STILLWATER, Okla. – It was nearly a year ago when I was in the car speaking to Geoff Ketchum on my way to the Red River Rivalry game in Dallas (yes, this conversation actually occurred outside of Pluckers). Our discussion revolved around what our coverage would look like if Texas was defeated by Oklahoma that day. Trust me, planning for the worst-case scenario is not something we enjoy doing, but in our business, you have to be prepared for everything from a coverage perspective. It is the best way to avoid missing potential stories when covering an event.
As many of you remember, Texas was fresh off an embarrassing loss to TCU. Texas was 1-4 entering the game, and Charlie Strong’s future was seemingly in jeopardy. I had sources at the University of Miami emphatically telling me they wanted to hire Strong. When Strong was asked about the Miami rumors, he never put out that fire, seemingly keeping a door open just in case things did not work out at Texas. Oklahoma entered the game 4-0, and everyone was preparing for a Texas loss.
Call it a miracle, a gift from God, or just pure luck, but Texas pulled off the biggest win of Charlie Strong’s tenure on October 10, 2015. Everybody remembers the images from the Cotton Bowl Stadium after that win. Texas fans were hugging each other in celebration. Strong was lifted up in the air by his teammates. There was a relieved coach wearing that Golden Helmet and pointing that finger. Texas athletic director Mike Perrin was celebrating in the background. It was not a win that turned around the season by any means, because after a win against Kansas State, there was an embarrassing loss to Iowa State. Plus, Texas finished with five wins, so this was far from the program-changing victory it could have been. However, it was a win Strong needed to get critics, skeptics and haters off his back, if only for a brief moment.
Well, here we go again.
As I drove back to Oklahoma City from Stillwater on Saturday, Ketchum called me again. Our conversation was nearly identical to the one we had around this time last year. It was about the struggles of this program during Strong’s tenure. We talked about a defense that cannot tackle anyone consistently. There was a discussion about possibly too much loyalty to one of Strong’s coordinators. Ketchum, as a veteran writer, discussed how a loss this weekend will bring recruiting to a halt as high school players will take a wait-and-see approach with Texas.
Of course, there was the obvious discussion about Strong’s future at Texas if this team loses.
Right now, nobody that matters is willing to say Strong is definitely out after this season. However, there is not a single person willing to stand on the table and say, “Strong is our guy. Back off.” I gave Texas athletic director Mike Perrin that opportunity after Saturday’s game, and a very successful attorney heard the question, then withheld his support of Strong. Perrin was not going to be tricked into giving an answer that could incriminate him in the future. Heck, if he could be tricked so easily by a reporter, clearly I need to consider a career change and begin preparing for the LSAT when I arrive back in Austin on Sunday afternoon.
The reason why Strong is sitting on an island alone – again – is because the program is not progressing the way anyone hoped it would by now. There have been plenty of assistant coaches who have come and gone since 2014, and few have made an impact. Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary have been Strong’s best hires (honorable mention goes to current offensive line coach Matt Mattox, former assistant Joe Wickline and defensive line coach Brick Haley), while the other guys might be answers to Longhorn trivia questions one day.
For two seasons, the offense was bad. Now the offense is pretty good, but the defense has given up an average of 49 points in games against Notre Dame, Cal and Oklahoma. Even if you wanted to through that UTEP score in the mix out of fairness, the average would be 38 points.
Oh, is it too early in the morning to discuss the special teams errors that have plagued this team since William Russ punted in the wrong direction against UCLA, continued last year with kicker Nick Rose’s inconsistency, and has been highlighted again with three blocked extra point attempts against Oklahoma State, two PATs returned for scores this year, and trotting out Trent Domingue for field goal attempts that are clearly out of his range?
My bad.
When Strong’s coaching world was about to collapse last season, this team rallied and pulled off an improbable win against Oklahoma. Strong needs that to occur again this year in the worst way.
Last week, players told the media their first three games did not count. Instead, they viewed them as preseason games, with the real season beginning against Oklahoma State. I guess they can move that starting point back to Oklahoma this week.
Strong desperately needs a repeat of last year’s magic. Sure, Texas could lose this game and possibly win five out of seven to finish 7-5 and appear in a bowl game. Outside of Iowa State and Kansas, it is hard to foresee road wins at Kansas State and Texas Tech, or victories against Baylor, West Virginia and TCU. Some might argue that penciling Texas in for a home win against Iowa State is being very generous.
That is why this Oklahoma game is so important for Strong.
A win means Texas is 3-2, and maybe establishes some momentum. There would still be time to salvage the season. Heck, one loss in the Big 12 is enough to keep a team in a conference championship discussion. Right now, there is still a small degree of hope.
However, a loss means Houston football coach Tom Herman becomes a must-hire in the eyes of nearly every Longhorn fan. It will mean a seven win season is an improvement, but just another disappointing year under Strong. In addition, Red McCombs will be vindicated for his controversial opinion about Strong’s hire.
I have no clue what Ketchum and I will discuss after Saturday’s game.
For Strong’s sake, it needs to mirror the dialogue we had after Texas defeated Oklahoma last year.
Funniest Thing You Will See This Week
Yeah, you are so ticked off, laughing is the last thing on your mind. For the sake of consistency, I will give it to you anyway:
Sports On A Dime
1. In 20-plus years of reporting, the childish tactics I have witnessed on the college reporting level are embarrassing to the journalism profession. When I covered the NFL, whenever reporters were beat on stories, you tipped your hat to the next guy out of respect. Since I've been in Austin, whenever an organization has information another one does not, the instant response is to rip apart the reporter who had the story. The crap I dealt with after my conversation with Perrin is the latest example. Every reporter is going to get beat. I get beat. That's the business. However, how you handle it is what determines if you are truly a professional.
2. Things are bad at Texas, but the feeling has to be worse in Tallahassee. Most of us cannot remember a time when FSU got beat down the way Louisville worked the Seminoles this season. To make the situation worse, FSU was defeated by North Carolina, 37-35, on Saturday. Things are bad when a kicker is taunting you:
3. Who scheduled Mack Brown to cover a game in Utah on Friday night and then the ESPN’s Bristol studio the next day?
4. Louisville should not drop far in the polls after a loss against Clemson on Saturday night. Lamar Jackson is still the real deal. Clemson is a great team.
5. I know a lot of was made out of Dez Bryant not showing up to work this past week, but star NFL players – who are good – always receive preferential treatment. The reason why some college coaches have struggled in the NFL is because of their unwillingness to acknowledge that culture. I have witnessed NFL players curse out head coaches several times, but hear the leader downplay it as a “heat of the moment exchange.” In the NFL world, Bryant did nothing wrong.
6. There is a part of me that wants to say Cleveland receiver Josh Gordon entered a rehab center because he really needs help. However, the logical part of me says Gordon went that route right as he was about to become eligible because he failed, or was about to fail, another drug test and wanted to avoid a heavy NFL penalty. Gordon was hanging with Johnny Manziel during his suspension, and we all knew this was not going to end well. No matter what, Gordon needs to address his issues.
7. Greg Hardy was arrested for cocaine possession, but his excuse was an instant classic. Hardy said he was passing his wallet around at a party, paying for everyone, and somebody must have slipped that 0.7 grams of cocaine in his wallet. The funniest thing about dumb people is they always think somebody is stupider than them.
8. I have heard the jokes about J.J. Watt hurting his back because he had to carry the team for so many years. From what I can tell, Watt seems like a good dude, so I'd rather be sympathetic toward him. Back pain is an absolute monster. This is going to be tough. Seriously, I hope Watt can be the same player when he returns.
9. While we are talking about Houston, Bill O’Brien’s decision to take over his team’s play-calling duties is definitely a good move. This offense has been bad under George Godsey this season, and when a team spends money in free agency and does not get results, the coach and G.M. are usually in trouble. Cannot knock O’Brien’s self-preservation attempt.
10. All of my boxing friends on OB had to be disappointed - like me - to hear about Tyson Fury testing positive for cocaine, which definitely means there is a suspension in his future. I have read reports that Fury has been fighting depression, too. Like Gordon, I hope Fury can get some help.
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