nuuf's thoughts (big money guy on OB):
I am typing this before I really know anything. My guess is that I will know something relatively soon, at which point I will likely be precluded from posting further (until purged by a public statement). I wish I had time to organize it, or even spell check it, but I am running out the door right now.
I am going to argue that Greg Fenves can fire Charlie Strong, although I am not sure when or how it gets done. I am going to argue that Perrin is important, but Fenves will make the decision. I am going to guess that BMD solidarity might be reached as soon as next Saturday this time.
I am as sick as the rest of you guys right now over the loss. The last loss to Cal, as unfortunate as it was, could be mentally compartmentalized as a fluke, where you could at least come up with some reasons why the team could turn around. Today changed everything.
The early returns from emails, texts and calls are that all of my BMD friends are off the Charlie train....or, the more conservative and conventional ones are saying that if the season ended today, they would fire him, but UT does not fire coaches 4 games in, so we will see how the season goes. Or, that charlie needs to beat OU and go on a run to save his job....which is clearly unlikely (don't get mad...mack got to keep his job if he won out, and he didn't and we sloppily fired him). These early returns are actually clearer than they were for Mack, with the exception of the last year when only Jamail was left on the Mack train.
There are a bunch of posts disparaging Perrin, which are both misguided and unfair. Perrin is a letterman, proud alum, trial attorney, MMD (medium money donor...he is not rich enough to write seven figure checks regularly, so he is medium) and quasi interim AD. He is a great guy and he has done more than we have asked of him.
--Because Perrin works for Fenves, I do think that those two will come to one mind on a decision, and that Perrin will be Fenves one true confidant.
But Greg Fenves is God right now with respect to this decision. Execution will fall in Perrin's hands, but Greg will make the decision.
Regardless of if Greg wants it, he will be fielding calls and texts from everyone under the sun. Houston BMDs...who are already down the Herman trail, but in their usual disparate way, where half of them don't even know what the others are doing (they got noisy last week....noisy enough that sua and a few others know). Austin BMDs...unclear where they lived a few weeks ago, but my texts tell me they are turning away from Charlie (I only know some of them). And Dallas is a coordinated group--I assume they are all emailing texting now. Given the Cowboys game is at Levi tomorrow, they won't assemble there. But, their view will be known soon. I would not be shocked if we don't hear it until the TX/OU game is concluded. But, Dallas is starting to rumble now and it aint pretty.
Greg has lots of folks he talks to, and I know a few, but I know he solicits opinions from all around. to the extent that they all line up, I really doubt he isn't going to go with the consensus.
There is this notion that Greg Fenves is politically correct, and such PCness will prevent Greg from firing a black coach. First of all, I have been with him plenty, I would definitely not describe him as a liberal or politically correct...he is quite careful and guarded, but that is different than PC. Greg is not going to talk like Donald Trump and insult people. Second, UT has done a lot to defend its admissions policy in the Supreme Court...I think that this effort to protect black enrollment actually gives Greg an abundance of cover, as NO SCHOOL has actually achieved more results for blacks than UT over the last decade (which includes some of the most ridiculous schools like Yale or Oberlin). Third, we are throwing plenty of support behind another black coach in Shaka Smart. Fourth, Greg has already taken plenty of heat for Strong, as many important alumni have said they want to wait till year 3 to be the judge.
If we just go back to Patterson, we saw Fenves give into important alumni, so there is good precedent here for Fenves to make a quick and decisive change, at the request of alumni.
My personal opinion is that Greg Fenves would probably do a lot to improve his standing at the University if he made a change quickly and effectively. The truth is that UT is a class act, and is not in the habit of firing coaches mid season. The unfortunate reality may be that Greg has no choice, as there is at least a belief that LSU is making a hard run here. If Greg holds onto Charlie and loses Herman, and we don't end up with a very good replacement, then Greg will need to do a lot of good things to make up for this in folks eyes.
But, for those of you saying its PC, or BMDs, or Perrin or this group of mystery administrators making bad decisions for whatever esoteric reason, I have some news for you. Greg Fenves is God right now.
Oh, and whatever happens is going to be ugly for fans, players and others. Sometimes it ain't so great to be God.
I am typing this before I really know anything. My guess is that I will know something relatively soon, at which point I will likely be precluded from posting further (until purged by a public statement). I wish I had time to organize it, or even spell check it, but I am running out the door right now.
I am going to argue that Greg Fenves can fire Charlie Strong, although I am not sure when or how it gets done. I am going to argue that Perrin is important, but Fenves will make the decision. I am going to guess that BMD solidarity might be reached as soon as next Saturday this time.
I am as sick as the rest of you guys right now over the loss. The last loss to Cal, as unfortunate as it was, could be mentally compartmentalized as a fluke, where you could at least come up with some reasons why the team could turn around. Today changed everything.
The early returns from emails, texts and calls are that all of my BMD friends are off the Charlie train....or, the more conservative and conventional ones are saying that if the season ended today, they would fire him, but UT does not fire coaches 4 games in, so we will see how the season goes. Or, that charlie needs to beat OU and go on a run to save his job....which is clearly unlikely (don't get mad...mack got to keep his job if he won out, and he didn't and we sloppily fired him). These early returns are actually clearer than they were for Mack, with the exception of the last year when only Jamail was left on the Mack train.
There are a bunch of posts disparaging Perrin, which are both misguided and unfair. Perrin is a letterman, proud alum, trial attorney, MMD (medium money donor...he is not rich enough to write seven figure checks regularly, so he is medium) and quasi interim AD. He is a great guy and he has done more than we have asked of him.
--Because Perrin works for Fenves, I do think that those two will come to one mind on a decision, and that Perrin will be Fenves one true confidant.
But Greg Fenves is God right now with respect to this decision. Execution will fall in Perrin's hands, but Greg will make the decision.
Regardless of if Greg wants it, he will be fielding calls and texts from everyone under the sun. Houston BMDs...who are already down the Herman trail, but in their usual disparate way, where half of them don't even know what the others are doing (they got noisy last week....noisy enough that sua and a few others know). Austin BMDs...unclear where they lived a few weeks ago, but my texts tell me they are turning away from Charlie (I only know some of them). And Dallas is a coordinated group--I assume they are all emailing texting now. Given the Cowboys game is at Levi tomorrow, they won't assemble there. But, their view will be known soon. I would not be shocked if we don't hear it until the TX/OU game is concluded. But, Dallas is starting to rumble now and it aint pretty.
Greg has lots of folks he talks to, and I know a few, but I know he solicits opinions from all around. to the extent that they all line up, I really doubt he isn't going to go with the consensus.
There is this notion that Greg Fenves is politically correct, and such PCness will prevent Greg from firing a black coach. First of all, I have been with him plenty, I would definitely not describe him as a liberal or politically correct...he is quite careful and guarded, but that is different than PC. Greg is not going to talk like Donald Trump and insult people. Second, UT has done a lot to defend its admissions policy in the Supreme Court...I think that this effort to protect black enrollment actually gives Greg an abundance of cover, as NO SCHOOL has actually achieved more results for blacks than UT over the last decade (which includes some of the most ridiculous schools like Yale or Oberlin). Third, we are throwing plenty of support behind another black coach in Shaka Smart. Fourth, Greg has already taken plenty of heat for Strong, as many important alumni have said they want to wait till year 3 to be the judge.
If we just go back to Patterson, we saw Fenves give into important alumni, so there is good precedent here for Fenves to make a quick and decisive change, at the request of alumni.
My personal opinion is that Greg Fenves would probably do a lot to improve his standing at the University if he made a change quickly and effectively. The truth is that UT is a class act, and is not in the habit of firing coaches mid season. The unfortunate reality may be that Greg has no choice, as there is at least a belief that LSU is making a hard run here. If Greg holds onto Charlie and loses Herman, and we don't end up with a very good replacement, then Greg will need to do a lot of good things to make up for this in folks eyes.
But, for those of you saying its PC, or BMDs, or Perrin or this group of mystery administrators making bad decisions for whatever esoteric reason, I have some news for you. Greg Fenves is God right now.
Oh, and whatever happens is going to be ugly for fans, players and others. Sometimes it ain't so great to be God.
