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Posted

Under Fred Akers:

  • 1982: 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl champions, No. 2 ranking
  • 1983: 11-1, SWC champions, No. 5 ranking
  • 1984: 7-4-1, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

Under Steve Sarkisian:

  • 2023: 12-2, Big 12 champions, No. 3 ranking
  • 2024: 13-3, Peach Bowl champions, No. 4 ranking
  • 2025: 3-2 so far, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

I think we're going to look back on the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the high-water mark of Sark's tenure at Texas, just as the 1981 and 1983 seasons were the peak of Fred Akers' tenure here. In fact, so far this year is looking very similar to our 1984 season, when we plummeted from the No. 1 ranking to unranked by season's end with a 7-4-1 record.

Maybe some of the old-timers on Surly can speak to what caused such a big dropoff back then, because it sure seems to be happening again. Presumably the culprit was poor recruiting and long-term planning.

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Posted
Just now, satyanash said:

Under Fred Akers:

  • 1982: 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl champions, No. 2 ranking
  • 1983: 11-1, SWC champions, No. 5 ranking
  • 1984: 7-4-1, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

Under Steve Sarkisian:

  • 2023: 12-2, Big 12 champions, No. 3 ranking
  • 2024: 13-3, Peach Bowl champions, No. 4 ranking
  • 2025: 3-2 so far, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

I think we're going to look back on the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the high-water mark of Sark's tenure at Texas, just as the 1981 and 1983 seasons were the peak of Fred Akers' tenure here. In fact, so far this year is looking very similar to our 1984 season, when we plummeted from the No. 1 ranking to unranked by season's end with a 7-4-1 record.

Maybe some of the old-timers on Surly can speak to what caused such a big dropoff back then, because it sure seems to be happening again. Presumably the culprit was poor recruiting and long-term planning.

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Posted
7 minutes ago, satyanash said:

Under Fred Akers:

  • 1982: 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl champions, No. 2 ranking
  • 1983: 11-1, SWC champions, No. 5 ranking
  • 1984: 7-4-1, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

Under Steve Sarkisian:

  • 2023: 12-2, Big 12 champions, No. 3 ranking
  • 2024: 13-3, Peach Bowl champions, No. 4 ranking
  • 2025: 3-2 so far, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

I think we're going to look back on the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the high-water mark of Sark's tenure at Texas, just as the 1981 and 1983 seasons were the peak of Fred Akers' tenure here. In fact, so far this year is looking very similar to our 1984 season, when we plummeted from the No. 1 ranking to unranked by season's end with a 7-4-1 record.

Maybe some of the old-timers on Surly can speak to what caused such a big dropoff back then, because it sure seems to be happening again. Presumably the culprit was poor recruiting and long-term planning.

Poor recruiting caused by an uneven playing field with everyone but rice throwing huge bags at recruits.  That's not the problem today.

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Posted
5 hours ago, satyanash said:

Under Fred Akers:

  • 1982: 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl champions, No. 2 ranking
  • 1983: 11-1, SWC champions, No. 5 ranking
  • 1984: 7-4-1, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

Under Steve Sarkisian:

  • 2023: 12-2, Big 12 champions, No. 3 ranking
  • 2024: 13-3, Peach Bowl champions, No. 4 ranking
  • 2025: 3-2 so far, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

I think we're going to look back on the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the high-water mark of Sark's tenure at Texas, just as the 1981 and 1983 seasons were the peak of Fred Akers' tenure here. In fact, so far this year is looking very similar to our 1984 season, when we plummeted from the No. 1 ranking to unranked by season's end with a 7-4-1 record.

Maybe some of the old-timers on Surly can speak to what caused such a big dropoff back then, because it sure seems to be happening again. Presumably the culprit was poor recruiting and long-term planning.

The difference in that time and this one I hope is that there not be any UT fans out there trying to negatively recruit against Coach Sark like they did against Coach Akers. That will not happen again as long I am living. That is why the drop off occurred. That and the fact that there was cheating and dirty recruiting going on in the SWC at the time. I remember that when I reported for UT football back in 1984 as a student manager the overall lack of high quality talent in the 1984 recruiting class. The collapse in the 1984 season occurred because of a locker division between the offensive and defensive. By the time I caught onto what was happening, it was too late. I apologize to all Longhorn fans for letting that happen.

Posted
6 hours ago, satyanash said:

Wasn't Neal Brown hired as an analyst in the offseason to fix our redzone issues? Did he just fall off the face of the Earth or what?

I mean wasn’t our red zone offense actually 2 for 2 on Saturday? It was one lone bright spot. Not saying it’s fixed.  But at least it wasn’t the root of this past weekend’s suck. 

6 hours ago, satyanash said:

Wasn't Neal Brown hired as an analyst in the offseason to fix our redzone issues? Did he just fall off the face of the Earth or what?

I mean wasn’t our red zone offense actually 2 for 2 on Saturday? It was one lone bright spot. Not saying it’s fixed.  But at least it wasn’t the root of this past weekend’s suck. 

Posted

I’ve seen some references the past couple days of “Sark had his early success with Herman’s players”. There is some truth to that.  
 

Is Sark going to end up comparing to Sumlin?  There were quite a few NFL draft picks those first couple years he was there, especially on the lines. 
 

Those were Sherman guys.  Even Mike Evans and JFF were Sherman guys who had redshirted.  
 

This is all looking familiar. 

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Posted (edited)
On 10/5/2025 at 9:54 AM, Rockethorn1978 said:

IMG_3498.thumb.jpeg.d1a2742540d8008dd73acbadbc7a7916.jpeg

Big Thurman Merman vibes from Stroh. 
 

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Edited by TXRed
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Posted
20 hours ago, satyanash said:

Under Fred Akers:

  • 1982: 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl champions, No. 2 ranking
  • 1983: 11-1, SWC champions, No. 5 ranking
  • 1984: 7-4-1, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

Under Steve Sarkisian:

  • 2023: 12-2, Big 12 champions, No. 3 ranking
  • 2024: 13-3, Peach Bowl champions, No. 4 ranking
  • 2025: 3-2 so far, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

I think we're going to look back on the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the high-water mark of Sark's tenure at Texas, just as the 1981 and 1983 seasons were the peak of Fred Akers' tenure here. In fact, so far this year is looking very similar to our 1984 season, when we plummeted from the No. 1 ranking to unranked by season's end with a 7-4-1 record.

Maybe some of the old-timers on Surly can speak to what caused such a big dropoff back then, because it sure seems to be happening again. Presumably the culprit was poor recruiting and long-term planning.

How long did it take to recover from that firing? This is not the comp to go to.

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Posted
15 hours ago, Surly Bevo said:

I mean wasn’t our red zone offense actually 2 for 2 on Saturday? It was one lone bright spot. Not saying it’s fixed.  But at least it wasn’t the root of this past weekend’s suck. 

I mean wasn’t our red zone offense actually 2 for 2 on Saturday? It was one lone bright spot. Not saying it’s fixed.  But at least it wasn’t the root of this past weekend’s suck. 

Exactly.   It’s tough to please these fair weathered fans

Posted
2 hours ago, TXRed said:

Big Thurman Merman vibes from Stroh. 
 

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Watch the Brooks kid play in the 2nd Half of the UF game.

He was equally putrid, but at least he can use being an inexperienced, true freshman as an excuse.

Posted
22 hours ago, satyanash said:

Under Fred Akers:

  • 1982: 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl champions, No. 2 ranking
  • 1983: 11-1, SWC champions, No. 5 ranking
  • 1984: 7-4-1, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

Under Steve Sarkisian:

  • 2023: 12-2, Big 12 champions, No. 3 ranking
  • 2024: 13-3, Peach Bowl champions, No. 4 ranking
  • 2025: 3-2 so far, plummeted from No. 1 to unranked

I think we're going to look back on the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the high-water mark of Sark's tenure at Texas, just as the 1981 and 1983 seasons were the peak of Fred Akers' tenure here. In fact, so far this year is looking very similar to our 1984 season, when we plummeted from the No. 1 ranking to unranked by season's end with a 7-4-1 record.

Maybe some of the old-timers on Surly can speak to what caused such a big dropoff back then, because it sure seems to be happening again. Presumably the culprit was poor recruiting and long-term planning.

I know being a gaping vagina is your thing, but the 2 periods of darkness in our history have come at the expense of colossal cheating.  There is no excuse now at Texas.  Sark needs to adjust to his shit OL and put a proposal in front of our money guys at the end of the season on how he is going to fix it.  I'm suggesting to offer up 2 sacrifices; Banks and Flood.

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Posted
15 hours ago, Vanilla Strange Gato said:

I’ve seen some references the past couple days of “Sark had his early success with Herman’s players”. There is some truth to that.  

Cmon now.  I think maybe 3 or 4 of the 12 draft picks last year were Herman recruits and none were "Herman developed".  Give me a break.

Posted
15 hours ago, Vanilla Strange Gato said:

I’ve seen some references the past couple days of “Sark had his early success with Herman’s players”. There is some truth to that.  
 

Is Sark going to end up comparing to Sumlin?  There were quite a few NFL draft picks those first couple years he was there, especially on the lines. 
 

Those were Sherman guys.  Even Mike Evans and JFF were Sherman guys who had redshirted.  
 

This is all looking familiar. 

No, not at all.  Sherman was a very good evaluator of talent.  They recruited well while he was there. 
 

Herman was literally fired bc our recruiting went into the shitter.  His last year, we were getting guys like Jaden Alexis, Casey Cain, Max Merrill.  What Sark did with the Herman recruits was nothing short of amazing development.  Herman didn’t do shit with his guys.  Let’s not pretend like the roster was full of talent.  
 

Sark has been for the most part a good evaluator of talent and a good developer.  The problem is we have a shit OL this year.That generally will be the case when you lose 5 of 6 starters over a 2 year period to the NFL.  The back ups haven’t gotten many reps and nor were talented players sitting behind the initial haul of Banks and company.  It is Sarks job to evaluate his roster and use the portal.  This is where he fucked up.  Same with our WRs.  We have had 4 WRs ( should have been 5 with Bond), 2 TEs and 5 RBs drafted the last 223 years.  He knows how to develop and recruit good talent.  But he fucked up over estimating his room of Moore, Wingo, Livingstone.  
 

This shit is Sarks fault.  But he also deserves the credit for turning around the program.  Don’t discredit his success by pretending that we only won games because those were Herman’s recruits.

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Posted
31 minutes ago, victory88 said:

 This is where he fucked up.  Same with our WRs.  We have had 4 WRs ( should have been 5 with Bond), 2 TEs and 5 RBs drafted the last 223 years.  He knows how to develop and recruit good talent.  But he fucked up over estimating his room of Moore, Wingo, Livingstone.  

I think the RB room may be a bigger issue than WR but it's impossible to really evaluate either because the OL play is so awful.  We could live with the growing pains at RT if the interior line was simply average.

Posted
24 minutes ago, Skipper said:

I think the RB room may be a bigger issue than WR but it's impossible to really evaluate either because the OL play is so awful.  We could live with the growing pains at RT if the interior line was simply average.

100%.  RB was an issue last year.  I know Wisner had 1000 yards but everyone that watched him knew he was not an inside runner.  We should have gotten a proven guy in the portal.  If Baxter wanted to leave, so be it.  No point in betting on a guy that can't stay healthy more than 2 games in a row.  The ROI on the Baxter NIL package has to be absolutely terrible.

Posted

I don't want to undersell the OL problems, but the DL hasn't been very good, either. Florida almost ran at will until late in the game. I know we recorded 0 sacks, but I think the number of pressures was <5. I can only recall our guys even touching Lagway 1 time.

For a group that was touted as potentially one of the best in the country, their production (11 sacks, good for t-52nd) is really bad.

I think folks are grasping at odd arguments as to the overall. I just think this is a failure of the '22-'23 recruiting classes to produce enough quality linemen.

2022 (OL, DT and EDGE)

misses - Justice Finkley, J'Mond Tapp, Kristopher Ross, Jaray Bledsoe, Malik Agbo, Aaron Bryant, Zac Swanson, Derrick Brown

remaining on the team - DJ Campbell (s), Neto Umeozulu, Cole Hutson (s), Ethan Burke (s), Connor Robertson, 

2023 (OL, DT and EDGE)

misses - Payton Kirkland, Sydir Mitchell, Billy Walton III

remaining on the team - Colton Vasek, Jaydon Chatman, Trevor Goosby (s), Connor Stroh, and Andre Cojoe

The '22 class is glaring in the amount of guys that never contributed. Also, despite how pathetic the OL has performed, the guys not playing are trending "miss" (Umeozulu, Robertson). 3 starters across 9 positions for the '25 season for your Seniors/RS-Juniors is not great.

The '23 class is just way to small considering the problems that were developing. On OL it seems very likely we can move one more to the miss column (Stroh), and, again, if the other 2 are already getting passed by '24 and '25 guys, we will probably see them as bad takes as well. Goosby and Vasek as the only contributors from your Junior/RS-Soph group is downright pathetic.

Those classes are pretty terrible, and not filling in with transfers on the OL seems mind-numblingly stupid at this point. Clearly the DT transfers this year aren't going to work out like they did last year.

We have to hope that the '24-'25 classes have a better hit rate.

 

If I missed a body from our recruiting classes or roster (other than walk ons), let me know and I'll take the "L." I did this pretty quickly. 

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Posted
31 minutes ago, victory88 said:

100%.  RB was an issue last year.  I know Wisner had 1000 yards but everyone that watched him knew he was not an inside runner.  We should have gotten a proven guy in the portal.  If Baxter wanted to leave, so be it.  No point in betting on a guy that can't stay healthy more than 2 games in a row.  The ROI on the Baxter NIL package has to be absolutely terrible.

We could really use a dynamic back like Blue right now. 

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Posted
1 hour ago, Fondren &amp; Main said:

I know being a gaping vagina is your thing, but the 2 periods of darkness in our history have come at the expense of colossal cheating.  There is no excuse now at Texas.  Sark needs to adjust to his shit OL and put a proposal in front of our money guys at the end of the season on how he is going to fix it.  I'm suggesting to offer up 2 sacrifices; Banks and Flood.

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Strong sucked because of colossal cheating and not from incompetence?

Posted

Until Sark becomes the head coach of the whole team and not just the OC we are going to see games like Florida.  Just not ready to go.  Florida was ready to play their best game to back their coach.  This was the Alamo for them.  lose to us, then to aggy on the road(very likely) and they are 1-5 and SunBelt Billy is toast.  I expect aggy to beat them by 20, probably knock Lagway out in the 2nd quarter.  Florida is not a good team. 

We played a hurt Lagway like he was gonna Lamar Jackson us.  never even tried to pressure that much really.  

 

 

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