Some Texas fans may not appreciate Charlie Strong‘s brand of discipline, but one very powerful -- and beleaguered -- man apparently does.
With the NFL in general and his handling of Ray Rice specifically drawing intense and pointed criticism from both inside and outside the sports world, Roger Goodell is looking to meet with the Texas head coach at some point in the coming week, Chip Brown of Horns Digest is reporting ($ link). In addition to the commissioner, DeMaurice Smith, the head of the NFL player’s union, is expected to meet with Strong as well.
Two of the most powerful men in sports want to meet with the first-year UT coach to discuss his “Five Core Values.” For those unfamiliar, Strong’s list is a very simple -- and common sense -- approach to building a football program and, most importantly, turning players into men.
1. Honesty
2. Treat Women With Respect
3. No Drugs
4. No Stealing
5. No Guns
Strong has come under fire from some for dismissing nine players over the last eight months as he attempts to change the culture in Austin. His emphasis on drug testing has likely played a role in at least one, if not more, of those dismissals.
One of Strong’s most loyal lieutenants doesn’t understand what all of the fuss is about over Strong’s dedication to his core principles.
“He puts [the core values] on the wall and [the perception is] it’s like a new thing, like somebody wrote the Bible,” UT defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said earlier this month. “Well … [treat] a woman with respect. If you have a son, won’t you teach him that? I never had a gun. My mom never let me have a gun. My wife surely won’t let me have a gun. What’s wrong with that? No drugs. What’s wrong with that? Don’t steal. What’s wrong with that? What’s big about those core values? It’s the same thing every parent out there teaches.”
At least as far as Goodell and Smith appear to be concerned, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Even as Strong’s strident and strict approach could never, ever work in the NFL -- hello, union, owners -- perhaps the two men could learn something, anything that will keep individuals from further embarrassing their precious “Shield.”
UPDATED 12:59 p.m. ET: Brown has added a little more meat to his initial report, including when Goodell and Smith are expected to meet with Strong.Sources told HornsDigest.com on Thursday NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the head of the NFL player’s union, DeMaurice Smith, are scheduled to be in Austin on Sunday and will meet with Texas coach Charlie Strong about Strong’s commitment to his five core values.
The NFL is now contributing money to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) based in Austin, and sources told HD that Goodell and DeMaurice Smith are scheduled to be in town on Sunday to visit with hotline officials and want to meet with Strong as well.
There is, though, this, so take everything with a grain of salt I guess:
Per @RapSheet, the story that Goodell and DeMaurice Smith want to meet with Charlie Strong is wrong.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) September 25, 2014
UPDATED 2:29 p.m. ET: The latest update casts further doubt on the original report. From Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman:
#Texas spokesman says there is no meeting scheduled between Roger Goodell and Charlie Strong.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisUT) September 25, 2014