Kirk Herbstreit didn’t hold back a bit while talking about Charlie Strong’s treatment and the culture of Texas Longhorns football
Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong finds himself on the hot seat entering the Red River Rivalry matchup in Week 6 of the college football season. After a promising start, the defense has crumbled and the Longhorns sit at just 2-2. Thus, Strong has found himself feeling the ire of Texas football culture. However, at least one person recognizes just how toxic that culture is right now: Kirk Herbstreit.
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As ESPN College GameDay set up shop in College Station in Week 6, Herbstreit was asked about Strong’s current standing with Texas. It’s no secret that people are already calling for his job and a loss to Oklahoma would only fuel the fire beneath his chair. However, Herbstreit didn’t hold back an ounce when discussing the matter. He called the culture in Austin a “cesspool” and asserted that it’s unfair to a coach like strong.
Here’s the full clip of what Herbstreit had to say about the Longhorns on GameDay:
Let ’em know how you really feel, Herbie.
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Regardless of where your allegiances lie as a fan, you have to acknowledge the accuracy of what Herbstreit says here. Before Strong had even coached his first game at Texas, you could argue he was on the hot seat. The culture that has been established with the Texas Longhorns football program is one of unrealistic expectations for a program that needed and is in the midst of rebuilding. Success isn’t going to be immediate. So to expect that is asinine.
Maybe Strong beats Oklahoma, wins out in 2016, and keeps his job. Or maybe he loses in Week 6 and this is the end of the road for him in Austin. Regardless, the bigger point that Herbstreit makes still stands. The program isn’t going to get on the right track again until there is a culture-change that allows for steady progress rather than expecting immediate success.