Texas let Charlie Strong twist in the wind Monday, with the to-be-fired coach answering questions about his future in a classy-yet-uncomfortable press conference.
Amid reports Sunday that he would be fired, Strong said he met with his players and told them “there’s no reason to worry about me.” Strong said his focus is on beating TCU, and that he’s been told through “up-front and very forward” communication with athletic director Mike Perrin and Texas officials that he’ll be evaluated after the season.
“We have one game left and it’s important that we go play this game and we go play this game for our seniors because they deserve to get to a bowl game,” Strong said.
Strong said he wants to return to coach Texas in 2017 and said he feels the program is young, but has built a solid foundation since he took over before the 2014 season.
A handful of players showed up for Strong’s press conference:Players assembling here at Belmont. pic.twitter.com/O0HWATeEdp
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) November 21, 2016
Growing crowd of players here for Strong’s presser. pic.twitter.com/wqsi3pvhZY
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) November 21, 2016
Strong, though, said there won’t be a boycott of Friday’s game against TCU, even though some players reportedly floated the idea to protest how the university has dragged their coach through an unfair, difficult situation regarding his future.While Strong insisted he’s been told he’ll be evaluated after Friday’s season finale, he’s either being lied to or is covering for his bosses (again, this presser was classy, but awfully uncomfortable):
A high-level Texas source described this narrative that a decision hasn’t been made as an outright lie. The decision was made yesterday.
— Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) November 21, 2016
Either way, the last 24 hours in Austin should be held up for other athletic departments as Example A as to what not to do when firing a coach.
Under very difficult circumstances, Charlie Strong is handling presser as well as anyone could. But he shouldn’t be in this position.
— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) November 21, 2016
Charlie Strong gets a round of applause from his players and smiles as he walks off.
— Max Olson (@max_olson) November 21, 2016
Strong being mobbed by players after presser. pic.twitter.com/B61OrlHyH1
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) November 21, 2016
