Charlie Strong will coach what many believe is destined to be his final game at Texas on Friday, but one report claims that may not necessarily be the case.
Chip Brown of HornsDigest.com was told by multiple sources that Strong has a chance to save his job with a victory over TCU. Coming off a shocking loss against Kansas last weekend, there was some belief that Strong may be fired before the end of the season. However, Brown’s sources note that Strong “made an impressive case for himself” with the way he spoke at his press conference Monday and some school administrators believe he deserves a fourth season with the Longhorns.
“Everyone seems to agree Texas has a talented roster – but that it’s just young,” one Texas administrator said. “There’s a sentiment that there’s been defensive improvement this season and that the offense will improve as true freshmen at quarterback, center and receiver get a little more experience.”
Boosters seem to want Texas to move on to another high-profile coach like Houston’s Tom Herman, who has also drawn interest from LSU.
“A lot of times, it hasn’t been just the loss, it’s been the way we’ve lost,” a big-money donor told Brown. “It’s been embarrassing. Totally embarrassing. Any fan base can appreciate well-coached, hard-fought losses. But that’s not what it’s been under Strong. It’s been collapses in which the team looks poorly coached.”
Strong has a $10.7 million buyout on the remaining two years of his contract, and his assistants would need to be bought out for an additional $6.6 million. That is said to be a “concern” for the university.
If the report we heard about some players considering a potential boycott is accurate, effort should not be a problem against TCU. Texas can still gain bowl eligibility with a win Friday, which would give Strong one more chance to prove the Longhorns are not a lost cause under his leadership.
