Texas interim athletic director Mike Perrin responded to reports saying Charlie Strong had been fired and that an announcement could come as soon as Monday by issuing a statement saying the coach would keep his job through the Longhorns’ final regular season game on Friday.
Here’s the statement from Perrin:
UPDATE: Texas AD issues statement which says Charlie Strong will be evaluated following the final regular season game on Friday. pic.twitter.com/FPNcVigzRB
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 21, 2016
Multiple reporters said that Texas had decided to fire Strong, but Perrin is standing by what he’s said all along, which is that Strong would not be fired until after the season.
The only thing Perrin’s statement appears to affect is the timing of when Strong will lose his job, not whether he will keep it. Another possibility is that this setup could result in Strong having the chance to announce he will resign after the TCU game.
Perhaps playing a role in Perrin’s decision is how much Strong’s players appear to love the coach. Take a look at some of the tweets they sent:
NO STRONG NO UT FOOTBALL!!!!!!! simple as that
— Hovaa Gang (@erick_fowler) November 21, 2016
Y'all not in those walls with us. Y'all don't know the impact Coach Strong has on our life #HookEm
— Gerald Wilbon (@Big_Geezy97) November 21, 2016
Everybody who seems to have an opinion on my coach aren't the ones directly affected. #strong
— Junior (@Timbo_Cole30) November 21, 2016
Texas is 5-6 this season and 16-20 under Strong. Strong is owed $10.7 million over the next two seasons.
