If being the flagship school with top academics in the #1 state for football recruits located in one of the best college towns in the country with the wealthiest athletic department in the nation and its own network being run by ESPN means that you are "irrelevant", then literally every other school in the country is doomed.

As is often the case, too many people suffer from "What have you done for me, lately?" disease in mistakenly believing that whatever is happening now is going to be a permanent situation. Texas might have made some questionable decisions over the years regarding conference realignment and personnel hires, but that doesn't make them "irrelevant". Literally every single other school in the country, including the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Florida, would take the entrenched assets that Texas has (i.e. location, wealth, etc.) in a heartbeat. The assets that Texas has are ones that will never go away, which is what will always make that school valuable.

Irrelevant may be too strong, but it's not in the same position that they were before Texas A&M left for the SEC. That has changed the equation in Texas considerably. If Texas and Texas A&M remain on the same paths they are for the next 30 years- A&M will be pretty far ahead of Texas. Texas for the first time in ages can't just count on status quo to be successful.

(09-09-2015 04:18 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Irrelevant may be too strong, but it's not in the same position that they were before Texas A&M left for the SEC. That has changed the equation in Texas considerably. If Texas and Texas A&M remain on the same paths they are for the next 30 years- A&M will be pretty far ahead of Texas. Texas for the first time in ages can't just count on status quo to be successful.

I guess I'm older. 1985-1997 don't seem like "ages" to me.

(09-09-2015 03:53 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  If being the flagship school with top academics in the #1 state for football recruits located in one of the best college towns in the country with the wealthiest athletic department in the nation and its own network being run by ESPN means that you are "irrelevant", then literally every other school in the country is doomed.

As is often the case, too many people suffer from "What have you done for me, lately?" disease in mistakenly believing that whatever is happening now is going to be a permanent situation. Texas might have made some questionable decisions over the years regarding conference realignment and personnel hires, but that doesn't make them "irrelevant". Literally every single other school in the country, including the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Florida, would take the entrenched assets that Texas has (i.e. location, wealth, etc.) in a heartbeat. The assets that Texas has are ones that will never go away, which is what will always make that school valuable.

And all of that has turned them into entitled spoiled arrogant jerks. And made it very easy for all rational people to hate the Longhorns.

(09-09-2015 05:07 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(09-09-2015 03:53 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  If being the flagship school with top academics in the #1 state for football recruits located in one of the best college towns in the country with the wealthiest athletic department in the nation and its own network being run by ESPN means that you are "irrelevant", then literally every other school in the country is doomed.

As is often the case, too many people suffer from "What have you done for me, lately?" disease in mistakenly believing that whatever is happening now is going to be a permanent situation. Texas might have made some questionable decisions over the years regarding conference realignment and personnel hires, but that doesn't make them "irrelevant". Literally every single other school in the country, including the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Florida, would take the entrenched assets that Texas has (i.e. location, wealth, etc.) in a heartbeat. The assets that Texas has are ones that will never go away, which is what will always make that school valuable.

And all of that has turned them into entitled spoiled arrogant jerks. And made it very easy for all rational people to hate the Longhorns.

Did UT refuse to hire you? That comment is very un-Owlish of you. Owls usually says these things in a much more witty manner.

(09-09-2015 02:44 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(09-09-2015 08:06 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/briangoff/20...relevance/

Make a few great points. Also, toward the end throw a dig a Notre Dame regarding the same thing...or at least being watchful of ND on the same path.

Recruiting (lack of) is the big point of the article but the with a few reasons below.
1. Texas A&M joining the SEC
2. Texas decline of the SEC, Pac-12 and CU and NU leaving the Big 12 having more second tier interest in the conference than first tier.
3. Longhorn Network (wanting the cash from it rather than joining a stronger conference)

As for ND he states that the Mega-conferences are muting the ND NBC TV advantage it had once and how the recruiting at ND is trending that way also.

Want to know why Texas is NOT "flirting with irrelevance"?

Forbes is writing articles on them.

If Texas really were in danger of becoming irrelevant, Forbes would be spending their time elsewhere.

Forbes should spend their time elsewhere. If I want sports news, a financial magazine is the LAST place I'd look. When financial experts start watching sports instead of what they're paid to cover, the world of finance, we might want to start looking into the reasons why.

They lost out in a couple of great QBs who did wonders for other schools. Both of these QBs came out of Texas.
Ty Detmer and Drew Brees

Both have great college careers and been in the NFL for many years. Ty as not as much as Drew, but Ty was playing for number of years.

Tramel: Is Texas football about to implode?

http://m.newsok.com/tramel-is-texas-foot...um=twitter

(09-09-2015 08:40 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Good article

Texas is victim of its own ego.

Nothing is changing; it will get worse before it gets better. But, it will get better.

Give me a break, Texas is in a down cycle right now. as recently as 12 months ago, UCF was being touted for the Big 12 or ACC coming off their win in the Fiesta Bowl. Now? Not so much.

We live for the moment in society. Texas was also down in the late 80's (UH used to put up 50-60 on them every year) and they recovered from that just fine the next two decades.

(09-09-2015 09:23 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(09-09-2015 08:40 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Texas is victim of its own ego.

Texas is the victim of the same thing that turned Tennessee from a national power into an also ran continually in rebuilding mode - an AD out of touch with the current reality. That can destroy a program faster than anything, and Texas' administration was in the other dimension with 'em.

That's why I'm so glad WVU ousted former AD Eddie Pastilong when they did. Had he remained WVU's AD, the Mountaineers would most likely be outside the power conference structure, looking in enviously.

Tennessee also plays in the toughest conference in the country and for the better part of a decade, the best division in the country (now it's the other division of the SEC). All of them can't be up at the same time.

(09-09-2015 05:50 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Forbes should spend their time elsewhere. If I want sports news, a financial magazine is the LAST place I'd look. When financial experts start watching sports instead of what they're paid to cover, the world of finance, we might want to start looking into the reasons why.

Forbes didn't even write it, one of us on this board wrote, more or less, did. An average guy trying to break in did.

I used to write articles like these.

It does not matter how much you defend Charlie Strong in youe posts, he is already brunt toast at Texas.

4-7
7-5
10-3
3-8
7-5
10-3
4-9
6-6
10-2 (all 10 forfeited)
6-7 (all 6 forfeited)
7-6 (5 forfeited)

Who was this irrelevant team?

Hint: the last 7-6 season was the first season for their new coach, a guy with the initials N.S. and there have been 11 losses in the last 6 seasons.

(09-10-2015 02:32 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(09-09-2015 08:40 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Good article

Texas is victim of its own ego.

Nothing is changing; it will get worse before it gets better. But, it will get better.

Give me a break, Texas is in a down cycle right now. as recently as 12 months ago, UCF was being touted for the Big 12 or ACC coming off their win in the Fiesta Bowl. Now? Not so much.

We live for the moment in society. Texas was also down in the late 80's (UH used to put up 50-60 on them every year) and they recovered from that just fine the next two decades.

(09-09-2015 09:23 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(09-09-2015 08:40 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Texas is victim of its own ego.

Texas is the victim of the same thing that turned Tennessee from a national power into an also ran continually in rebuilding mode - an AD out of touch with the current reality. That can destroy a program faster than anything, and Texas' administration was in the other dimension with 'em.

That's why I'm so glad WVU ousted former AD Eddie Pastilong when they did. Had he remained WVU's AD, the Mountaineers would most likely be outside the power conference structure, looking in enviously.

Tennessee also plays in the toughest conference in the country and for the better part of a decade, the best division in the country (now it's the other division of the SEC). All of them can't be up at the same time.

I don't know why I would give you a break for agreeing with me.

As I said, "it will get better."

And, as I further stated, given some leadership this will be a distant memory in 2 or 3 years.

(09-10-2015 08:26 AM)bullet Wrote:  4-7
7-5
10-3
3-8
7-5
10-3
4-9
6-6
10-2 (all 10 forfeited)
6-7 (all 6 forfeited)
7-6 (5 forfeited)

Who was this irrelevant team?

Yup, and people were saying the same thing about UA as they are now about Texas.

The difference is UA found some leadership. Maybe, if Texas was to figure that out things would change in a similar fashion. As of right now, I wouldn't hold my breath. In fact, I fully expect it to get worse before it spurs somebody to get in touch with reality and make some profound changes.

Success creates problems for any program in time, UA, Michigan, Texas, etc. They start to think they are inherently better. Both UA and Michigan became obsessed with finding a homegrown coach which failed every time.

It's quite obvious Texas has serious problems and it isn't just missing out on one or two recruits as you've suggested. But, I have to say, and I think a lot of folks agree with me, we are happy to watch Texas drown while we can which, disappointingly, won't be forever.