CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big XII => Topic started by: CharleyHorse46 on February 07, 2017, 11:08:55 AM
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This is, of course, not actually a thread about women. This is a thread about coaches. The title alludes to a parallel. For a single heterosexual man, it may be difficult to find the right woman and possibly even difficult to live with any woman.
For me it starts with DKR. Darrell Royal. He's like momma because he spoiled me as a Texas fan and raised the bar so high no other coach will ever be good enough. Case in point: the first 15 years of my life, Texas went 133-29-2, won 10 SWC championships and 3 MNCs. That's a hard act to follow.
But toward the end, it was kind of like he went a little crazy. Barry Switzer got under his skin and he let it show.
After playing for Oklahoma and extending an extraordinary gesture of kindness to Oklahoma by asking Emory Bellard to teach Barry Switzer the wishbone.
If Barry had only beaten Texas from 1971 through 1975, Royal may have been able to handle it with grace. But there was ugliness too. Recruiting violations, snide remarks (“Some coaches don't want to coach anymore. They would rather sit home and listen to guitar pickers.") and even evidence of spying that Swtizer denied at the time but admitted years later.
It pissed Royal off but he was powerless to do anything about it. He bitched and moaned. Switzer laughed and kept beating him.
Switzer was an a-hole. Royal let it get to him and became something like a crazy Captain Ahab, driven by hate to his own self-destruction.
It was a sad, embarrassing, ignoble way to go. The admissions, apologies and regrets that came from Oklahoma decades later did nothing to fix the damage.
The only thing that really saved DKR's legacy in spite of its sad ending was the failure of his successors to live up to the standard he set.
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Akers was a fun coach to watch in a lot of ways. He could be maddeningly conservative and surprisingly innovative. He held his own against Switzer and then some but he didn't do too well in bowls. When you consider he coached against OU, A&M and SMU at possibly the very height of their egregious disregard for recruiting regulations, it's amazing he was as competitive as he was.
But for me, the biggest mistake of his career at Texas came on the Oklahoma 15 yard line in the waning moments of the rainy 1984 Oklahoma game with the Sooners up 15-12. He sent in Jeff Ward to kick a chip shot and tie it up.
Win or lose, he should have taken a shot at end zone.
Twenty years earlier, Darrell Royal took a similar chance. With 1:27 left to play against Arkansas and down 14-13, DKR opted to go for a two point conversion. It failed and Arkansas won. The Horns were the defending national champion and it was Texas' first loss in 16 games. The Razorbacks would go undefeated that year and Texas would beat the National Champion Alabama in the Orange Bowl 21-17.
Texas could've settled for a tie on October 17, 1964 but they didn't. When asked about it afterwards, Royal quipped, "I play to win."
That became a source of great pride for Texas fans but on October 13, 1984 with #1 ranked Texas riding a 14 game winning streak against #2 ranked Oklahoma, Fred Akers, an otherwise seemingly good man, lacked the balls to play to win.
He settled for the tie. He settled for mediocrity. He sealed Texas' fate for next 14 years.
Texas lost four of its next eight. Within two years Texas had its first losing season in 30 years. It was the first of five Texas would endure over the next 12 years.
It was a sad, sad, terrible fate.
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Enter David McWilliams. Texas alumnus, former defensive tackle and captain of the 1963 national championship team. Longtime defensive assistant under Royal and a defensive coordinator for Akers.
His hiring was one like Tom Herman's. He had taken the head coaching job at Texas Tech and in one season had turned the Red Raiders from a 4-7 team to a 7-4 team. Texas AD DeLoss Dodd's promised a "nationwide search" for Akers replacement. Arizona State's John Cooper's name surfaced as a possible successor, but in the end, Texas couldn't stand the thought of McWilliams succeeding in Lubbock instead of Austin.
On paper, McWilliams was the perfect fit. In reality McWilliams made the moves that by all logic should have been successful. He brought back the tenacious Texas defensive coordinator, Leon Fuller. He brought in the colorful Lynn Amadee, who had enjoyed so much success everywhere else he had been, as the offensive coordinator.
For whatever reason, McWilliams languished. 7-5, 4-7, 5-6, 10-2, 5-6.
In the first season you try not to set up unrealistic expectations. You try to be hopeful.
The next two seasons were hard. There was a tantalizing smattering of talent but a lack of cohesiveness.
1990 was wonderful until Miami curb stomped us in the Cotton Bowl. Oh hell, let them celebrate.
1991 was gut-wrenching. The defense played its heart out and was ranked 4th in the country. On offense, it seemed like one or more pick six thrown by Peter Gardere was the difference in every game. Texas lost five games by 10 points or less.
To use Charlie Strong's cake analogy, it seemed like David McWilliams should have been a good cook. All the ingredients seemed to be there. Everything was mixed. Nothing was baked.
It was all so unsatisfying.
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John Mackovic came along after McWilliams, and he didn't bake the cake we thought McWilliams had prepared. Instead he wallowed in mediocrity for a couple of years. But then by flukes of coincidence, he won or shared three conference championships in a row - more than Mack Brown would be able to manage in 16 years.
But flukes were common when Mackovic was coach. Imagine a coach claiming he had just awakened from a post concussion syndrome and had no memory of the last six games he had coached.
Imagine the juco transfer playing backup safety is actually 30 year old impostor using somebody else's identity.
Imagine beating OU but then losing to TCU for the first time in 25 years.
Imagine losing to Rice for the first time in 29 years en route to your first share of a conference crown in four years.
Imagine being one of only three teams beaten by a terrible OU team and beating an excellent Nebraska team in the middle of a three MNC in four years.
And then imagine Rout-66.
John Mackovic was the best and the worst. And ultimately, I think it was his arrogance that cost him his job. It's okay to be arrogant, but if you're going to be arrogant, you need to be above reproach too. Mackovic never was.
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But if Mackovic was the best and the worst, Mack Brown was even better and worse. And if Mackovic was arrogant, Mack Brown was thin skinned.
In a head-to-head match up, Mackovic's Horns beat Brown's Tar Heals. Three years later, Mack Brown was our coach.
Initially, Mack could do no wrong. He persuaded Ricky to stay one more year. He made insightful personnel tweaks to improve the team, moving Leonard Davis from DT to OT, and DD Lewis from FB to MLB. He discovered a gutsy reliable quarterback in Major Applewhite. His staff plugged up a defensive sieve. His team beat Oklahoma and A&M. His team upset two top ten teams including #3 Nebraska in Lincoln where the Huskers hadn't lost in 18 years. He won his bowl game over Jackie Sherrill.
Then, in February 1999, he inked the best signing class in America. The future was so bright and Texas fans were so happy. Little did we know that was as good as it would get for about five years.
North Carolina State blocked three Texas punts en route to an upset win in the opener. After one more win against Nebraska, Chris Simms would get his first start by season's end, a completely unnecessary coach-fueled quarterback controversy would ensue, Texas would go 0-8 against top ten teams until 2005 and Texas would lose to OU in every way imaginable.
And as if that wasn't enough, Mack Brown would expose a very thin skin, bristling at anybody questioning him or his woeful decisions.
Then Vince Young happened and all was forgiven. Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley happened and all was forgotten. Almost. Until the MNC game against Alabama.
After that it was all oversteering and hearing about the long line of transcendent players who would have loved to play at Texas, if only Mack had offered them a scholarship at something other than safety.
What a sad ending to an exciting tenure.
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Then came Charlie Strong. What can we say?
The experiment was a lot like the McWilliams experience.
He recruited lots of four stars. He was able to identify under-ranked three-star talent who could make immediate impacts. He seemed to keep his sense of humor even when assailed by criticism. He was a fine ambassador for decency.
But on nearly every game day the fans were left hungry, wanting, wondering.
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And now we come to Tom Herman. He has a great resume and a great mind. He seems to know how to go about accomplishing everything he wants to accomplish.
His underwhelming recruiting class this year can be excused.
His desire to control what the parents of players say about the program would probably be considered commendable if we had not had history of arrogant, thin-skinned coaches.
The only thing that's really disappointing about Tom Herman so far has been his incredulity that Texas fans could get so upset about his hiring of Casey Horny. It's bad enough that he hired him and made Texas a footnote in the horror stories coming out of Waco. But to think Texas fans are out of line for objecting?
That makes me think he may be out of his depth.
All I can say is that he'd better win like a mofo because that will cover a multitude of stupid.
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wow... ummm....
I won't "tl;dr" you, but I'll have to check back on this thread when I have a little more time.
Also, I probably won't check this message board much, unless/until the old one dies.
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Also, I probably won't check this message board much, unless/until the old one dies.
Oh yeah... try not to spread yourself too thin.
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wow... ummm....
I won't "tl;dr" you, but I'll have to check back on this thread when I have a little more time.
Also, I probably won't check this message board much, unless/until the old one dies.
Sadly, I think thread title killed this one.
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The only thing that's really disappointing about Tom Herman so far has been his incredulity that Texas fans could get so upset about his hiring of Casey Horny. It's bad enough that he hired him and made Texas a footnote in the horror stories coming out of Waco. But to think Texas fans are out of line for objecting?
That makes me think he may be out of his depth.
It says he's in Austin.
Where not ALL Texas fans live, btw. The uproar in the malaise is purely regional, as always.
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It says he's in Austin.
Where not ALL Texas fans live, btw. The uproar in the malaise is purely regional, as always.
Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong and sometimes you're just silly. Like this ongoing crusade of yours to disregard any opinion you disagree with and demonize it as irrelevant, liberal, nonsensical, isolated and out of touch.
As if your arrogant, lofty, cosmopolitan perch in Bangs,Texas puts you on the vanguard of popular opinion in Texas, the United States and the world.
Hang onto your hat, bitch. You're about to get schooled.
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1. http://deadspin.com/texas-defends-hiring-ex-baylor-assistant-casey-horny-de-1791310247
Deadspin mocks Texas for being more concerned about tweets than rapes.
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2. http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2017/01/11/texas-fans-upset-hiring-former-baylor-assistant-vocal-art-briles-defender-casey-horny
Dallas Morning News reports Texas fans are upset about the hiring of Casey Horny.
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3. http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/02/art-briles-claims-wants-peace-life-looks-baylor-rape-survivors
Dallas op ed blasts Texas for the hiring.
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4. http://www.si.com/college-football/2017/02/03/baylor-sexaul-assault-scandal-art-briles-assistants
Sports Illustrated slams Herman for hiring Horny.
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5. http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2017/02/06/5-biggest-recent-revelations-baylors-sexual-assault-scandal
Yet another Dallas article. This one talks about a rape survivor pleading with Tom Herman to not retain Horny.
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And that is just a smatttering. Search google or twitter and see for yourself. This is not some little fuss weirdos in Austin are throwing.
You're the one out of touch on this one, and you're way out line to trivialize the outrage.
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Another Dallas article came out today
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2017/02/07/art-briles-got-deserved-others-baylor-staff-escape-blame
Starts with: Art Briles got what he deserved, but how do others on Baylor staff escape blame?
Ends with: Liberty University, where McCaw landed, along with Florida Atlantic, Arizona State and the University of Texas — all of which have signed up key former Baylor football staffers — should rethink those decisions. Otherwise, they are just another "win at all costs" chapter in this tragedy.
Good thing, insulated, isolated individuals in Bangs can bury their heads in the sand and pretend this is all just a local uproar they can't understand.
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ok Ive read all the articles and the only thing Ive found against Horny is that he went on social media and supported his coach believing him innocent
While that may be misguided it IMHO does not call for all the angst against him
Maybe Im just getting senile but I really dont see why TH should not give him a shot
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Unconditional support of one's coach is something that's conditioned into and expected of football players and assistants throughout all levels of football. It's not at all surprising that a coach would come out in support of his head coach, especially if he really had no idea how deep it all went, which to me is an indication that Horny likely had no idea what was going on.
If there's any evidence at all that Horny was in any way associated with the awful situations, then I believe action and outcry would be warranted.
"Optics" are not something I particularly care about.
Rather, I care about the actual victims, and what can help them, and what can help prevent more victims. Would not hiring Horny have helped any of the real victims? Is it possible that hiring Horny will lead to rapes and cover-ups at Texas? I think the answer to both of those is "no" and that's as far as it should go.
Unless, of course, there's any actual evidence the Horny participated in what happened at Baylor. Then run him out on a rail, string him up, whatever.
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320 and utee. Thank you for sharing your opinion. I don't necessarily disagree with that point of view and if you think I do then you missed my point.
My points were as follows:
1. With regards to Tom Herman as a coach at Texas - as brilliant and perfect as Tom Herman may seem in many respects, he completely underestimated the intense scrutiny of the job if he's actually surprised that some people are pushing back against his hire of Horny.
2. In response to Texas95's lazy-intellect of dismissing anything he can't understand as part of Austin's culture, I pointed out that it isn't just regional push-back. It may not be unanimous push-back but it's coming from a wide array of other places besides Austin.
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Well I certainly agree with you on point#1. Shouldn't have been any surprise at all that it would come under fire. It puts Texas in an extremely difficult position. On one hand, I don't think anyone should be held accountable for actions they did not take. On the other, unless we're 100% certain he wasn't involved in ANY of it (and how can we be?), then it's unwise to take steps to defend him.
As for your point#2, yes, there are people around the entire country that want to vilify Texas for any reason they can trump up. This is nothing new.
If they have any evidence at all of wrongdoing on Horny's part, then they should produce it. First, to the legal authorities, and second, to the public. Until they do that, they can all drink a nice tall pitcher of shut up.
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Its amazing how PC a mob can become
sometimes it requires the TH's in the world to have a set and push back
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And that is like your opinion, man.
As for me, if I were in my "dream job," I wouldn't hire old friends with bad judgment who could make me look bad.
Briles wasn't Horny's boss anymore when he was posting #TruthDon'tLie.
And it's not like the jury was still out at that time. There had been more than enough evidence for so long, that it was obvious bad things had happened on Briles watch.
And people at Baylor wanted to argue Briles relative amount of involvement.
Seriously?
IMO, there are some things in this ugly world that are just so contemptible that 1% guilt is just as bad as 100%.
If my own brother or one of my own sons was accused of multiple rapes or even turning a blind eye to associates who were accused of multiple rapes, you can be damn sure I wouldn't be defending them with a hashtag.
And I wouldn't have anything to do with someone who does because such an individual clearly lacks the simple gift of discernment.
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or maybe they made a huge mistake and need some one to give them another chance
course I wouldnt know cause Ive never made a mistake and Ive never given anyone a second chance
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2. In response to Texas95's lazy-intellect of dismissing anything he can't understand as part of Austin's culture, I pointed out that it isn't just regional push-back. It may not be unanimous push-back but it's coming from a wide array of other places besides Austin.
Settle down, killer.
For future reference, don't use the media to disprove my social observations. Like using Baptists to prove God. Duh.
Predictability makes for a lazy intellect. Quit being so predictable, and maybe I'll speed up my intellect.
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OK. Check out the new Texas Longhorn thread under team threads.
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Speaking of women and Texas coaches, Art Briles has been hired by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as an assistant Offensive coach, or some such.
"Who is their head coach?" you ask.
Well it is none other than June Jones, another coach that did some time in Texas.
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Speaking of women and Texas coaches, Art Briles has been hired by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as an assistant Offensive coach, or some such.
Woof. Talk about climbing down the ladder of success.