After watching Ohio State get the benefit of the doubt in Double OT on a fourth and one spot, I thought this would be as good time as any to list the top 5 times that Coach Strong got absolutely jobbed as HC of our Texas Longhorns.
Reverse order...
#5 The Fourteen Point Swing against Texas Tech
Why It's In The Top 5
True, D'onta's alleged fumble did not cost Texas the game...but the fact that the referees missed not one, but two calls in one sequence is amazing in and of itself, even for our typically challenged Big 10+2 officiating crew. On slow motion review D'Onta clearly breaks the plane, completing a herculean run into the endzone carrying everyone on the Tech D short of Yosemite Sam and the bell ringing play with himself guy. Separately, Tech's DB also clearly steps out of bounds before entering the end zone. Finally, this led to insufferable repeats of the "14 point swing' by Tim Brando for the rest of the first half...truly painful.
#4 Fumble Recovery against Cal
Why It's In the Top 5
Like the D'Onta fumble above, this also didn't technically cost Texas the game...but the Texas Offense had had some success, running at will against the Bear defense, and there was still plenty of time to be able to tie or win the game. Doubly painful due to the ST screw-ups the previous year that prevented Texas from completing a miraculous comeback against Cal in 2015.
Texas should have received the benefit of the doubt as Cal is known for the stupidity of its football players, completely belying the academic reputation of the university. See, e.g., Desean Jackson in like one hundred-finity times he has done this exact same bonehead move.
As a Horns fan that lives in California it has been difficult to deal with our paltry 0-3 record against Pac-12 teams since Strong took over. Fortunately for me, absolutely no one gives a sh*t about the Cal Bears football program so I remained unscathed. #zerof*cks.
#3 D'Onta Foreman Robbed of TD Against TCU
Why It's In the Top 5:
You'll have to FF to :30 into the video to see D'Onta break the plan (again) on his second effort. I guess the Big XII officiating crew only got to see one angle. True there was no 'indisputable proof' that he scored...EXCEPT FOR THE FRACKING VIDEO!!!!!!!! How GD obvious does it need to be before a call gets overturned?
This one was fun because TCU grabbed some momentum from the goal line stand and had Texas scored they may have been up at halftime...as opposed to being down at halftime and subjecting themselves to the 1-17 record that Coach Strong had losing at halftime.
#2 Missed Int in the End Zone that 'Sealed' the Win Against KU and Saved Charlie Strong's Season
Why It's In the Top 5:
Kris Boyd clearly has the ball intercepted in the end zone. Game over. Crisis averted. Longhorns are bowl eligible. Charlie Strong takes momentum and beats TCU to finish requisite 7-5 to get another year. Tom Herman is the head coach at LSU. Charlie F'N Strong does not get killed by that cupcake and become the Guardian Angel of Slides. Kurt Bohls named to Trump Cabinet...
...What? Que como? We lost to Kansas?
burn it down...
#1 Okie State 2015
Why It's In the Top 5:
Errthing goes wrong. Fucking errthing. This was by far the worst officiated game in recent history, leading not a few Texas fans to wonder if there were other motives (rhyming with money) involved.
Holding on a run play, sideline foul on Charlie, you name it, this game had a mix of all of it. I think Scipio pretty much nailed it in his write up (https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2015/9/26/9402795/phantom-calls-from-corrupt-officiating-crew-buries-texas-longhorns)
Oh well, Okie State got their comeuppance...and it was a b*tch...possibly costing them a pathway to the College Football Playoff (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/11/sports/ncaafootball/oklahoma-state-central-michigan-official-error.html)
So, where does this all leave us? I think it would be hard to argue that Charlie getting the benefit of the doubt on all of these calls means that he is still coach. That said, over the last couple of years I often wondered aloud if any coach in the FBS is as snake bit as Charlie in terms of bad calls at critical times in the game? Did Mack just do a better job of working the officials?
What say you?
