Photo by Lindsay Crouch, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football
Charlie's Honesty: A bitter rivalry, a bitter pill to swallow
U.S. Marines Col. Nathan Jessup once classically barked: “You can’t handle the truth!”
He should have been addressing Texas Longhorns fans.
The truth hurts. Therefore, the sons of Bevo must be in agony.
Even worse, the pain has been inflicted by football coach Charlie Strong.
No doubt, you read the article by ESPN’s Chris Lowe in which Strong and Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin agreed they would like the Texas A&M-Texas football series to be renewed.
But Strong offered a caveat.
“Let me win some games first,” he said. “Then I can push (renewing the rivalry). I don’t know if I want to go walking into College Station right now.”
Strong’s message seems to be that he wants to play Texas A&M again, but not until his Longhorns are up to the task. Isn’t that kind of like saying you want to get back with your ex, but not until your Viagra prescription is filled?
Honesty is said to be the best policy.
However, that’s not always the case. Especially if you are a college football coach. In Austin.
Strong will surely draw the ire of his Longhorn constituents for his alarmingly honest opinions. Longhorns fans are too competitive. They’re too proud. They’re often too delusional.
About this time a year ago the first-year Texas coach angered some by admitting the Longhorns would not contend for the national championship.
“We have everything available, and I don’t know why we can’t be successful,” he said last year in Fort Worth. “There’s no reason for us not to be. Now, I can’t tell you how soon it’s going to be. Don’t hold me to that. Don’t say, 'Ooh, Coach said next year we’ll be in the national…' We will not be in the national championship game.”
Some in Austin were outraged by that admission.
Never mind that Texas had quarterback issues. Never mind that Texas had offensive line issues. Never mind that Texas had receiver issues. Never mind that it was the truth.
Frankly, there’s no reason to believe the Longhorns will get better soon. Their quarterback situation remains a mess. The offensive line is questionable. The defense, which was their saving grace in 2014, now has major holes to fill.
Meanwhile, A&M appears to be trending upward. The Aggies posted eight victories last season in what was expected to be a rebuilding year. They return eight starters on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Allen may be an emerging star. Sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett already has become one.
Texas A&M obviously has the superior football program now. That was apparent in the Texas Bowl when the Longhorns turned in a dismal performance in a 31-7 loss to Arkansas, a team the Aggies defeated.
Lindsay Crouch, TexAgs
Kevin Sumlin has made it clear he isn't against the return of the rivalry, but his focus has been on bigger fish: the rest of the SEC.
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Indeed, the only area in which A&M and Texas football appear on equal terms are assistant coaches with legal matters.
Texas offensive line coach Joe Wickline is suing and being sued by Oklahoma State. Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator John Chavis is suing and being sued by LSU.
Fortunately for Strong, he won’t have to worry about facing A&M any time soon. Even Sumlin said finding a place in the schedule to renew the series won’t be easy.
“I think it will happen somewhere down the road,” Sumlin said. “The tough part for both parties, when we moved, was scheduling.
“People sometimes take scheduling for granted and say, ‘Play this team.’ They don’t know the process. But I think the Texas series will happen. I just don’t know when.”
Actually, A&M and Texas might have played in last year’s Texas Bowl. Instead, the Southeastern Conference sent the Aggies to the Liberty Bowl where they spanked West Virginia, 45-37.
Some accused A&M of ducking Texas then. They implied the Aggies wouldn’t play the Longhorns for fear of losing.
Obviously, that wasn’t the case. It’s difficult to take seriously such accusations from fans of a team that finished with a losing season.
Combine that with Strong acknowledging Texas isn’t quite up to the challenge which A&M presents. For Texas that has to be a bitter pill to swallow.
A bitter blue pill.
He should have been addressing Texas Longhorns fans.
The truth hurts. Therefore, the sons of Bevo must be in agony.
Even worse, the pain has been inflicted by football coach Charlie Strong.
No doubt, you read the article by ESPN’s Chris Lowe in which Strong and Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin agreed they would like the Texas A&M-Texas football series to be renewed.
But Strong offered a caveat.
“Let me win some games first,” he said. “Then I can push (renewing the rivalry). I don’t know if I want to go walking into College Station right now.”
Strong’s message seems to be that he wants to play Texas A&M again, but not until his Longhorns are up to the task. Isn’t that kind of like saying you want to get back with your ex, but not until your Viagra prescription is filled?
Strong will surely draw the ire of his Longhorn constituents for his alarmingly honest opinions. Longhorns fans are too competitive. They’re too proud. They’re often too delusional.
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Ouch, that hurts.Honesty is said to be the best policy.
However, that’s not always the case. Especially if you are a college football coach. In Austin.
Strong will surely draw the ire of his Longhorn constituents for his alarmingly honest opinions. Longhorns fans are too competitive. They’re too proud. They’re often too delusional.
About this time a year ago the first-year Texas coach angered some by admitting the Longhorns would not contend for the national championship.
“We have everything available, and I don’t know why we can’t be successful,” he said last year in Fort Worth. “There’s no reason for us not to be. Now, I can’t tell you how soon it’s going to be. Don’t hold me to that. Don’t say, 'Ooh, Coach said next year we’ll be in the national…' We will not be in the national championship game.”
Some in Austin were outraged by that admission.
Never mind that Texas had quarterback issues. Never mind that Texas had offensive line issues. Never mind that Texas had receiver issues. Never mind that it was the truth.
Frankly, there’s no reason to believe the Longhorns will get better soon. Their quarterback situation remains a mess. The offensive line is questionable. The defense, which was their saving grace in 2014, now has major holes to fill.
Meanwhile, A&M appears to be trending upward. The Aggies posted eight victories last season in what was expected to be a rebuilding year. They return eight starters on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Allen may be an emerging star. Sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett already has become one.
Texas A&M obviously has the superior football program now. That was apparent in the Texas Bowl when the Longhorns turned in a dismal performance in a 31-7 loss to Arkansas, a team the Aggies defeated.
Lindsay Crouch, TexAgs
Kevin Sumlin has made it clear he isn't against the return of the rivalry, but his focus has been on bigger fish: the rest of the SEC.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Kevin Sumlin has made it clear he isn\u0027t against the return of the rivalry, but his focus has been on bigger fish: the rest of the SEC.","MediaItemID":55885}
Texas offensive line coach Joe Wickline is suing and being sued by Oklahoma State. Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator John Chavis is suing and being sued by LSU.
Fortunately for Strong, he won’t have to worry about facing A&M any time soon. Even Sumlin said finding a place in the schedule to renew the series won’t be easy.
“I think it will happen somewhere down the road,” Sumlin said. “The tough part for both parties, when we moved, was scheduling.
“People sometimes take scheduling for granted and say, ‘Play this team.’ They don’t know the process. But I think the Texas series will happen. I just don’t know when.”
Actually, A&M and Texas might have played in last year’s Texas Bowl. Instead, the Southeastern Conference sent the Aggies to the Liberty Bowl where they spanked West Virginia, 45-37.
Some accused A&M of ducking Texas then. They implied the Aggies wouldn’t play the Longhorns for fear of losing.
Obviously, that wasn’t the case. It’s difficult to take seriously such accusations from fans of a team that finished with a losing season.
Combine that with Strong acknowledging Texas isn’t quite up to the challenge which A&M presents. For Texas that has to be a bitter pill to swallow.
A bitter blue pill.
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