• The KillerFrogs

Why Does UT’s $34 Million Head Coach Need a “Special Assistant”?

TAINTed frog

Active Member
Jesus Christ, why does anyone care if he was fired or resigned or whatever semantics you want to use?

He was underperforming for the past few years. He made that bed and whether he resigned or was fired or forced out makes no difference. He didn’t live up to the standards HE SET at TCU.

Now, Dykes, will have to meet those standards (the standards before the past few years, obviously) or he’ll get fired.

I’m excited for the future and hope it works out for Dykes.
 

Toad Jones

Active Member
There are two perspectives to look at this situation from. One is from the perspective of somebody who understands what it’s actually like on the inside of a major sports team/program. The other is from the perspective of a jock-sniffer fan viewpoint where none of those guys on the field are real people with real relationships. And it is pretty much that binary. You don’t have to have been inside the machine to recognize and see that’s the situation. You just have to be a rational human who can realize what they all have gone through together.

I’m certain that TCU was a willing participant in letter Gary “wind down” after firing him. They didn’t want to alienate the many who were not in favor of firing him. They didn’t want to alienate the players on the team who loved the guy. They didn’t want to lose their position that they had mutually respect even in firing him. I can go on with many more reasons they’d want to let him linger for a couple of weeks and have him on the field for recognition, etc.

I can’t believe some of this storyline is even an argument. Gary was fired. The people who fired him certainly would rather that perspective be adjusted to some BS grey area just in case this decision blows up in their face. Those defending this grey area BS are just trying to pre-set the stage in case it blows up in my view. It’s a self preserving angle that takes the blame away for the firing. And that position is weaker than cat [ #2020 ]. People in charge made a decision to fire GP and they are dang well in the position to make that decision. Now the program moves on in a new direction. But don’t reinvent what happened to fit some BS narrative.
The word "FIRED" was never spoken. Instead, in the best interest of TCU, we're making a change. That wording was no accident, it was planned that way out of respect for Gary.

UT has been after GP to come aboard in a defensive position for some time. To my knowledge, UT never suggest a head coach situation. When CDC left, that talk simmered down but in the back of their mind if the opportunity happened, UT would go after GP seriously. Thus the culture change and that opened the door. I can see GP as an interim coach if needed.

Seriously, this needs to stop. It's done and time has passed you by if you continually post a story on this subject.
 

Sangria Wine

Active Member
The word "FIRED" was never spoken. Instead, in the best interest of TCU, we're making a change. That wording was no accident, it was planned that way out of respect for Gary.

UT has been after GP to come aboard in a defensive position for some time. To my knowledge, UT never suggest a head coach situation. When CDC left, that talk simmered down but in the back of their mind if the opportunity happened, UT would go after GP seriously. Thus the culture change and that opened the door. I can see GP as an interim coach if needed.

Seriously, this needs to stop. It's done and time has passed you by if you continually post a story on this subject.
Gary was fired. People who refuse to acknowledge something so obviously accurate caused me and others to post in this thread. I’ve moved past it. Excited for GP to see how much impact he can have at UT. Excited to see what Sonny can do at TCU.
 

Eight

Member
When you are a nobody and screw up - they send the security guard to escort you out

When you have a buy out parachute - you don’t get walked out of the building - because you have incentive to not cause problems and they need something from you

The fact that many of you are football fans at watched our “dead man walking” coaching staff finish the season knowing they were all fired - but think that doesn’t happen is ludicrous

And your fantasy of what happened in that meeting is some good propaganda- you getting a kickback for that story? Amazing how all that happened in 15 mins….

actually a few of that staff were retained, but keep up that line of thinking

seen a few senior people who have had security called on them and were escorted out of the buidling and met downstairs with their things in a box
 

Eight

Member
What does GP not being able to turn it around have to do with your argument he wasn’t fired?

Guess when you realize your argument is stupid - you move the goal posts

GP was fired - he didn’t mutually agree to part ways, he didn’t retire, he didn’t leave to pursue another job

No idea what the PR game is to somehow spin it differently - you would think if you want to say our AD is qualified to be an AD than you would want to act like he had the balls to fire him

you were the one who brought up gary wasn't going to retire

you also have in the past when asked directly about gary not making changes with his defensive staff not answered

he wasn't going to leave, wasn't going to make changes on HIS side of the ball in terms of staff, and wasn't getting the job done and the powers to be were out of line when they asked him to make changes?
 

Sangria Wine

Active Member
he wasn't going to leave, wasn't going to make changes on HIS side of the ball in terms of staff, and wasn't getting the job done and the powers to be were out of line when they asked him to make changes?
Recognizing you’re not asking me this question…but, honestly if you’re the top of the food chain and you’re told to do things a way you don’t believe is right then it’s your prerogative to dig your heels in and do what you believe is right. It’s their prerogative to step back and support your decision or fire you.

When you’re “the guy” and the buck stops at your desk sometimes you have to do what you believe is right no matter the potential consequences. ie, the Board of Director's tells you (CEO) you’re not doing your job the way they want and demand you to do a litany of things their way. Do you cower down, do what you’re told, preserve your job and be a yes man? Or do you man up, push back as needed and tell them you were hired to do your job, you’re in charge and you’re certain your direction is the right direction and let the chips fall where they fall? Weak, gutless leaders take the first route and strong leaders with firm convictions do the second. Guys like Gary aren’t scared of being fired and they aren’t backing down to demands just to keep their job. And you wouldn’t want a guy in charge who would.

Here’s to Sonny kicking ass and taking names. And here’s to Gary teaching Texas players and staff how to toughen up and work like 2 star recruits so they can kick ass and take names in the SEC soon. Don’t write off GP being their head coach before this is all over.
 

FrogBall09

Active Member
you were the one who brought up gary wasn't going to retire

you also have in the past when asked directly about gary not making changes with his defensive staff not answered

he wasn't going to leave, wasn't going to make changes on HIS side of the ball in terms of staff, and wasn't getting the job done and the powers to be were out of line when they asked him to make changes?
so basically he was fired then?

Execs with parachute packages that are escorted out of the building with a box of their stuff committed a corporate violation or a criminal act or both - feel confident we didn’t fire GP for an HR or finance issue….
 

Dman890

Active Member
Gary was 45-41 in the big 12. He set the standard in the MWC but never figured out how to consistently win in a better conference.

We fired his ass because we are in danger of being on the wrong side of realignment.

He got us into the big 12 but let’s not pretend it wasn’t also a bit of luck.

I actually don’t care what he does next but I would say running off to Texas as fast as he could to be a special assistant screams “butt hurt” to me.
 

TopFrog

Lifelong Frog
so basically he was fired then?

Execs with parachute packages that are escorted out of the building with a box of their stuff committed a corporate violation or a criminal act or both - feel confident we didn’t fire GP for an HR or finance issue….
The door is open for Gary to work at TCU in a fund-raising or special ambassador role. Because he was fired.

Gary made the decision to leave. He feels he was forced out. But he was given a choice, which put the decision on him.
 

Sangria Wine

Active Member
The door is open for Gary to work at TCU in a fund-raising or special ambassador role. Because he was fired.

Gary made the decision to leave. He feels he was forced out. But he was given a choice, which put the decision on him.
So he was fired from being the head football coach. And then they offered to transition him to a TBD newly created lap dog position at TCU that he didn’t want. So somehow that means he left of his own accord in some peoples minds and that he wasn’t actually fired. Not fired from working for TCU, just fired from being head football coach and then he rejected his reassignment. Got it.
 

FrogBall09

Active Member
The door is open for Gary to work at TCU in a fund-raising or special ambassador role. Because he was fired.

Gary made the decision to leave. He feels he was forced out. But he was given a choice, which put the decision on him.
So after being the COO he wasn’t “fired” because he was asked if he would like to be the Walmart greeter role? You have some guilt about the idea that we fired him?

I guess you think VBo offered him a job on Don Whalen’s staff or even Don’s job? As if that would not still him being fired….
Or he was going to help Augie get coffee and shake the hands of new prospects as they entered the building?
Maybe we were going to create a new Chancellors office role called “the closer” for big donor fund raising and give him 10% of the vig ?

Again there is no job that pays for glad handing And baby kissing at TCU beyond Don’s team - and I doubt GP was offered a chance to replace Don - so it wasn’t a job offer but an ask to stay involved because VBo and ADJD incorrectly thought he would be sitting around FTW doing nothing I guess
 

TopFrog

Lifelong Frog
So after being the COO he wasn’t “fired” because he was asked if he would like to be the Walmart greeter role? You have some guilt about the idea that we fired him?

I guess you think VBo offered him a job on Don Whalen’s staff or even Don’s job? As if that would not still him being fired….
Or he was going to help Augie get coffee and shake the hands of new prospects as they entered the building?
Maybe we were going to create a new Chancellors office role called “the closer” for big donor fund raising and give him 10% of the vig ?

Again there is no job that pays for glad handing And baby kissing at TCU beyond Don’s team - and I doubt GP was offered a chance to replace Don - so it wasn’t a job offer but an ask to stay involved because VBo and ADJD incorrectly thought he would be sitting around FTW doing nothing I guess
The door is open to GP in the future if he wants it. TCU has already said so.
 

swcfrog

Active Member
I never really considered that Coach Jim Pittman quit in the middle of the game.
I was at that game. Will never forget reactions of staff on the fie. Happened right before halftime at Baylor. 1971? Then we had a string of worthless head coaches.
 

StinnettFrog

Active Member
Gary was 45-41 in the big 12. He set the standard in the MWC but never figured out how to consistently win in a better conference.

We fired his ass because we are in danger of being on the wrong side of realignment.

He got us into the big 12 but let’s not pretend it wasn’t also a bit of luck.

I actually don’t care what he does next but I would say running off to Texas as fast as he could to be a special assistant screams “butt hurt” to me.
When I first moved to Fort Worth in 92 I remember the TCU football teams not being very competitive at all. When I first got my season tickets in 98 the long time fans I sat around were crazy happy when the Frogs finished above 500 and won the Sun Bowl. 45-41 might not be a great record, but depending on your perspective it is actually pretty good in some people eyes. Who knows where this new college football world will go with basically no rules, but in ten years this team could be better, worse or more likely just about the same. Don't get me wrong I will continue to cheer and hope the team finds a great groove again but there are no guarantees.
 

Eight

Member
so basically he was fired then?

Execs with parachute packages that are escorted out of the building with a box of their stuff committed a corporate violation or a criminal act or both - feel confident we didn’t fire GP for an HR or finance issue….

nope in either case and i noticed once again you pass on the direct question about gary not making changes to his defensive staff

JointedLongA.gif
 

Eight

Member
Recognizing you’re not asking me this question…but, honestly if you’re the top of the food chain and you’re told to do things a way you don’t believe is right then it’s your prerogative to dig your heels in and do what you believe is right. It’s their prerogative to step back and support your decision or fire you.

When you’re “the guy” and the buck stops at your desk sometimes you have to do what you believe is right no matter the potential consequences. ie, the Board of Director's tells you (CEO) you’re not doing your job the way they want and demand you to do a litany of things their way. Do you cower down, do what you’re told, preserve your job and be a yes man? Or do you man up, push back as needed and tell them you were hired to do your job, you’re in charge and you’re certain your direction is the right direction and let the chips fall where they fall? Weak, gutless leaders take the first route and strong leaders with firm convictions do the second. Guys like Gary aren’t scared of being fired and they aren’t backing down to demands just to keep their job. And you wouldn’t want a guy in charge who would.

Here’s to Sonny kicking ass and taking names. And here’s to Gary teaching Texas players and staff how to toughen up and work like 2 star recruits so they can kick ass and take names in the SEC soon. Don’t write off GP being their head coach before this is all over.

disagree with two parts. first, gary was never the top of the food chain at tcu in that he always had bosses. some he respected, others he didn't and unfortunately he might have been allowed to act like he was the man.

you say push back as needed, but to what? changes that needed to be made that weren't to a program that was headed in the wrong direction?

as far as the texas job, don't see simply because that means there has been a huge swing in who is calling the shots in austin and i don't mean cdc. too much is at stake for some to blow sark out after two years and what is interesting is ole dick justice points to the same tired barbs thrown at texas, but doesn't recognize a few of the issues sark dealt with last year such as only one effective quarterback in thompson and he wasn't the same after the thumb got damaged, only one healthy running back, one effective wide receiver, a below average line, no linebackers to fit pete k's schemes and no de's
 

Sangria Wine

Active Member
disagree with two parts. first, gary was never the top of the food chain at tcu in that he always had bosses. some he respected, others he didn't and unfortunately he might have been allowed to act like he was the man.

you say push back as needed, but to what? changes that needed to be made that weren't to a program that was headed in the wrong direction?

as far as the texas job, don't see simply because that means there has been a huge swing in who is calling the shots in austin and i don't mean cdc. too much is at stake for some to blow sark out after two years and what is interesting is ole dick justice points to the same tired barbs thrown at texas, but doesn't recognize a few of the issues sark dealt with last year such as only one effective quarterback in thompson and he wasn't the same after the thumb got damaged, only one healthy running back, one effective wide receiver, a below average line, no linebackers to fit pete k's schemes and no de's
Gary was the top of the food chain for the football program. I assumed that my declaration about that matter wouldn’t need to be clarified. I didn’t say he was the top of the food chain for TCU. There is always somebody who can fire you unless you are the individual owner of a business. In this case those who can fire Gary (VB and JD) chose to do so after - according to the experts on KFC - they told him to make some specific football program related changes such as changing staff members, tactics, schemes, etc. If they say him down and said you have to win x number of games next year or you’re fired if respect that. Then Gary would have had to make whatever changes HE viewed necessary in order to meet the budget placed in front of him. Instead they apparently said we think we know what needs to be done in order to win more games and they are this, that and the other and you need to do those things. THAT is what I do not respect. Those type of decisions are not the expertise of an AD or a Chancellor. That’s what real world business looks like. You try to micro manage a person who has been massively successful for a number of years (even if down recently) and you’re doing the opposite of showing respect. They could give their advice about how to potentially gain leniency in holding the minimum wins budget as absolute standard at the end of the next year and then he could make a decision if he wanted to lower himself to play along with their attempts at control. Setting a clear bar and demanding results I am totally ok with. They didn’t do that. They told him HOW to do his job and he wasn’t playing along so they fired him.
 
Top