Gameday Thread, Arrowhead Edition: TCU at Kansas (City)

[Limey Frog]

I know it hasn't been a good stretch. But I think some people want to have this incredibly short leash on Dykes and I think it's for reasons that go beyond the job he's doing as a coach. Maybe it's because he doesn't have enough charisma for them, just doesn't look enough like a football coach, doesn't dog cuss players enough, he's too boring, I don't really know. But he wins about just as much as these other guys. It's almost like nobody wants to support him because, ???.

Matt Campbell was 8-14 for a recent stretch there and could barely finish above .500 with Brock Purdy and Breece Hall in his backfield but I guess since he doesn't stand there with arms crossed and wear sunglasses he's the guy everyone should want, because he's a real football coach.

I hope you're right. I want to be proved wrong, and I don't want to have a short leash on Dykes. But the great year he had came with a team he largely inherited that was (arguably, in retrospect) led by a group of seniors even more special than we knew they were at the time. This is his second year to field a team and lead a staff of his own construction. So far both teams have been characterized by physically soft, mentally sloppy play and finding ways to lose games against good teams. I fully understand that arguments for patience. If we're 6-6 or worse come December it won't matter; he'll get another year because that's the sensible thing to do, just as it was sensible for Baylor to give Aranda another year. And this time next year, we'll be exactly where Baylor is now.

That's my prediction; hope I'm wrong.

 

[Wexahu]

I hope you're right. I want to be proved wrong, and I don't want to have a short leash on Dykes. But the great year he had came with a team he largely inherited that was (arguably, in retrospect) led by a group of seniors even more special than we knew they were at the time. This is his second year to field a team and lead a staff of his own construction. So far both teams have been characterized by physically soft, mentally sloppy play and finding ways to lose games against good teams. I fully understand that arguments for patience. If we're 6-6 or worse come December it won't matter; he'll get another year because that's the sensible thing to do, just as it was sensible for Baylor to give Aranda another year. And this time next year, we'll be exactly where Baylor is now.

That's my prediction; hope I'm wrong.

And I would argue had Baylor let go of Aranda after last year, they'd be more or less where are today now anyway. Except a different guy would be coaching them. Wasn't long ago at all that Aranda was thought of as a GREAT hire, we couldn't believe Baylor lucked into getting him.

I think our problems go further than the coaching staff.

 

[LisaLT]

And I would argue had Baylor let go of Aranda after last year, they'd be more or less where are today now anyway. Except a different guy would be coaching them. Wasn't long ago at all that Aranda was thought of as a GREAT hire, we couldn't believe Baylor lucked into getting him.

I think our problems go further than the coaching staff.

Aranda is a solid defensive coach. I just don't know if he is cut out to be HC. That probably can be said of a lot of former OC/DCs. It's tough being the man in charge. I don't know about Dykes. I'd like to see how we finish the year out. The two losses we have had were rather disappointing due to the nature of how we lost. People were expecting a bounce back year; too soon to tell how this will end up.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

and he did just coach us to arguably our best season season in 80+ years.

And he started Chandler Morris and wanted to run Max off which he successfully did in 2023 because CM was HIM (There are TCU people that know Max would have come back in 2023, but Sonny not so gently pushed him out the door). We were beyond fortunate that Morris got hurt and that team was filled with alpha dogs that were leaders. Yea, that makes Sonny's talent evaluation somewhat questionable.

If you question that, watch all the seasons of Carter Boys. Sonny is saying the exact same things in 2024 that he did in 2022. The only thing he did right was not being GP.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

There's also people with the TCU football organization that have said Sonny resented Max and didn't say 10 words to him all of 2022 because CM was his guy.

 

[Frog-in-law1995]

And he started Chandler Morris and wanted to run Max off which he successfully did in 2023 because CM was HIM (There are TCU people that know Max would have come back in 2023, but Sonny not so gently pushed him out the door). We were beyond fortunate that Morris got hurt and that team was filled with alpha dogs that were leaders. Yea, that makes Sonny's talent evaluation somewhat questionable.

If you question that, watch all the seasons of Carter Boys. Sonny is saying the exact same things in 2024 that he did in 2022. The only thing he did right was not being GP.

Very difficult to believe that a head coach “ran off” the Heisman runner-up and undisputed heart of a team that played for a natty.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

Very difficult to believe that a head coach “ran off” the Heisman runner-up and undisputed heart of a team that played for a natty.

It was pretty well known withing the organization. Even on this forum, it was speculated that Max might want to come back but Sonny gently pushed him out the door. Lots of good sources for information beyond KFs that actually are inside the TCU organization. Maybe run off wasn't the right choice of words.

 

[NovaScotiaFrog]

Yeah I don't buy that Max would have stayed at all, regardless of what Sonny did. Not a chance. He was a 4 year starter with a degree and was NEVER going to have a better season than he did in 2022.

 

[Chongo94]

And he started Chandler Morris and wanted to run Max off which he successfully did in 2023 because CM was HIM (There are TCU people that know Max would have come back in 2023, but Sonny not so gently pushed him out the door). We were beyond fortunate that Morris got hurt and that team was filled with alpha dogs that were leaders. Yea, that makes Sonny's talent evaluation somewhat questionable.

If you question that, watch all the seasons of Carter Boys. Sonny is saying the exact same things in 2024 that he did in 2022. The only thing he did right was not being GP.

Aranda is a solid defensive coach. I just don't know if he is cut out to be HC. That probably can be said of a lot of former OC/DCs. It's tough being the man in charge. I don't know about Dykes. I'd like to see how we finish the year out. The two losses we have had were rather disappointing due to the nature of how we lost. People were expecting a bounce back year; too soon to tell how this will end up.

Was looking at things and if you takeaway our NC run, Dykes’ record stands at 79-72.
I think one could make the argument that that isn’t even the record of a “good” coach.

He had some decent seasons at SMU, which because they were SMU and had been left for dead for years, allowed the media to love fest and slobber all over him and exaggerate his abilities if you ask me. I don’t have a problem with him but I think he is a very average coach who somehow is now coaching us for better or worse.

This season will tell us the real story I think but if looking at historical precedent with his past seasons, then average is what average is.

 

[Frog-in-law1995]

Was looking at things and if you takeaway our NC run, Dykes’ record stands at 79-72.
I think one could make the argument that that isn’t even the record of a “good” coach.

But other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

Yeah I don't buy that Max would have stayed at all, regardless of what Sonny did. Not a chance. He was a 4 year starter with a degree and was NEVER going to have a better season than he did in 2022.

Why not? Had a covid year and the guy LOVED TCU and bled purple.

 

[bmoney214]

There's also people with the TCU football organization that have said Sonny resented Max and didn't say 10 words to him all of 2022 because CM was his guy.

Idk if I believe that. There was a post-game presser, maybe the Big 12 championship game, I can't remember for sure, where Sonny got very emotional talking about Max and how good of a guy he is.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

Idk if I believe that. There was a post-game presser, maybe the Big 12 championship game, I can't remember for sure, where Sonny got very emotional talking about Max and how good of a guy he is.

Came straight from someone within the football staff.

 

[bmoney214]

Came straight from someone within the football staff.

I'm not disputing what you were told. I just find it hard to believe after watching that press conference.

 

[Wexahu]

Was looking at things and if you takeaway our NC run, Dykes’ record stands at 79-72.
I think one could make the argument that that isn’t even the record of a “good” coach.

He had some decent seasons at SMU, which because they were SMU and had been left for dead for years, allowed the media to love fest and slobber all over him and exaggerate his abilities if you ask me. I don’t have a problem with him but I think he is a very average coach who somehow is now coaching us for better or worse.

This season will tell us the real story I think but if looking at historical precedent with his past seasons, then average is what average is.

Take away Steve Sarkisian's best season and he is 64-47, despite coaching at near blue-blood Washington and two definite blue bloods universities, where winning 8 games a year ought to be automatic. Would you be disappointed if we hired him away from Texas? Take away Matt Campbell's best season at ISU and he is 46-45 there. I could go on and on if we're playing that game.

And to me, using the fact that he picked Morris over MD as a starter as sort of proof that he's not good at evaluating talent is exactly the kind of thing someone does when they are just looking at something to complain about. MD started for 3 years here, and for most of that time just wasn't very good, especially as a passer. At the time I personally would have been surprised if Morris wasn't the starter coming into 2022 based on what I had seen of MD the prior three years and seeing Dykes offenses. Fortunately, it somehow worked. Belichick didn't start Tom Brady until he was forced to. How many good coaches didn't think Kurt Warner could play in the NFL until he could (Mike Holmgren, anyone?).

And Dykes did recruit Jared Goff and turn him into the #1 NFL draft pick, out of Cal no less.

 

[Frog Attack II]

My on this thread was launched when I saw someone above mention Texas Tech and disciplined football in the same sentence. Hilarious!

All I will say to this is if you are triggered by what we've become in this new environment, write some checks and pay up on some DL recruits.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

Guess we'll see what happens the rest of the year. Lots of people were led to believe we had the talent for at least a 9-3, 8-4 kind of team.

 

[Wexahu]

Guess we'll see what happens the rest of the year. Lots of people were led to believe we had the talent for at least a 9-3, 8-4 kind of team.

Outside of WR, where is the talent? How many of these kids are on NFL GM radars? Anyone on the O and D lines?

I guess the coach can be criticized for that but this is not what I would call a roster brimming with talent. And in this day and age, that’s a $ issue as much as anything. Our best D-lineman was poached away. It is what it is.

 

[bmoney214]

There's also people with the TCU football organization that have said Sonny resented Max and didn't say 10 words to him all of 2022 because CM was his guy.

Sonny talks about Max at the 8:15 mark.

 

[Chongo94]

Take away Steve Sarkisian's best season and he is 64-47, despite coaching at near blue-blood Washington and two definite blue bloods universities, where winning 8 games a year ought to be automatic. Would you be disappointed if we hired him away from Texas? Take away Matt Campbell's best season at ISU and he is 46-45 there. I could go on and on if we're playing that game.

And to me, using the fact that he picked Morris over MD as a starter as sort of proof that he's not good at evaluating talent is exactly the kind of thing someone does when they are just looking at something to complain about. MD started for 3 years here, and for most of that time just wasn't very good, especially as a passer. At the time I personally would have been surprised if Morris wasn't the starter coming into 2022 based on what I had seen of MD the prior three years and seeing Dykes offenses. Fortunately, it somehow worked. Belichick didn't start Tom Brady until he was forced to. How many good coaches didn't think Kurt Warner could play in the NFL until he could (Mike Holmgren, anyone?).

And Dykes did recruit Jared Goff and turn him into the #1 NFL draft pick, out of Cal no less.

Hmmm, one has a 15 game winning differential to the other’s 5…gee whiz, I’m gonna say that 15 is better than 5 regardless of location. I didn’t mention any of that other stuff, that’s you deviating into straw man arguments like you always do.