#excellence ESPN The Magazine feature on Charlie Strong's challenges at Texas

[polokuo]

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/sto...e-strong-rebuilds-longhorns-way-espn-magazine

His speech to the high school coaches at the Angelo clinic, a tight 20 minutes without notes, was occasionally disjointed as it hit his recurring themes. "The thing about young people is that they're always watching you and reading you to see what you're really all about ... because if you don't trust yourself, they're not going to trust you."

Shortly thereafter, an ESPN blog quoted unnamed coaches criticizing Strong for not tailoring his speech to high school coaches (although he clearly did) and for leaving San Angelo quickly after he finished. One coach went so far as to say: "He obviously didn't want to be here." They were apparently unaware of the two hours Strong had spent glad-handing before his speech and the fact that he requested to speak and shoehorned it into his schedule. No matter, he is the coach at Texas, and the perception of his performance -- unfair as it may be -- was viewed as a victory for every other Division I coach in the state, none of whom made his way to San Angelo.

Can he handle the job?

Maybe there's a more pertinent question: Is there any possible way to prepare for it?

Firmly in Coach Strong's corner, especially reading his reaction to some of the bullshyt he's had to endure so far. Like I said in another thread, this guy is facing a mess bigger than what Urban Meyer left at Florida. Muschamp got a lot of leeway after clearing house that first season, the fans and boosters need to be sure Strong is given that same level of respect while he gets Texas back on track!

 

[the next guy]

nice!