I don't know where Tristian is going and still retaining a scholarship. Although I'm sure he can say, "I know I can certainly do better than that", while pointing to Porter.
breaking news
- Thread starter weller1
- Start date
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
He had offers coming out from LSU, Ark, UCLA, Miss ST, Maryland .....
Some say he had decided to leave last Spring but then changed his mind. He got in no game in 2017
https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Tristian-Houston-20513/RecruitInterests
Detective Shilala
2,500+ Posts
Our roster is such a contradiction.
Going down the list of possible transfers, it seems that we have an embarrassment of riches, that can't get on the field due to a logjam.
Then you notice on offense its all at the "skill" positions (such a bad term, OL is a skill if there ever was one). Aside from Connor, there are no OLs leaving early for greener pastures. Just guys graduating or being over football, etc
I doubt everyone on that list leaves, but you can bet its only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to team moral.
Going down the list of possible transfers, it seems that we have an embarrassment of riches, that can't get on the field due to a logjam.
Then you notice on offense its all at the "skill" positions (such a bad term, OL is a skill if there ever was one). Aside from Connor, there are no OLs leaving early for greener pastures. Just guys graduating or being over football, etc
I doubt everyone on that list leaves, but you can bet its only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to team moral.
It's pretty unnerving. This program seems to be two years away from even being able to point to a future year that we can say is the year we will be loaded if you know what I mean. I don't know if we can say we will be loaded in 2019. Am I missing something? And all of this assumes this coaching staff can execute properly.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Both lines have been sadness. I think Charlie was on his way to ironing out the issues on the DL, but now we will never know. And the OL is a hot mess, and has been a hot mess since the last several seasons of Mack Brown.
That kind of attrition is shocking to me. The talent on that list of potential transfers is massive. Remember the old saying, "Something is rotten is Denmark."
I have been confused (as have others) about TH's personnel choices, the disappearance of talented players for weeks at a time with no reason given (Hager, Foreman, etc).
Toniel Carter considering leaving?? WTF? He got serious pt. Why leave? Is it the coaching philosophy?
Is it the micro managing practices and sideline jumping requirement? (I must admit, if I was required to jump up and down on the sideline like our players, I might transfer too
) (sarcasm)
There are 21 names on Joe's list above. Lets say 15 of those actually leave. That's almost 20% of the roster. That is eye-popping and sends a very huge red flag to recruits. NOT GOOD.
I have been confused (as have others) about TH's personnel choices, the disappearance of talented players for weeks at a time with no reason given (Hager, Foreman, etc).
Toniel Carter considering leaving?? WTF? He got serious pt. Why leave? Is it the coaching philosophy?
Is it the micro managing practices and sideline jumping requirement? (I must admit, if I was required to jump up and down on the sideline like our players, I might transfer too
) (sarcasm)There are 21 names on Joe's list above. Lets say 15 of those actually leave. That's almost 20% of the roster. That is eye-popping and sends a very huge red flag to recruits. NOT GOOD.
The jumping is so embarrassing. Maybe they are turned off by hugs and kisses from the head coach.
That kind of attrition is shocking to me. The talent on that list of potential transfers is massive. Remember the old saying, "Something is rotten is Denmark."
I have been confused (as have others) about TH's personnel choices, the disappearance of talented players for weeks at a time with no reason given (Hager, Foreman, etc).
Toniel Carter considering leaving?? WTF? He got serious pt. Why leave? Is it the coaching philosophy?
Is it the micro managing practices and sideline jumping requirement? (I must admit, if I was required to jump up and down on the sideline like our players, I might transfer too
There are 21 names on Joe's list above. Lets say 15 of those actually leave. That's almost 20% of the roster. That is eye-popping and sends a very huge red flag to recruits. NOT GOOD.
The only way you could sell it is if you have a clear cultural/schematic transition going on that requires the recruiting of TH players. I didn't see a scheme though on the offensive side of the ball that clearly indicated a direction.
Not saying ANYTHING except that in this day and age of sexual harassment claims I wouldn't be kissing or hugging anyone except family.
Right. the direction seemed to be running in circles and then falling down. Not good.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
First of all, I'd cool the jets on assuming all these are leaving. Kids are angry and frustrated, and rumors start circulating and people start saying "yeah, me too..." - and who knows how many of these are valid? Wait to see who actually leaves to start saying there's a culture rot. Remember you're dealing with kids, who by definition are fickle. They're gonna say stuff when things aren't going well. We'll see if something comes of it, or if the rumors even have any truth to them.
There's no second of all, so I'll stop there.
There's no second of all, so I'll stop there.
First of all, I'd cool the jets on assuming all these are leaving. Kids are angry and frustrated, and rumors start circulating and people start saying "yeah, me too..." - and who knows how many of these are valid? Wait to see who actually leaves to start saying there's a culture rot. Remember you're dealing with kids, who by definition are fickle. They're gonna say stuff when things aren't going well. We'll see if something comes of it, or if the rumors even have any truth to them.
There's no second of all, so I'll stop there.
Agreed. The parents have some say in all of this too. Transferring is a fairly big deal anyway. It's nice to be able to know the ropes when your child is in college and be able to settle into a routine. Moving to a new city and figuring everything out is unneeded upheaval. Then you have the eligibility rules. Are these guys that good that they can sit out a year and make something of themselves as professional football players? I wonder about that.
Detective Shilala
2,500+ Posts
And no progress made to remedy it. I think its been mis-diagnosed as a talent issue. I don't think its talent, as we have out-recruited other programs for good recruits that never live up to the accolades (Connor the exception). Other teams have had MASH units on the offensive line and made them into something serviceable.
If its not the players, must be the coaching right? Nope, Been through several with the same results. I do think Wickline was a good choice but pairing him with Watson was not wise. and then Maddox was finally making progress... but we keep going back to the drawing board.
Obviously there is something to be said for continuity.
Now we are stuck between a rock and a Warehime. Because he does not seem to be good at this. Do we go with continuity or find someone better.
I think us fans are at fault. We are the only constant thru the past 7-8 years.
Darn JF, I had already decided to not go to the bowl (watch at home of course) but now you have pooped on my enthusiasm for next season. That looks like a ****storm to my fanatic fans eye
Underclass leaving is VERY disturbing without knowing the background, and I don't expect to learn that due to the 'family' excuses etc. I'm concerned and just a bit depressed.
Underclass leaving is VERY disturbing without knowing the background, and I don't expect to learn that due to the 'family' excuses etc. I'm concerned and just a bit depressed.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
I can't remember who it was, but a few years ago a poster on here made a point that is probably good to keep in mind. When our happiness and excitement hinges on the decisions and attitude of young men, half of who are under 20 years old, we're probably not gonna be very happy.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
We're doomed
Detective Shilala
2,500+ Posts
I blame Bill in Sinton. Ever since he moved and stopped driving to HEB at halftime with his UT flags flying we have been terrible ... that and there has been a dearth of focusness” posts from him.
Great choice. Backwoods Mississippi rednecks being led by a guy that has never worked or coached South of Georgetown. Finally someone the Aggies can brag about beating.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
Just thought this was interesting
College football coaches at the time Duke hired Mike Krzyzewski
Alabama: Bear Bryant
Arkansas: Lou Holtz
Clemson: Danny Ford
Georgia: Vince Dooley
Indiana: Lee Corso
Notre Dame: Dan Devine
Ohio State: Earle Bruce
Oklahoma: Barry Switzer
Tennessee: Johnny Majors
Texas: Fred Akers
College football coaches at the time Duke hired Mike Krzyzewski
Alabama: Bear Bryant
Arkansas: Lou Holtz
Clemson: Danny Ford
Georgia: Vince Dooley
Indiana: Lee Corso
Notre Dame: Dan Devine
Ohio State: Earle Bruce
Oklahoma: Barry Switzer
Tennessee: Johnny Majors
Texas: Fred Akers
Galvestonhorn
250+ Posts
I didnt realize that about Coach K.
He probably would've been fired from all those schools after his 3rd year.
He probably would've been fired from all those schools after his 3rd year.
I too am concerned about the potential player turnover & defections (for various reasons). It makes me wonder about team moral, player & coaches relationships and what is going on in the lockeroom....
Regardless, I think the program malaise that set in some number of years ago can be traced back to SpiderAg not posting on HF anymore.... damn I miss that guy!
Regardless, I think the program malaise that set in some number of years ago can be traced back to SpiderAg not posting on HF anymore.... damn I miss that guy!
Last edited:
AZCentral did a poll and over 70% of ASU fans disagreed with the firing of Graham. They also reported that whomever takes the job has to keep Bennett and Napier as coordinators. How are they supposed to bring in good coaching talent if the coach can't bring in their own guys. I think that is why they looked at Sumlin since Bennett went to A&M and Napier previously coached in the SEC before going to ASU. They are now interviewing Herm Edwards (gee hope not, worse than Sumlin) and Mack has expressed interest. I think Mack would give them best chance to build ASU to relevance for the first time since Cooper.
I think that A&M and ASU have an overinflated sense of their own position within their respective conferences. They fired coaches with winning records saying that their team deserves to be in conference championship games. A&M is in the same division as Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and MSU. Good luck with that. ASU was second in the Pac12 south but down a couple of games from USC and never really challenged them for the championship game. The other coach firings and hirings made sense and were moves I would have made in the AD's place.
I hope Herman will settle things down and get things done and that UT fans will stay patient in the process. We are still trying to recover and firing/hiring coaches every 2-3 years doesn't help build the program back together. Ask Michigan how that has worked out for them since Lloyd Carr.
Every year it seams that ADs make the same mistakes and never learn. I guess DeLoss Dodds was not a dime a dozen and there are very few really good ADs out there.
Just some random thoughts as this week has unfolded.
I think that A&M and ASU have an overinflated sense of their own position within their respective conferences. They fired coaches with winning records saying that their team deserves to be in conference championship games. A&M is in the same division as Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and MSU. Good luck with that. ASU was second in the Pac12 south but down a couple of games from USC and never really challenged them for the championship game. The other coach firings and hirings made sense and were moves I would have made in the AD's place.
I hope Herman will settle things down and get things done and that UT fans will stay patient in the process. We are still trying to recover and firing/hiring coaches every 2-3 years doesn't help build the program back together. Ask Michigan how that has worked out for them since Lloyd Carr.
Every year it seams that ADs make the same mistakes and never learn. I guess DeLoss Dodds was not a dime a dozen and there are very few really good ADs out there.
Just some random thoughts as this week has unfolded.
True That!
Paul S. Nichols
25+ Posts
Just wanted to comment in general about the current coaching situation at Texas and the current attitudes of most of the posters on this site.
First, almost all of us are as negative as can be regarding everything from play calling to attrition to recruiting (and I include myself in this group). I do not recall ever seeing so much negativism around our football program specifically, and I have been a student, fan and a Life member Texas-Ex since the early 1960.
A little history might help us deal with the current situation a little more realistically and shed some insights to reality here.
For those of you too young to remember, when Darrell K. Royal was hired in 1957 as our head football coach, he started out by building our team with modest successes:
1957 record was 6-4-1
1958 record was 7-3-0
1959 record was 9-2-0
1960 record was 7-3-1 (a step backwards)
1961 record was 10-1-0
1962 record was 9-1-1
1963 record was 11-0-0 (paydirt ! our first National Champioship)
1964 record was 10-1-0
The something happened, starting in 1965 through 1967, the Longhorn coached Royal team fell apart. In my opinion there is a valuable lesson here relative to Mack Brown and our current coach (Tom Herman) going forward.
I distinctly recall coach Royal commenting several years after he retired, that he was unprepared for what came after winning that first National Championship. He said that after winning the championship he was unprepared forthe demands on his time. The demands were such that he spent far too much time and energy on big contributors to the program and on the rubber chicken circuit giving speeches, etc....and far too little time on settling priorities, his coaching staff, personnel and on recruiting, that it all got away from him and it took 3 years of hard work and lackluster performance to regain control. He pointed out that he had enough dry powder/talent left on the team to get a decent result in 1964 but then the lack of attention caught up with him. Incidentally for those who recall, coach Royal could be brutally honest in his judgement of both the team, the coaching staff and himself.
If you look at the Mack Brown tenure I feel he also followed that same path of self destruction...big difference was that Mack did not realize the degree of devastation to recruiting, prioritization and team discipline after winning the Naitonal Championship in 2005, and when he did recognize it he was not allowed the time to regain control (assuming he would and could have, lets hope we do not repeat this pattern with Tom Herman).
I recall a conversation at the time Mack was terminated with a couple of Longhorn buddies (from the same era) and we said then that we hoped the fan base was ready for 15-20 years of difficult times till the next DKR or Mack Brown came along. Hopefully it will not be that long...but from the retirement of DKR in 1976 till Mack Brown came on the scene it was 22 years...(not all of them bad, we did have some successful years in there but no real dynasty).
I'm sure most of us cannot comprehend the demands of time and the pressure when it all unwinds but we do know that it does not just happen overnight, it happens over time...and likewise for rebuilding it.
The rest is history, over the next 9 years Royal's record was 79-20-2, he won two more National Championships (1969 & 1970), seven SWC titles and had 4 seasons with 10 or more wins. The only negative occurred in 1976 (5-5-1) the year DKR announced his retirement and was largely due to a plague of injuries that year, most prominent of which was loosing Earl Campbell early in the season to a season ending injury.
In 1964 DKR coauthored a book with sportswriter Blackie Sherrod of the Dallas Time Herald (since bought out by the Dallas Morning News), titled "Darrell Royal Talks Football". In it is a wealth of knowledge and great insights into DKR's coaching philosophy.
Darrell had a way with words and expressing himself in as few words as possible. Some of them that I still remember today are:
" what might of happened did happen" in reference to numerous what if situations on the football field.
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
"Punt returns will kill you faster than a minnow can swim a dipper"
"Don't matter what a team throws at you....Only angry people win football games"
"When you pass a football 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad"
and lastly, my all time favorite and I feel most important Royal comment..."I want to be remembered as a winning coach...but I especially want to be remembered as an honest and ethical coach"
In that book coach Royal clearly laid out his coaching philosophy which had little to do with schemes, formations or calling plays.
He made it clear that in his judgement:
1) Games were primarily LOST and not WON (something I wish our current coaches understood better).
This shows up repeatedly in many ways: (to name just a few)
* Fielding punts inside the 10 yard line
* Running out of bounds and calling plays that run or move toward the sidelines late in games when we ahead with 2-3 minutes left to play (see Texas Tech).
* Protecting the Football at all times
* Key and critical penalties that kill our drives or keep the opponent's drives allive
* wasting the few possessions we get by running far too many east-west plays or foregoing make-able Field Goal opportunities
* passsing the ball when time is running out in a game and we have the lead, instead of running down the clock and forcing opponents to use his time outs
* In the red-zone trying to pass on 1st & 2nd downs when inside the 3 yard line
2) Always play great defense as it is the most consistent element of your teams
game and is the most reliable element game to game and either on the road
or at home.
3) Keeping your skill sets on the field (blocking and especially tackling) honed all season long. In essence, practicing good fundamental football.
4) Instill great fundamental Football Discipline...play your position and cover your
assignments...DO NOT TRY TO PLAY YOUR POSITION AND SOMEONE ELSE'S
5) Instill accountability and trust within your players...Accountable for your assignments and Trust that your teammates will do the same
6) Develop Character, Discipline and Accountability in your players
This book was published by Prentice-Hall and I believe is still available even though it is not in print...on Amazon and other sites.
In closing, I feel it is important to recognize that our Coaches and players a trying to win and do not want to loose, but much of what I wrote above is not easy to acquire and once we do we should guard against loosing it like it were the crown jewels.
God Bless to all our players (whether staying or leaving, coaches and posters on this site...wishing you all the best and hoping you will all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that the horns start the next season by winning our bowl game.
P.S. Nichols
First, almost all of us are as negative as can be regarding everything from play calling to attrition to recruiting (and I include myself in this group). I do not recall ever seeing so much negativism around our football program specifically, and I have been a student, fan and a Life member Texas-Ex since the early 1960.
A little history might help us deal with the current situation a little more realistically and shed some insights to reality here.
For those of you too young to remember, when Darrell K. Royal was hired in 1957 as our head football coach, he started out by building our team with modest successes:
1957 record was 6-4-1
1958 record was 7-3-0
1959 record was 9-2-0
1960 record was 7-3-1 (a step backwards)
1961 record was 10-1-0
1962 record was 9-1-1
1963 record was 11-0-0 (paydirt ! our first National Champioship)
1964 record was 10-1-0
The something happened, starting in 1965 through 1967, the Longhorn coached Royal team fell apart. In my opinion there is a valuable lesson here relative to Mack Brown and our current coach (Tom Herman) going forward.
I distinctly recall coach Royal commenting several years after he retired, that he was unprepared for what came after winning that first National Championship. He said that after winning the championship he was unprepared forthe demands on his time. The demands were such that he spent far too much time and energy on big contributors to the program and on the rubber chicken circuit giving speeches, etc....and far too little time on settling priorities, his coaching staff, personnel and on recruiting, that it all got away from him and it took 3 years of hard work and lackluster performance to regain control. He pointed out that he had enough dry powder/talent left on the team to get a decent result in 1964 but then the lack of attention caught up with him. Incidentally for those who recall, coach Royal could be brutally honest in his judgement of both the team, the coaching staff and himself.
If you look at the Mack Brown tenure I feel he also followed that same path of self destruction...big difference was that Mack did not realize the degree of devastation to recruiting, prioritization and team discipline after winning the Naitonal Championship in 2005, and when he did recognize it he was not allowed the time to regain control (assuming he would and could have, lets hope we do not repeat this pattern with Tom Herman).
I recall a conversation at the time Mack was terminated with a couple of Longhorn buddies (from the same era) and we said then that we hoped the fan base was ready for 15-20 years of difficult times till the next DKR or Mack Brown came along. Hopefully it will not be that long...but from the retirement of DKR in 1976 till Mack Brown came on the scene it was 22 years...(not all of them bad, we did have some successful years in there but no real dynasty).
I'm sure most of us cannot comprehend the demands of time and the pressure when it all unwinds but we do know that it does not just happen overnight, it happens over time...and likewise for rebuilding it.
The rest is history, over the next 9 years Royal's record was 79-20-2, he won two more National Championships (1969 & 1970), seven SWC titles and had 4 seasons with 10 or more wins. The only negative occurred in 1976 (5-5-1) the year DKR announced his retirement and was largely due to a plague of injuries that year, most prominent of which was loosing Earl Campbell early in the season to a season ending injury.
In 1964 DKR coauthored a book with sportswriter Blackie Sherrod of the Dallas Time Herald (since bought out by the Dallas Morning News), titled "Darrell Royal Talks Football". In it is a wealth of knowledge and great insights into DKR's coaching philosophy.
Darrell had a way with words and expressing himself in as few words as possible. Some of them that I still remember today are:
" what might of happened did happen" in reference to numerous what if situations on the football field.
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
"Punt returns will kill you faster than a minnow can swim a dipper"
"Don't matter what a team throws at you....Only angry people win football games"
"When you pass a football 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad"
and lastly, my all time favorite and I feel most important Royal comment..."I want to be remembered as a winning coach...but I especially want to be remembered as an honest and ethical coach"
In that book coach Royal clearly laid out his coaching philosophy which had little to do with schemes, formations or calling plays.
He made it clear that in his judgement:
1) Games were primarily LOST and not WON (something I wish our current coaches understood better).
This shows up repeatedly in many ways: (to name just a few)
* Fielding punts inside the 10 yard line
* Running out of bounds and calling plays that run or move toward the sidelines late in games when we ahead with 2-3 minutes left to play (see Texas Tech).
* Protecting the Football at all times
* Key and critical penalties that kill our drives or keep the opponent's drives allive
* wasting the few possessions we get by running far too many east-west plays or foregoing make-able Field Goal opportunities
* passsing the ball when time is running out in a game and we have the lead, instead of running down the clock and forcing opponents to use his time outs
* In the red-zone trying to pass on 1st & 2nd downs when inside the 3 yard line
2) Always play great defense as it is the most consistent element of your teams
game and is the most reliable element game to game and either on the road
or at home.
3) Keeping your skill sets on the field (blocking and especially tackling) honed all season long. In essence, practicing good fundamental football.
4) Instill great fundamental Football Discipline...play your position and cover your
assignments...DO NOT TRY TO PLAY YOUR POSITION AND SOMEONE ELSE'S
5) Instill accountability and trust within your players...Accountable for your assignments and Trust that your teammates will do the same
6) Develop Character, Discipline and Accountability in your players
This book was published by Prentice-Hall and I believe is still available even though it is not in print...on Amazon and other sites.
In closing, I feel it is important to recognize that our Coaches and players a trying to win and do not want to loose, but much of what I wrote above is not easy to acquire and once we do we should guard against loosing it like it were the crown jewels.
God Bless to all our players (whether staying or leaving, coaches and posters on this site...wishing you all the best and hoping you will all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that the horns start the next season by winning our bowl game.
P.S. Nichols
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