I used to work for a computer chain called CompUSA, and at one point in my life I had dreamed that I would get a phone call from Apple or Microsoft asking me to come work for them. In the dream I got a huge pay raise, a company car, all of the products that I would ever want, control of a whole division of the company, and much, much more. In the dream I also was given a gigantic salary. There was a decision to be made here, do I stay with a company that is doing ok and has its ups and downs and customers who are not so loyal to my current business, but are very loyal to the company that was offering me the job?
In the dream I thought about it, I asked my friends what they thought, and I even asked for guidance from people who were a lot smarter than me. After careful consideration, I decided to decline the job offer with the big payday, loyal customer base, and anything and everything I could want or dream of for my life. I’m sorry, that isn’t how my dream ended. I took the job and everything that came with it.
This is the same thing that Houston fans are asking of Tom Herman, to forget his dreams, to forget the chance to go to a school with a loyal fan base who will continue to show up even when their team loses a game, or two, or even more. Cougar fans complain year in and year out that they can never keep a good head coach, they call the coach un-loyal to the program, and a loser once he leaves. In the meantime, while the coach is there, they praise all the great things that he does, that is until he loses a game. Then they stop coming to games, complain that they are having a horrible season, and don’t understand why they can’t get into a bigger conference.
I will admit that how Houston has played over the years may justify them moving up to a bigger conference, but moving to a bigger conference isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about filling a stadium, about making money, about adding to the conference as a whole and the Cougars have not yet proven themselves with this. After the loss to SMU, UH could barely fill half of the stadium. Even after having a dismal season and knowing that their head coach was about to be fired, Texas fans poured 99,065 people into the stadium for the Longhorns’ season finale against TCU.
So the question for Houston and its fans is what are they willing to do to keep a coach, are they willing to stand behind their team even when they lose a game? Are they willing to support their coach even after a loss? Are they willing to do what it takes to take a step to another conference? Right now based on my observations is that the answers to those questions are a resounding “no”. Until the Cougars can answer “yes” to these questions on a regular basis, be prepared for the next coach to move on and the next and the next after that. Loyalty goes both ways, if you want your Coach to me loyal to your team you have to be loyal to the team as well.
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I’m an alumni and loyal Coog fan forever. You sir are spot on! Since I was a kid going to UH games with my Dad (UH winning the SWC), the fans were few and far between. CTH was the closest to creating the atmosphere needed in Houston, then the losses to Navy, then SMU. Once again, the Houston fan base failed their main college team & coach.
Until they get into a major conference it is going to be tough for the Cougars to keep a great coach.
Agreed
UH’s attendance the game after the SMU loss = 35,846 (90% capacity). How come you use total sales figures for UT vs TCU (99,065), but when it comes to UH, you go with a complete, bald-faced lie? Sounds like someone has an agenda.
How much did Herman drop for you to write this bs?
“After the lost to SMU, UH could barely fill half of the stadium”. By the way, its “loss”, “after the loss…”.
Where did you get that tidbit from anyway? Herman, himself? 35.8K was announced, granted there were probably only 30K, but that is a far cry from half. Did you mention the Louisville game, which happened to be on a Thursday night. Oh, no you didn’t. Glad to know you represent agendas rather than facts so that i know not to read any more of your pseudo-journalism.
The best commentary on the move from UH to UT is @jivetomherman