OUR TAKEAWAYS
Thoughts from our staff after Monday’s news conference:
Ryan Autullo: By not suspending Kris Boyd for a dumb retweet, Charlie Strong opened the door for several more dumb tweets that drove a wedge between his freshmen and upperclassmen on Monday. Strong should’ve suspended Boyd for the OU game. If not the entire game, at least the first half. He should’ve delivered the message that he won’t tolerate foolish behavior on social media. Instead, he invited more of it. Nothing can get the attention of a 1-4 team like taking away playing time.
Kirk Bohls: The worse the football situation gets, the more even-keeled Charlie Strong remains. Even after getting trounced by a very good TCU team, the Texas head coach remains upbeat and positive when the program seems to be collapsing around his ears. Again, I know of very few who don’t like the Longhorns’ head coach, and he seems to totally get it. He understands he’s accountable and doesn’t shrink from that responsibility. He still gets it.
Cedric Golden: A 1-4 start is something new to Charlie Strong. He has always won, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts if this season continues to head south. He insists he’s fine –“I guess people think I’m dying, Ced, ”he said Monday – but nothing outside of a win will quiet the growing feeling of dread in the program. Players beefing on Twitter, a three-game losing streak and OU on the schedule. Not a good time to be Charlie. Except on payday.
Brian Davis: The uproar over Charles Omenihu’s tweets is legitimate. And there should be real concern over the national perception that Charlie Strong is on the hot seat. What about Oklahoma? Where’s the hate for the Sooners? Hassan Ridgeway straightened up when asked about the rivalry, as did Paul Boyette. At least nobody in Austin said you can “throw the records out the window” and all that gobbledygook. I do truly wonder if this young team knows how bad Texas fans despise OU. Beating the Horns is ingrained in the Sooners’ DNA. So let’s see some anger and passion directed at the opponent this week instead of one another. Please? OU will let Texas have its 140 characters. The Sooners will take the 140 points.