On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns and athletic director Chris Del Conte released a statement through their various social media platforms. “Tom Herman is our coach,” it was a very vague non-committal statement of support of their head coach. It felt more like a vote of confidence. While some media outlets ran with the idea that this stated he would return for 2021. Based on the statement, it was difficult to see how they came to that conclusion.
Brian Davis and Kirk Bohls released an article stated that CDC told the Austin American-Statesmen that he means for 2021. At the same time Chip Brown of Horns 247 wrote that the AD told their sources, “Tom Herman is our coach moving forward into next season.” Moving forward into next season can mean a lot of things. CBS Sports and Barrett Sallee discussed the statement.
“That the real headline is that Urban said no,” Barrett Sallee stated as he responded to Del Conte’s statement that Herman is the coach. “Because that is honestly the only reason that you would put out a statement like that, to begin with.”
The argument he made is one that makes sense, if you don’t feel like Tom Herman is your guy then what does another year do? Their actions as Sallee stated don’t give you any indication that Herman is their guy, flirting with Urban Meyer tells you they want to go in another direction at head coach.
“If there is nobody better than Tom Herman out there then fine, why are you going after Urban Meyer? If [Herman] was the second-best option then he would be winning, and he’s not.” Sallee continued, “maybe Texas thinks it is a little more beautiful in the mirror than it actually is.”
It is a monumental decision whether or not to cut ties with Herman, one that comes with a huge check to be written. Another year of Tom Herman does lower that number but at what costs? That is the discussion that Chris Del Conte and the administration need to be having behind closed doors.