Rewind with Charlie Strong: Bye Week Edition

Inside Texas was fortunate to receive an advanced transcript of tonight’s special bye week edition of Rewind with Charlie Strong. Be sure and tune in at 9:00 CST on LHN.

[Charlie Strong and Lowell Galindo climb into their chairs]

Lowell Galindo: Coach, thanks for taking the time after what can only be described as an eventful, yet disappointing bye week. I know on the heels of Cal this weekend had to be especially tough.

Charlie Strong: It’s still good to be here. You know it’s still early in the season and there’s still a lot of work to be done but I believe we’re still headed in the right direction despite the tough weekend.

LG: Let’s first discuss the Texas loss to Texas A&M, a game Arkansas probably should have won. Arkansas came out with a little bit of energy.

CS: They did, they did. They came out dictating to A&M but then you have a fumble at the go line that keeps you from points — if you can just get some points there.

LG: Is there anything you could have done to prevent that fumble?

CS: You have to emphasize ball security. We should have had Rawleigh Williams in for a visit and really taught him how to secure the ball — all three points of pressure — even if we had no intention of offering him. I take full responsibility. You have to instill fundamentals.

LG: That wouldn’t be the only time you’d experience disappointment inside the five.

CS: Arkansas was down there at the go line again and couldn’t punch it in. A&M gets its first go line stand since 1991. That’s 14 points left on the field and now A&M has momentum. We have to figure out a way for Arkansas to not be so predictable down there. You know, I gave it to Sterlin a little bit for that. I said, ‘don’t you know [Arkansas OC] Dan Enos from when he was at Central Michigan too?’ Sterlin said, ‘I was at Eastern Illinois, Coach.’ I was like, ‘well send him a text or somethin’. We gotta try.’

LG: As a staff do you often talk about what you could have done better? Specifically in these triangulated games that are hard to affect from three hours away?

CS: Of course, we had our head sets on the whole time while watching and were in constant communication throughout the game. You think, ‘what could we have done differently?’ Maybe we should have sent Warren over to punch the ball in. It’s a pretty easy drive from Rockwall to Arlington and he could use the carries. Maybe send Williams and Vahe over there too. Maybe even Raulerson.

LG: Raulerson’s already there, Coach?

CS: [checks UT roster] Oh yeah.

LG: Texas players would have been a big help because A&M’s offense began to hit their stride after catching a couple of breaks inside the five.

CS: They hit a couple jail breaks and then ran the ball for the first time since their national championship season to take control. I talked to Brick, ‘should we have Big Charles drive over? Or Wheeler? We have to do something to help versus the run.’ We decided against that.

LG: Because of the rules?

CS: Because it was Arkansas.

LG: A&M thoroughly dominated the 4th quarter which had to leave you feeling helpless.

CS: You want to do something, but there was literally nothing we could do to stop them, A&M is that good to where they can beat Arkansas and Texas, two ranked teams. My hats off to them. We have to do better as a staff to prepare these kids better for their off week games.

LG: Just when you think things can’t get worse, and you’ll get a break on Sunday to reflect on Saturday, LSU fires Les Miles. Yet again, Texas jumps out to a quick lead as recruiting stands to benefit — there’s a buzz amongst fans — but that lead quickly evaporates as speculation turns to LSU hiring Tom Herman.

CS: That was one of those tough, gut punch losses because you didn’t see it coming. You’re up big, thinking you’re going to land Wilson, Chaisson, Vincent, and then, bam, LSU and Herman’s Hermits come in for the last second win.

LG: Herman’s Hermits, Coach? Like the 60’s English pop band?

CS: [quizzical look] Like the Herman’s Hermit crabs. They’re fans that dig down into the sand and stay out of sight and then pop up when it’s convenient, like when we lose to LSU and Herman speculation or A&M versus Arkansas. When the tide’s in, they’re nowhere to be found, but when the tide’s out they’re everywhere,. They’re kind of like groundhogs. Sort of now you see them, now you don’t. They’re the only crabs that have the potential to hibernate, but it’s on me to make sure they do.

LG: And you’ll try to do just that versus Oklahoma State this weekend in Stillwater. Good luck, Coach.

CS: No problem, Noel.