On Kansas State, Charlie’s Graceful Exit, and Candidates
If the assumption that Charlie Strong needs eight wins this year to keep his job is correct, for the second straight week, Charlie Strong faces a must-win situation tomorrow morning in Manhattan, Kansas. I was a little surprised earlier this week when I learned that Kansas State was favored by 2 ½ points, but I guess I shouldn’t have been given the Horns are 1-6 on the road since the start of the 2015 season. In Strong’s first trip to Manhattan in 2014 as the Texas coach, they lost 23-0. Disregarding those facts, on paper, this is a good match-up for Texas. Kansas State is averaging a paltry 167 yards per game passing and 342.7 total yards per game. Kansas State does average 177 yards per game rushing at 4.8 yards per attempt and Bill Snyder is known for having creative running game schemes. If the Texas’ linebackers don’t read, react correctly, and tackle well on running plays, the Texas defense could be in for a long day. But even if Kansas State runs the ball well, Texas should win this game. They’re underdogs because of Strong’s lousy road record and his team’s tendency to pull inexplicable no-shows at any time against any opponent. Indeed, it’s easier for me to envision another Longhorn sluggish performance accompanied by special teams meltdowns leading to a loss than it is a win for the Longhorns in Manhattan.
West Virginia
Did you see what West Virginia did Texas Tech in Lubbock last Saturday? That was a real beat-down.
Uh oh.
Could this happen?
Did you hear about what former Colorado and Northwestern coach Gary Barnett said about Charlie Strong a couple of weeks ago? In addition to saying Strong deserved to be fired for his revolving door for coordinators and general incompetence, he claimed that Strong didn’t really want the Texas job to begin with, that he preferred to go to Florida or South Carolina but Lou Holtz talked him into taking it. And do you remember last year the rumor that Strong was interested in the Miami opening?
Well, suppose Texas wins seven regular season games this year? That would be an improvement over 2014 and 2015 but it wouldn’t good enough to cool Strong’s hot seat. But instead of Texas firing Strong, he resigns and returns to Louisville, replacing Bobby Petrino who leaves to go to LSU, or some other school that isn’t all hung up on ethics and morals, and will pay him more than Louisville. In this scenario, Texas avoids the unpleasantness of firing Strong and the criticism that Strong wasn’t given a fair chance to succeed. A happy ending for all right? I like it.
A better idea than Herman?
Can you name the 39-year-old college football head coach who is 28-6 since 2014, has victories in the Fiesta and Poinsettia Bowls, who’s 14th ranked team is 7-0 this year, was a major college offensive coordinator for seven years known for creative, high-scoring offenses, has experience recruiting in Texas, and knows his way around Austin? That would Bryan Harsin who you can see has a longer track record of success than the flavor of the moment Tom Herman. I would also put forward the notion that Boise State and Boise, Idaho, while not Texas and Austin, have a stronger college football tradition and higher expectations with more pressure on the head coach than does the University of Houston and Houston.
I’m not seriously suggesting that I know anything about hiring a college football coach, but from where I sit, Bryan Harsin looks like a better candidate than Tom Herman, should the Texas job come open in a couple of months.
Hook “Em,
W.E.
New Over/Under Wrinkle
Starting today, as a tribute to Jeopardy, each contest will feature a Daily Double question. Contestants who answer the Daily Double question correctly will receive two points credit.
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