perrin were releasing

I think there's some nervousness behind the scenes.

Remember how many of us - me and you included - were suspect of Coach Strong's ability to recruit without any kind of visible plan? And yet when he explained - through an assistant coach that gave us a look behind the recruiting curtain - we all seemed to exhale and accept the fact that he does know what the hell he is doing, but just doesn't feel the need to talk with us about it.

I suspect his response to date - though thoughtfully crafted by lawyers and pr types - is just in keeping with his style of not sharing all of this thoughts or actions with the general public. Behind the scenes, I bet he is hyper-pissed and hopes that Mr. Blue accidentally walks into his office.

 

[Ketchum]

Sports writers suck as investigative reporters. I find it comical how many sports writers take the position that coaches infidelity, drug use in programs, under the table player payments, and sex discrimination/harassment in big time college programs should not be thoroughly investigated. It is a shame. Every sports writer who wrote negative commentary about Peyton Manning's 20-year old allegations should spend some time delving into their local college or alma mater's athletics department. I find the lack of consistency by sports writers to be comical.

Unless OB investigates UT athletics (which it has rarely done in the past), I hope OB reporters agree to never criticize Strong's tenure in the future if reports by others come out of drug use, infidelities by coaches, recruiting violations, etc. Hopefully, UT is clean but Strong's Louisville history would indicate there could be issues.

Just to be clear, you believe we should be nose-deep in investigating his personal life to see how much cheating on his wife might be taking place?

You do realize that this is not standard professional reporting? That unless it has a direct impact or connection to the job itself, we allow these people to have personal lives that are personal until situations like this make them very public.

You would never see an NFL writer do an investigative piece on this type of thing. Neither would Real Sports.

This has nothing to do with whether Peyton Manning committed sexual harassment 15 years ago.

Your real beef seems to be with OB reporters having strong opinions on the performance of Strong.

 

[Ketchum]

The Randle kid is in serious need of an intervention!! If this does not happen, there is a little doubt he will end up hurting himself, or worse, someone else. He looks to be a lost soul, that in his own mind, believes he has nothing to lose. He is at rock bottom.

The whole Randle scenario has become pathetically sad. I really hope he gets the help he so desperately needs – and SOON!

prison seems around the corner.

 

[benflr]

How do you know Mr. Blue is running a BS game and it's not true?

It's odd that so many are not willing to accept that CS could be guilty of having an affair.

I find it even more odd that a supposed "fan" seems to be convinced that he did do it. Strange

 

[Ketchum]

Remember how many of us - me and you included - were suspect of Coach Strong's ability to recruit without any kind of visible plan? And yet when he explained - through an assistant coach that gave us a look behind the recruiting curtain - we all seemed to exhale and accept the fact that he does know what the hell he is doing, but just doesn't feel the need to talk with us about it.

I suspect his response to date - though thoughtfully crafted by lawyers and pr types - is just in keeping with his style of not sharing all of this thoughts or actions with the general public. Behind the scenes, I bet he is hyper-pissed and hopes that Mr. Blue accidentally walks into his office.

Charlie just kind of wings it on a daily basis. It works for him. He is the Michael Scott of college football.

I'm guessing hyper-pissed wasn't the emotion in play when he spoke to his wife this weekend.

 

[lopez80]

prison seems around the corner.

....most likely - and that just might save him.

 

[benflr]

Charlie just kind of wings it on a daily basis. It works for him. He is the Michael Scott of college football.

I'm guessing hyper-pissed wasn't the emotion in play when he spoke to his wife this weekend.

It may very well have been if he did not do the things so many on here want to convict him of doing.
If I have been incorrectly implicated in infidelity, hyper pissed is exactly the right term to describe me.

 

[Ketchum]

It may very well have been if he did not do the things so many on here want to convict him of doing.
If I have been incorrectly implicated in infidelity, hyper pissed is exactly the right term to describe me.

I haven't had anyone use the term incorrect with me in discussing this. Not saying it isn't incorrect, I'm just telling you that the word liar has not been used.

 

[Veritas10]

However much they wanted to get rid of Charlie after two disastrous seasons, the administration just couldn't pull the plug politically,

If this is true, and hope it's not for parties involved, it could serve as a catalyst to move on sooner rather than later.

 

[benflr]

I haven't had anyone use the term incorrect with me in discussing this. Not saying it isn't incorrect, I'm just telling you that the word liar has not been used.

I suspect that re is very great deal that has not ben said. And rightly so This is persona matter. Too bad that calling it a personal matter and outwardly taking the high ground on the subject

I haven't had anyone use the term incorrect with me in discussing this. Not saying it isn't incorrect, I'm just telling you that the word liar has not been used.

I suspect that there is a very great deal that has not been said publically because it isn't anyone's business. It's just too bad that this site has outwardly given the impression of taking the high ground by calling it public, yet not minded at all crawling into the muck.

 

[yosemite69]

However much they wanted to get rid of Charlie after two disastrous seasons, the administration just couldn't pull the plug politically,

If this is true, and hope it's not for parties involved, it could serve as a catalyst to move on sooner rather than later.

As much as I've argued for the need to pull the trigger on Charlie, this won't be the reason. In fact, it can't.

If Major and Rick Barnes weren't fired for (allegedly) cheating on their wives, there's no way in hell Charlie will for the same (alleged) indiscretion.

Now it might help Perrin and some BMDs on the fence cut him loose after another bad season vs giving him a second year, but he won't be fired explicitly for this.

 

[McGuapo]

Good read. I gotta say, the first thing that popped into my head after reading number one was that there's a great Charlie Brown and Lucy joke in there somewhere. While we tend to feel bad for Charlie Brown each time, Strong has had a hand in creating a lot of the bad breaks he's getting, so I'm left wondering if this is another one of those situations.

 

[GigoloJoe]

However much they wanted to get rid of Charlie after two disastrous seasons, the administration just couldn't pull the plug politically,

If this is true, and hope it's not for parties involved, it could serve as a catalyst to move on sooner rather than later.

It neutralizes the "optics" thing.

 

[UT65]

Well said on the divorce matter. Now let's move on and stick to football. The other stuff will sort itself out over time.

 

[PaulieD]

It should be a private matter, but it's not. There's a reason why press statements were released tonight.

Agreed - it should be a private matter. Anyone who has been associated directly or indirectly with divorce proceedings knows how "dirty" it gets. I wish Coach Strong and family all the best in this, and I wish this to pass on into the sewer where it belongs so that we can talk about Spring Practice. HookEm.

 

[lightthetower0510]

Here's a decent legal analysis of what could be next for Strong:

http://www.si.com/college-football/2016/02/22/charlie-strong-louisville-divorce-case-texas

 

[HookEmTM]

@Ketchum ,Next Podcast with Anwar? Did I miss it or will it be coming out this week?

Thanks in advance!

 

[HookEmTM]

- That Kimbo Slice fight was horrific. The main event was a joke. How can Ken Shamrock complain about a low blow when he went into the ring without his hands wrapped? How did the commission allow that? They check you before getting into the ring. Just ridiculous.

- I don't see how the Joseph Randle story ends well.

- Zoolander was that bad? Thanks for the heads up.

Have the Kimbo fight on DVR. Loved "his story" shown right before. So is it not worth watching? Do not even know who won, if not worth watching can you give me a run down?

Thanks LOL

 

[Ketchum]

Great legal breakdown on Charlie's situation on SI.com

 

[Ketchum]

- That Kimbo Slice fight was horrific. The main event was a joke. How can Ken Shamrock complain about a low blow when he went into the ring without his hands wrapped? How did the commission allow that? They check you before getting into the ring. Just ridiculous.

- I don't see how the Joseph Randle story ends well.

- Zoolander was that bad? Thanks for the heads up.

That was a death blow for Bellator IMO. This was a monster show for them and it was just a disaster. A total joke.

Randle will be in prison soon and the money will be all gone, if it's not already.

It. was. that. bad. I chuckled a couple of times, but it just misses the mark in every way.

 

[Ketchum]

Personally, I think our FB and BB teams are finally trending up.

I don't disagree with that. I'm quite high on the basketball team and the football team is taking needed steps.

 

[Ketchum]

+1. Gilbert isn't a miracle worker. He lacks a proven QB to run the offense, the O-line is still iffy and outside of Burt the receivers are still questionable.
It will probably take more than one season to build the type of offense to win 9 or 10 games and compete for the conference title.
The offense in 2017 could be very productive IF someone steps up at QB, the O-line continues to improve and the receivers improve as well.
There are a lot of big IFs. Personally, I don't see Charlie winning 9 or even 8 next year. The team may be improving and still be 2-3 after the first 5 games.
There will be a lot of young guys on both sides of the ball in 2016. I'd look much more closely and critically at the last 7 conference games and how much both sides
of the ball have progressed by the end of the season. If he wins 5 of the last 7, with a win over TCU or BU, it may not make sense to terminate the experiment
without letting it go full term and seeing what he can do in 2017.While I support Charlie, I acknowledge that he screwed the pooch on his offensive staff and
vision his first 2 years in Austin. The really hard decision after the 2016 season will be to decide whether Charlie is a keeper whose early missteps delayed his impact
by a season or whether he's a JAG at Texas and move on in hopes of hiring the next superstar.Unfortunately, next year Charlie may win enough to fan the faith of the
believers while convincing the haters that he's not the guy. In that case, Perrin and Fenves will have some very tough decisions to make.

Best post in this thread. Good job, Uncle F.

 

[Ketchum]

How much longer until the UFC, and MMA altogether, becomes an afterthought? All of the stars that brought it to it's highest point in popularity are now gone. The one woman star that was said to be unbeatable has had her ass beat by the one truly skilled fighter she faced and has stated she thought about killing herself over the loss. Kimbo Slice is still making appearances. Can't help but think that it's best days are long gone.

I think this was more of a knock against Bellator than anything else.