By Steve Habel
Charlie Strong’s education had already reached full force a day after he walked onto the 40 Acres and assumed the reins of the Texas football program.
(Also Read: A Coach’s Coach: The History and Success of Charlie Strong)
Strong strode confidently into the Carpenter-Winkel Centennial Room on Jan. 6. He took his seat in the middle of the dais between UT-Austin President Bill Powers and Texas Athletic Director Steve Patterson for his introductory press conference as the 29th football coach in the history of the program. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
As Patterson, and then Powers talked about the process of bringing Strong to Austin and feted the accomplishments that garnered him the job at Texas, Strong looked a bit overwhelmed as 27 television cameras, a few hundred invited guests and a horde of media scrutinized his every move.
Then the time for Strong to talk, to tell the world how he felt about being in the seat that so many football coaches long for, finally arrived. After a bit of a ragged beginning while referring to his prepared speech, Strong nailed the rest of the event, saying all the right things in a tone that became more confident as the press conference went on.
Strong spoke about what it means to be at Texas, how he and his staff will focus on making sure they “close the borders” to keep top recruits from leaving the state, and that the excellence of Longhorn football will be continued.
He talked about welcoming former coach Mack Brown to practice and giving him unfettered access to the program. He confirmed his commitment to fostering the Texas high school coaches — a tradition Brown reestablished 16 years ago.
“I would never feel like Mack Brown was looking over my shoulder,” Strong said. “Mack told me, ‘Don’t try to be like me.’ I need to be myself.”
According to reports, Strong wasn’t Patterson’s first choice to take over the football program. Strong likely wasn’t his second or third, but the new coach made sure everyone knew that he didn’t care how he got the job — he was just glad he did.
“I don’t care if I was the 15th choice. All I know is that I’m the head coach at Texas,” he said. “Whatever choice I was, I’m here and ready to go to work.”
At Louisville, football was the third most visible sport, behind Rick Pitino’s national championship-winning basketball team and horse racing. But at Texas, football remains king, and being in the spotlight — and in the fishbowl — will be a change for Strong.
“I was in that situation at Florida [where Strong was defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer] so I understand what it’s like,” he confirmed.
Strong was most relaxed when talking about football, how he’d work with players to get the best out of them and how he expects toughness from his team across the board.
“Success begins in the weight room,” he said. “You have to build your program on toughness. Players understand that.”
Getting the Longhorns back to where they’re expected to be will take some work. Strong will need to exceed the success Brown achieved the past few seasons — including the campaigns that were considered ultimately unacceptable.
If it’s change that Texas fans, Patterson and Powers wanted, Strong certainly brings that — he’s diametrically different from Brown.
Strong is young, aggressive, and full of vigor. He knows he has something to prove with the opportunity he’s been given at Texas. If first impressions mean anything, he’s ready for the job.
Only time will tell if Strong is the right man for the position.
Just sayin’, ya know?
The Habe is Steve Habel, Horns Illustrated’s associate editor. He was the magazine’s first staff member, in 1994, and has covered Texas sports ever since.
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