Recapping Charlie Strong's time at Texas

*Originally published on ArmchairAllAmericans.com*

With Charlie Strong’s tenure as head coach at Texas officially coming to a close, we now look back at the highs and lows of his stay in Austin. Since coming from Louisville in 2014, Strong has made a mark on the program (for better or worse) that will not soon be forgotten. Here are the good, bad and ugly moments from the last three years.

The Good

2015 Red River Shootout Win

Coming into the game against Oklahoma, Texas was reeling and in a downward spiral with a 1-4 record. Two of the losses came in blowout fashion, as Notre Dame and TCU beat them by a combined score of 88-10, and Strong’s seat was getting hotter by the day. But on that afternoon in the Cotton Bowl, Texas looked like an entirely different team. A physical ground and pound offensive attack led by D’Onta Foreman and Jerrod Heard propelled the Longhorns to 313 yards rushing. The game also served as the coming out party for the 18-wheeler package, with Tyrone Swoopes accounting for two touchdowns. Additionally, the Texas defense was able to get to Heisman Trophy candidate Baker Mayfield for six sacks, leading to the 24-17 final. The victory gave Strong his first signature win at Texas, and looked to be a turning point for a team in desperate need of a spark.

Chuck F’n Strong Twitter

Even though it wasn’t actually run by Strong himself (as far as we know), the Chuck F’n Strong Twitter account was definitely a highlight for Texas fans. Whether he was tweeting at his predator son Malik Jefferson, intimidating opposing coaches, like “bob stoop,” or trolling the Aggie faithful, Chuck F’n Strong always got laughs out of his followers. If you haven’t heard of the account, I highly recommend checking it out. Hopefully the end of Strong at Texas doesn’t mean the end of Chuck F’n Strong.

Strong’s Connection with His Players

All the game management and on-field performance issues aside, no one can deny the bond Strong forged with his players. Who can forget the team lifting their coach on their shoulders after the double overtime thriller over Notre Dame to open the season? Even as the losses have piled up, the players have never wavered in their support of Strong; evidenced by the entire team showing up to support him during his last Monday presser only days after a mind-boggling loss to Kansas. The work he put in on the recruiting trail cannot be overlooked either. Whoever takes the reins next for the Longhorns will find the cupboard stocked with talent, and Texas fans will have Strong to thank for that.

The Bad

2015 Season Opener vs Notre Dame

Coming off a disastrous offensive performance against Arkansas in the Texas Bowl, there were several question marks during the offseason regarding embattled offensive coordinator Shawn Watson. Over the offseason, both he and Strong promised a new and improved up-tempo offensive attack to keep up with the other Big XII teams. However, when Texas took the field to open the season in South Bend, it soon became apparent that nothing had changed. Texas was only able to produce 163 yards of offense and eight first downs, leading to an embarrassing 38-3 defeat. The debacle in South Bend led to stark criticism of Strong’s handling of the offseason, and his choice to retain Shawn Watson on his staff.

Coaching Changes

As previously mentioned, Strong’s choice to keep Watson on staff as offensive coordinator following the 2014 season was a questionable decision to say the least. Texas finished the year 110th in total offense (9th in the Big XII), and many called for Watson’s job as a result. But Strong stayed loyal to his longtime friend, and the decision ended up costing him. Watson was demoted following the 2015 season opener and his contract was not renewed following the season. The 2016 season also saw in-season demotions on the staff as defensive coordinator Vance Bedford was relieved of his duties mid-season. Offseason departures from the coaching staff also plagued Strong. In fact, since arriving in 2014, only two members of Strong’s original staff remains, Bedford and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. Overall, the make-up of Strong’s coaching staffs while in Austin were underwhelming and no doubt played a role in his eventual demise.

The Ugly

2015 Shutout at the Hands of Iowa State

Texas came into the game on a two-game winning streak following wins over #10 Oklahoma and Kansas State. Things looked to be trending in the right direction for this team, but a beat-down at the hands of the Cyclones brought those expectations crashing back down to Earth. Texas was out-coached, out-played and, frankly, out-classed all night by Iowa State. The Longhorn offense could only muster 204 yards on the night (with a good chunk of that coming in garbage time), and did not cross into Cyclone territory until well into the second half. The game was easily the most embarrassing blowout of Strong’s tenure, and is yet another example of the inconsistencies that defined his teams.

2016 Loss at Kansas

This loss will go down as the final nail in the coffin for Strong at Texas. Up to this game in 2016, the losses were forgivable. There were no blowouts, and a majority of the losses were one-score games. “Progress” was the word being used to define this 2016 team. But after falling 24-21 in overtime to a Kansas team that hadn’t won a conference game in two seasons, all that progress went out the window. Simply put, losing to Kansas is unacceptable. There are no excuses for a performance like that, and the calls for Strong’s job were completely justifiable following this embarrassment.

Inconsistencies defined Strong’s teams at Texas on the field, but there were no inconsistencies with his team’s behavior off the field. There were no scandals or controversies surrounding the program under his guidance, just a lack of wins when they mattered most. Even with Strong leaving the program with the worst winning percentage in Texas football history, he has nothing to hang his head about. In a landscape where some universities have valued football wins over morals, Strong gave Texas fans a reason to be proud about their team. Here’s to hoping he lands on his feet at his next coaching stop.