Texas Longhorns coach Charlie Strong has had a tumultuous start to his stay in Austin, what with eight players dismissed from the program for disciplinary reasons and four more suspended last Saturday against BYU.
Throw in a 41-7 loss at Royal Texas Memorial Stadium last Saturday to BYU and things could be better for Strong and the Longhorns.
Playing 12th-ranked UCLA at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this week, the Longhorns couldn’t make it through the coin flip without making their first big mistake of the night. From Bruin Report, via Twitter:
So UCLA wins the toss and elects to defer. And then Texas chooses to kickoff. So UCLA will get it twice.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) September 14, 2014
Jim Mora was seen on the big screen mouthing "We get the ball twice?"
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) September 14, 2014
Charlie Strong is not pleased.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) September 14, 2014
The ref even turned the microphone off to explain to the Texas captain what he was doing. And they still chose to kick.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) September 14, 2014
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It’s not quite up there with former Detroit Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg opting to take the wind in overtime against the Chicago Bears and then losing the game before getting the ball with the wind at their back, but it’s close.
So UCLA will get to start each half with the football.
The good news for the Longhorns on Saturday was they survived the opening drive. UCLA crossed midfield before its drive stalled out at the 49-yard line and the Bruins had to punt.
Since taking over the program after Mack Brown was fired at the end of last season, Strong has dismissed Deoundrei Davis, Joe Bergeron, Jalen Overstreet, Chevoski Collins, Kendall Sanders, Montrel Meander, Leroy Scott and Chet Moss from the team and played against BYU without both of his starting offensive tackles—Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle—as well as receiver/running back Daje Johnson and safety Josh Turner against BYU.