January 4th, 2014 at 12:53 AM ^
UT has averaged over 5 losses per year the last four seasons, and recent recruiting classes haven't been the surefire top-five kind they've had for a while now. Not to mention they've had Stoops (four straight 10-win seasons and two BCS bowl wins), Miles (averaging 11 wins last four seasons), Briles (Heisman, conference title and BCS bowl appearance), Gundy (three 10-win seasons and BCS bowl win), Sumlin (Heisman, 20 wins in 2 years, following a 12 win season at Houston), and now Kingsbury (blowout win over ASU in first season), all doing serious work in their backyard.
The odds that UT will just be raring to go from a personnel standpoint any time soon aren't terribly great. It will be interesting to see what the perception is if the first couple seasons look like Brown's last few.
January 4th, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^
From Rivals
2013 class - ranked 24th. 15 recruits. Average star/player - 3.6 (ranked 8th in average star/player)
2012 class - ranked 2nd, 24 recruits. Average star/player - 3.64 (ranked 7th in average star/player)
2011 class - ranked 3rd, 22 recruits. Average star/player - 3.77 (ranked 2nd in average star/player)
2010 class - ranked 3rd, 25 recruits. Average star/player - 3.92 (ranked 2nd in average star/player)
2009 class - ranked 5th, 20 recruits. Average star/player - 3.85 (ranked 3rd in average star/player)
I'd say their recruiting has been pretty good the last 5 years.
January 4th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
Those 2009 guys will all be gone next year. And average star/player doesn't really help you if you get there by only taking 15 guys.
Between the 2013 class and what they have so far this year, UT will have 16 guys who are rated 4-star or higher on Rivals. Texas A&M has 27 over the same period. Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, and UCLA at least matched that 16 guys in 2013 alone. Alabama has exceeded that number again in 2014 alone. So has Tennessee.
Those classes won't payoff for a while, but if the earlier ones were as good as advertised the Horns would probably have a better record the last four years. Unless Mack's scouting dramatically improved as his recruiting rankings dipped, things aren't going to be a cakewalk by any stretch, yet that seems to be the way a lot of casual observers view the Texas job.
January 4th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
of the teams you mentioned, I don't think Texas plays any of them in the regular season.
I've always thought there's two big keys to being a head coach in college - recruiting and player development. Mack to me seems like he's done a good job of recruiting. It's his player development that I question. The same thing kind of happened to Bowden at the end of his career - solid recruiting but he couldn't translate that into much more 4 and 5 loss seasons.
January 4th, 2014 at 12:20 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:50 AM ^
5 mil/yr is pretty freakin good for guy who hasnt done anything yet. Yeah he won a Sugar Bowl with Louisville last year but that doesnt make you worth 5 mil much less 6-7. I'm sure he's got good incentives in his proposed contract but I'd actually be shocked if they paid him 5 mil right off the bat. Too much for a guy with 4 years of HC experience in a weak conference with the aid of the future #1 pick in the draft
January 4th, 2014 at 1:25 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^
Jim Plunkett was a pretty good Stanford QB, just saying. Stanford has some ties with a couple of pretty good football guys from MEEEEEEEEEEEEECHIGAN, Fielding Yost and Jimmay Harbaugh, just saying. " GO BLUE "
January 4th, 2014 at 12:38 AM ^
I think this is a fantastic hire for Texas. He was one of the best defensive coordinators in football a few years back. He then goes to Louisville and he is known for offense and Teddy. The guy knows what he is doing on both sides of the ball, recruits well, and should be a good fit. I don't see how anyone could call this questionable. I think out of realistic options Strong was actually the best choice.
January 4th, 2014 at 12:43 AM ^
I think Strong is a good coach, but I'd view him as an underwhelming hire at Michigan and I have to assume I have lesser expectations than most Texas fans/alums/donors.
Only time will tell on this one, but they definitely did not have him on the top of their list.
January 4th, 2014 at 12:44 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:47 AM ^
To me, Hoke was very underwhelming. It was like opening a Christmas present and its socks. They're useful and could get you warm... maybe even slide you into a nice new pair of shoes, but its not what you wanted.
January 4th, 2014 at 12:56 AM ^
If you could waive a wand and replace our staff with Strong and Co., you wouldn't be thrilled?
I'd finally be able to f'n sleep at night.
January 4th, 2014 at 2:51 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
No, I'm of the opinion that our grass is looking an unhealthy shade of brown right now. And therefore, I'm slow to critique the by all appearances excellent company the neighbors just hired to fix their lawn.
January 4th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
In your analogy, the company is totally unstaffed. You only know the CEO. What if he hires a bunch of gophers to do your neighbors' landscaping?
January 4th, 2014 at 12:44 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:51 AM ^
but I actual think that's high for a guy like Strong. It's not like he's won a national title or anything. He's got 4 years experience and a BCS bowl win to his credit. Doesn't scream blank check to me
January 4th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:52 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 1:02 AM ^
He just coached the guy who will be the number one draft pick in 2014. An offensive guy even. He has recruiting ties to probably the second best recruiting area in the country. He's coaching at the school where they normally get to pick and choose their recruits from the best recruiting area in the country. Yeah, I'm sure he'll have recruiting problems.
January 4th, 2014 at 1:55 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 2:54 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
I understood your point. I disagree. Michigan has had no problem landing offensive skill position players despite their awful offense. I think that with regard to recruiting, the school itself and the head coach are far more important than the particular unit or scheme.
Look at our line recruiting; why would any youngster want to learn from Funk about Borges's offense? Because they get to play at Michigan for Brady Hoke. And we have had no problem convincing guys of that.
January 4th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 12:57 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 1:22 AM ^
this was a surprise hire I would thought he would hold out for the job at Florida after Muschamp ever got canned or wait to see what Golden does about PSU job. Strong could of went to one of them since he has strong recruiting ties in Florida which both Florida and Miami need to best FSU in state. I thought this would be Franklins job to go to Texas and Golden to PSU
January 4th, 2014 at 2:31 AM ^
here, in 2014.
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/i-dont-talk-past-i-create-future
I really have lost any trust in the man, but others opinions may vary. Still, I don't think that thread would read the same if it hit the board today.
January 4th, 2014 at 3:26 AM ^
and at this point i will take it out my profile tomorrow.
January 4th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
I definitely thought it was interesting that it was one of your sig quotes!
January 4th, 2014 at 3:29 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
January 4th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
The buzz around here is David Cutcliffe
January 4th, 2014 at 8:30 PM ^
Good coach but he is like 60 years old.
January 5th, 2014 at 12:20 AM ^
Looks like a Monday press conference. ESPN reporting a 5 year, $25 mil contract.
January 5th, 2014 at 6:13 AM ^