How much Charlie Strong had to do with the divorce of two former Louisville boosters, Jonathan and Tracy Blue, remains to be seen. But it’s clear that schools recruiting against Texas will use his potential involvement against him.
I text w 3 recruiting directors & 1 HC last night about Charlie’s situation. All said this would be used against UT https://t.co/sloAAu3h5R
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) February 22, 2016
Given the cutthroat nature of recruiting, it’s not surprising that this kind of thing could be used, and used successfully, against Strong and the Longhorns.
It’s hard to get past two things that linger, both of which could really hurt Texas.
One is fairly innocent. One of the parties in the divorce has asked the courts to subpoena Strong. If his mind is even partially distracted, it will likely lead to negative results on the field. If he was 11-14 without the distractions, what will he be with them? Given Strong’s poor record, any more negative results on the field could well lead to his dismissal.
The second, which was discussed on the Podcast linked above, is the possibility that Strong and Tracy Blue were having an affair. It needs to be said that at this point that neither Strong nor Blue has been officially accused of infidelity in any public way, but it doesn’t take much reading between the lines to at least see that as a possibility.
Either could actually be grounds for a dismissal which, again, is certainly a recruiting tool that rival schools will use.
These are 4 of these reasons for which Texas could terminate Charlie’s contract w cause. https://t.co/sloAAu3h5R pic.twitter.com/V4IVxEezk2
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) February 22, 2016
Both Strong and Texas athletic director Mike Perrin have released statements.
Who knows what evidence actually exists that will put Strong in a bad light? Right now, it’s nothing more than gossip and speculation. But in recruiting, that doesn’t matter.
Strong’s first two seasons in Austin haven’t exactly done much for his job security with the Longhorns. Any time a recruiter can cast any doubt that a rival coach — in this case, Strong — won’t last through the recruit’s four years in college, it’s a genuine edge.
There may be a lot behind this and there may be very little, but as long as this cloud hangs over Charlie Strong in any way, it puts him and Texas at a recruiting disadvantage.