Open Letters: Dear UT-Austin, Mack left a mess.

Hello Longhorns,

Rough year. Not at all what you were expecting.

After being ran over by Maryland your fighting Hermans rebounded against a pretty bad San Jose State team then proceeded to take you on a roller coaster ride for the rest of the year.

The USC game provided hope, as did good wins over Iowa State and Kansas State.  You came into the Red River Shootout Rivalry feeling pretty good about yourselves at 3-2 but then hit a rough patch with close losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in successive weeks. True, you beat Baylor and Kansas, but so did pretty much everyone else. You also had a good win against West Virginia which was book-ended by a loss to Texas Christian and a bad loss to Texas Tech.

The end result? 6-6 which is one measly game better than all but one of the Charlie Strong years. You're paying Tom Herman a lot of money to be better, and this season has to hurt a bit. I get that.

First off, I'm not a fan. Neither am I a 'hater' of your program. In fact, when it comes to UT-Austin Football the best way to describe my feelings toward you is ambivalent.

That said, I live in Texas, and you consider yourself to be Texas' "premier" football program so I think we need to talk.

Mack Brown left the program in shambles.

I realize that this is not what you want to hear right now but it's true.  What Charlie Strong inherited was a dysfunctional, disorganized pile of dung with talent deficiencies at key positions due to questionable recruiting decisions by coaching, odd business decisions by the old leadership, and a proud program that needs to look in the mirror and realize that the long road back to championship glory is going to require some needed changes.

1. It's time to let the Longhorn Network die.

I realize that this was viewed as your salvation and that it's pumped a lot of money into your program but right now it's still a laughingstock and it's prevented the Big XII (X) Conference from pursuing any meaningful network. It's also estranged you from the rest of the FBS and has lessened your attractiveness for any new conference.  Your current administration needs to return to the bargaining table with ESPN, admit failure, and move on.  Maybe next time you'll remember to include your conference partners in any TV deal?

2. Talk to Texas A&M.

I realize there's a ton of sore feelings there but last Friday we all looked at the football schedule with a gaping hole in our hearts that the annual game between you two was dead, and has been for several years.  UT-Austin needs to play Texas A&M annually in the same way Georgia plays Georgia Tech.  And the game needs to be on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

3. Give Herman some time.

I realize that you're impatient. That you want to win and you want to win NOW.  But there are some serious talent holes that need to be filled, especially at WR, Oline, DLine, and QB and those will take more than one recruiting class to fill.  I think Herman will win there, but I don't think it's going to be a sudden turn like he did at UH. Part of the reason for this is that UH had excellent talent for him to work with.


Here's the thing Texas, even though a lot of people dislike you most of them WANT you to be good.  Because the Big XII(X), and college football in general, are better products when UT-Austin and OU are both playing at a high level.  We all want the Red River Shootout Rivalry to be meaningful, and we really do want you competing for the Big XII(X) title.

The only thing holding you back.......is you.

Enjoy the Texas Bowl.

Sincerely,

Cory