Charlie Strong Drops The Banhammer: 4 Longhorn Players Exiled

Apparently Joe Bergeron's Spring banishment (and rapid rehabilitation) didn't make enough of an impression on a small handful of Longhorn players who decided to test Charlie Strong's summer attention span.  Uh, dude is paying attention, fellas.

BANNED.  Like Tipper Gore wielding a stage hook at a 2 Live Crew concert.

Strong has banned at least four players from team activities inside the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center this summer.

Strong was candid about discussing why players would be banned from Moncrief, but he would not say which players he was referring to. And a source told the American-Statesman that all players who have been banned previously are expected to be back with the team for August training camp.

"When you’re talking about guys being barred from Moncrief," Strong told the American-Statesman, "it’s guys that…if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do and you’re constantly going to be a problem, then there’s going to be repercussions and something’s going to be done about it."

When players are "banned," Strong said they have special workouts with strength coach Pat Moorer. Players are also expected to maintain their grades and, if the coaches want, subject themselves to random drug tests and dorm checks.

Charlie isn't being a hard ass for his own self-aggrandizement.

These actions are planned and the ban comes with very specific steps for restoration and reputation rehabilitation.  If the player follows them, as Joe Bergeron did, their stature isn't just restored - it's elevated.  The goal is improvement and self-discovery - not posturing and dumb punishment.  Some discipline-first coaches are mindless letter-of-the-law enforcers on a power trip.  I think Charlie Strong is genuinely trying to reach his athletes.

Keep on, Charlie.