Key Texas Booster Ticked Off Over Strong

[DarthGrumpy]

And that just about sums up that while I am no fan of Strong and detest Longhorn pride, I hope Strong succeeds in Austin just to give the old boys in Texas a kick in the shins...or a foot or two higher.

 

[John]

Can't bring up UT without this..

this is worthy of its own thread, if not its own website.

 

[JaYnYcE]

Well, glad you clarified that. If it doesn't have a tinge of racism to your ear, it can't to anyone else's...

growing up in CT, I think I have an idea of what could be considered racist.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Can't bring up UT without this..

One of my buddies is UT alum who lives in Austin. His Facebook page is full of pics of lots of his female friends that look just like this. Something in the water down there for sure.

 

[CTPride]

Live in Dallas and McCombs is a known racist as well as many of the other big wig boosters at UT. Theres no doubt alot of the disappointment in strongs hire has to do with him not being as big a name as saban. But there is some pretty evident signs of racism and prejudice feelings at Texas.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Assuming it's racist mostly because he's white and Strong's black is a pretty big leap.

 

[tzznandrew]

growing up in CT, I think I have an idea of what could be considered racist.

I grew up in CT as well, and have family in the South. I was being perhaps a little too sarcastic in my initial response: just because any one person might not have read that quote and thought to themselves "racism" doesn't mean another was unjustifiable for hearing it.

I don't know what his motivations were, but the speaker, the tone, the message, and the subject all fit a model of racism. Doesn't mean it ultimately was--but I'm saying I can get why people would hear it that way.

 

[tzznandrew]

Assuming it's racist mostly because he's white and Strong's black is a pretty big leap.

It's not that a white person cannot say something negative about a black person without it being racist. It's context. And, as pointed out, it's the suggestion that a--so far--very successful black coach would be better served as an assistant. And it was said by a man born in 1927 in the South--which means that he was in his late 30s before the laws of his state at least nominally treated the two races equally.

Again, far be it from me to say what he meant, or call him a racist. But to not see why many people would hear racial undertones is shocking to me.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

growing up in CT, I think I have an idea of what could be considered racist.

Two words - police profiling.
It was a running joke throughout my high school, especially as one of my teammates on the soccer team was black (his dad was a big shot at the old P&W plant in North Haven) and he got pulled over by local PD at least every other month driving his dad's hand-me-down BMW.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

A prominent booster at Old State U not approving of the most recent head coaching hire. Sounds like UConn circa 2011 (after Randy left). For whatever reason, big shot boosters at both schools raised objections . . . racially motivated, too old, too mediocre, limited experience, whatever. PP, remember was the all time winningest Big East coach, had NFL experience and was respected by the Connecticut high school coaches. Strong has had great success at Bridgewater U.

My point? Time will tell.

PP was at a school that was cutting its teeth at the BCS level and on a fast forward trajectory. And, he wrecked it or at least set it back years. So Burton and other detractors had it correct in the first place. Strong is going to one of the blue blood programs of college football that has struggled of late (8-4? Struggling? Lol) and was demanding change.

So let's not make this a racial matter, McCombs is entitled to his opinion (whether there are others out there who agree with him for whatever reasons OR whether his opinion is hopelessly outdated and just plain wrong). Either way, Charley Strong can prove him wrong. If he's as good as some think, how do you then screw up Texas? He ought to be a legit - and perennial - contender for the playoffs starting almost immediately. Word? Don't screw it up, Charley. Prove 'em wrong. Don't be Texas's Paul Pasqualoni.

 

[J187Money]

Funny. I heard on the radio that lots of the boosters had Tomlin on the list. I guess they don't realize that he's black. I think they wanted to pull someone that would have been a "holy &*$" hire. Like luring Gruden out of retirement, or convincing Tomlin to leave the Steelers, etc. Strong is a great coach and I'm sure he will do just fine down there. But it isn't the type of hire that soothes egos.

 

[J187Money]

A prominent booster at Old State U not approving of the most recent head coaching hire. Sounds like UConn circa 2011 (after Randy left). For whatever reason, big shot boosters at both schools raised objections . . . racially motivated, too old, too mediocre, limited experience, whatever. PP, remember was the all time winningest Big East coach, had NFL experience and was respected by the Connecticut high school coaches. Strong has had great success at Bridgewater U.

My point? Time will tell.

PP was at a school that was cutting its teeth at the BCS level and on a fast forward trajectory. And, he wrecked it or at least set it back years. So Burton and other detractors had it correct in the first place. Strong is going to one of the blue blood programs of college football that has struggled of late (8-4? Struggling? Lol) and was demanding change.

So let's not make this a racial matter, McCombs is entitled to his opinion (whether there are others out there who agree with him for whatever reasons OR whether his opinion is hopelessly outdated and just plain wrong). Either way, Charley Strong can prove him wrong. If he's as good as some think, how do you then screw up Texas? He ought to be a legit - and perennial - contender for the playoffs starting almost immediately. Word? Don't screw it up, Charley. Prove 'em wrong. Don't be Texas's Paul Pasqualoni.

Exactly. And trust me, McCombs will love him if he brings Texas to the promised land.

 

[UConn Dan]

A prominent booster at Old State U not approving of the most recent head coaching hire. Sounds like UConn circa 2011 (after Randy left). For whatever reason, big shot boosters at both schools raised objections . . . racially motivated, too old, too mediocre, limited experience, whatever. PP, remember was the all time winningest Big East coach, had NFL experience and was respected by the Connecticut high school coaches. Strong has had great success at Bridgewater U.

My point? Time will tell.

PP was at a school that was cutting its teeth at the BCS level and on a fast forward trajectory. And, he wrecked it or at least set it back years. So Burton and other detractors had it correct in the first place. Strong is going to one of the blue blood programs of college football that has struggled of late (8-4? Struggling? Lol) and was demanding change.

So let's not make this a racial matter, McCombs is entitled to his opinion (whether there are others out there who agree with him for whatever reasons OR whether his opinion is hopelessly outdated and just plain wrong). Either way, Charley Strong can prove him wrong. If he's as good as some think, how do you then screw up Texas? He ought to be a legit - and perennial - contender for the playoffs starting almost immediately. Word? Don't screw it up, Charley. Prove 'em wrong. Don't be Texas's Paul Pasqualoni.

Difference between Burton/PP and McCombs/STrong is that Burton (and his son) actually had interaction with PP and knew first-hand how we would be as coach.

 

[tzznandrew]

Funny. I heard on the radio that lots of the boosters had Tomlin on the list. I guess they don't realize that he's black. I think they wanted to pull someone that would have been a "holy & $" hire. Like luring Gruden out of retirement, or convincing Tomlin to leave the Steelers, etc. Strong is a great coach and I'm sure he will do just fine down there. But it isn't the type of hire that soothes egos.

I think this is ultimately the real motivation behind his words.

 

[mcs333]

He felt he just wasn't ready for a top 3 HC positions. Won only 37 games, 23 in last three years with a VG QB in a second rate conference. He wanted someone with much more HC experience at a top U or pro's. Which is a valid point. His problem was with his condescending remarks that he would make a very good position coach or maybe a good coordinator. That's what made his remarks sound racist and way over the top.

 

[tcf15]

Texas Longhorns coach Charlie Strong responds to booster Red McCombs' criticism

"There are going to be statements made," said Strong, the former Louisville coach. "You can't worry about that. You just move on. You have a job to do. You can't worry about what people say or think.

"I'm going to get judged by my work here. Once you win some football games, you're going to change a lot of people's attitudes. ... You have to win. Everybody wants to win nowadays. There are those expectations anywhere you go."​

 

[Waquoit]

His problem was with his condescending remarks that he would make a very good position coach or maybe a good coordinator. That's what made his remarks sound racist and way over the top.

Ya think?

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Ya think?

It makes him sound like an idiot. But not necessarily a racist.

What's next? Are people who oppose Obama going to be called racists? Oh wait.

 

[johnhuskies95]

It's not that a white person cannot say something negative about a black person without it being racist. It's context. And, as pointed out, it's the suggestion that a--so far--very successful black coach would be better served as an assistant. And it was said by a man born in 1927 in the South--which means that he was in his late 30s before the laws of his state at least nominally treated the two races equally.

Again, far be it from me to say what he meant, or call him a racist. But to not see why many people would hear racial undertones is shocking to me.

Even if you add context, someone accusing him of racism is stereotyping McCombs quite a bit.

 

[tzznandrew]

Even if you add context, someone accusing him of racism is stereotyping McCombs quite a bit.

I think there's a difference between saying someone is racist and suggesting that something said could reasonably sound racist.

 

[tzznandrew]

It makes him sound like an idiot. But not necessarily a racist.

What's next? Are people who oppose Obama going to be called racists? Oh wait.

I hate any and all injection of politics into sports conversations. They don't really help. So I make this distinction not suggesting any judgment of the politics, just to draw the distinction.

Suggesting that his policies are hurting America = not a racist statement
Suggesting that he go back to Kenya = a racist statement

There have been all sorts of racist statements and insults about Obama all over the place, from all sorts of people. Hell, my grandfather voted for him and says all sorts of racist things about him. That doesn't mean one can't reasonably disagree with the president...it's just to say that some who disagree (and would likely be inclined to disagree regardless of his race) do also harbor racist sentiments.

And again...let's not call the man a racist (we are not him, and it is not fair to judge him, and by all accounts he is a philanthropic man not concerned with race), but understand why some might hear racism in that statement.

 

[ZooCougar]

It makes him sound like an idiot. But not necessarily a racist.

What's next? Are people who oppose Obama going to be called racists? Oh wait.

The guy is a successful HC. Saying he would make a pretty good position coach is crazy. I think some people suspected he wouldn't say that about a coach of a different color with the same credentials.

Heck, Strong is far more qualified than Mack Brown was.

 

[jbdphi]

I hate any and all injection of politics into sports conversations. They don't really help. So I make this distinction not suggesting any judgment of the politics, just to draw the distinction.

Suggesting that his policies are hurting America = not a racist statement
Suggesting that he go back to Kenya = a racist statement

There have been all sorts of racist statements and insults about Obama all over the place, from all sorts of people. Hell, my grandfather voted for him and says all sorts of racist things about him. That doesn't mean one can't reasonably disagree with the president...it's just to say that some who disagree (and would likely be inclined to disagree regardless of his race) do also harbor racist sentiments.

And again...let's not call the man a racist (we are not him, and it is not fair to judge him, and by all accounts he is a philanthropic man not concerned with race), but understand why some might hear racism in that statement.

Would you stop it with the nuanced comments and deeper understanding? If it can't be explained in a tweet then it can't be right...

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Even if you add context, someone accusing him of racism is stereotyping McCombs quite a bit.

And there's the biggest irony.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

The guy is a successful HC. Saying he would make a pretty good position coach is crazy. I think some people suspected he wouldn't say that about a coach of a different color with the same credentials.

Heck, Strong is far more qualified than Mack Brown was.

Why can't he just be dumb and uninformed?

If someone said the same thing about Strong's predecessor at Ville, Steve Kragthorpe, you would've called them nuts at that time too.

There is a chance that Strong doesn't do well at Texas. I don't happen to believe that, but it's not impossible.

 

[tzznandrew]

Why can't he just be dumb and uninformed?

If someone said the same thing about Strong's predecessor at Ville, Steve Kragthorpe, you would've called them nuts at that time too.

There is a chance that Strong doesn't do well at Texas. I don't happen to believe that, but it's not impossible.

Kragthorpe had a very different record at Tulsa (29-22) than Strong at Louisville (37-15).

Look, let's be clear: the man is most likly simply dumb and uninformed. But I don't understand why some people refuse to see why they might be construed that way.

I'm not a minory. But my wife, and members of my extended family on my side and (obviously) her side are. Perhaps something like that just makes you more aware of the ways things are said and the shades of meaning people can reasonably take from them.

 

[johnhuskies95]

I think there's a difference between saying someone is racist and suggesting that something said could reasonably sound racist.

Fair, but it's still stereotyping him.

 

[Jax Husky]

The guy is a successful HC. Saying he would make a pretty good position coach is crazy. I think some people suspected he wouldn't say that about a coach of a different color with the same credentials.

Heck, Strong is far more qualified than Mack Brown was.

Exactly. It just reads like "If he keeps his head down and don't sass us none, he'll be a good coordinator one day"

 

[tzznandrew]

Fair, but it's still stereotyping him.

Well, I guess this is something we can't quite agree on. I think that what he said could be construed as racist, and am not suggesting that he is himself racist. You think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that what he said cannot be construed as racist. I don't think I'm stereotyping, but you think I am.

It's ultimately not a huge deal.

 

[husky10]

I understand why some might think racism is behind his comments but I have a feeling he is just delusional and no coach Texas hired would have been good enough. My guess is he thinks the only reason Texas didn't hire Bill Belichiek is because Texas didn't want to have to wait for him to finish his playoff run.