Texas Players Threaten to Boycott TCU Game as Charlie Strong Firing Looms

Strange things are afoot out in the Texas Hill Country. Following the Longhorns shocking 24-21 loss to Kansas—How shocking, you ask? It hadn't happened since 1938, Kansas hadn't beaten an FBS school in over two calendar years, Texas was favored by 20-points, and the students tore down the goalposts after beating a team with a 5-6 record—it appeared Coach Charlie Strong's job was in jeopardy. Hookem.com reports that the administration has made it official, with a source saying, "It will happen for sure. The question is when."

The players seem none too pleased. This morning, a large group gathered to listen to Coach Strong's press conference, and many Longhorns have taken to Twitter to voice their feelings. Here is what defensive tackle Poona Ford had to say:

Letting this man go is equivalent to losing a father.he has done wonders for all of the players on the team and we want him to continue that pic.twitter.com/n90csrPa6n
— Poona Ford (@PoonaF_95) November 21, 2016

This Friday, the Longhorns host the TCU Horned Frogs, and rumors are flying around that some of the players are going to boycott the game in solidarity with Strong. This morning, Kirk Bohls of Hookem.com posted this:

"Amidst the swirl of speculation about Charlie Strong's future and reports that the Texas head football coach would be fired this week, several Longhorn players are considering boycotting this week's regular-season finale against TCU, according to a source close to the Texas football program. Upperclassmen on the team are intervening and trying to calm the waters according to the source.

Some of the team is threatening to boycott the TCU game," the source said. "Older players are trying to settle things down."

It's an interesting situation on both sides of the ball. The players—the unpaid, non-unionized labor—have very little agency and a walkout is really the only thing they can do to let themselves be heard outside of minor acts of rebellion like writing Strong's name on their shoes. On the other hand, Strong's three-year record at Texas is 16-20. Not to mention the players bear some of the burden of their underwhelming performance as of late.

A team boycott isn't unheard of. In 2013, Grambling State forfeited a game against Jackson State because only 22 players showed up on the bus following the earlier-season dismissal of coach, and Super Bowl XXII MVP, Doug Williams. In that case, Williams' firing was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back as players were also upset about outdated, subpar facilities, and bus rides in excess of eight hours to away games. Team spokesperson Naquan Smith had this to say at the time:

"The football team took a stance on what we thought was right. We did not quit on our university. There are many problems that exist and if no one says anything, nothing will become of our institution. We hope coach Eddie Robinson and his legendary players appreciate we took a stand and thought we were right."

Grambling's boycott lasted only one game. They returned the following week and lost to 17-10 to Texas Southern in overtime. We'll see what, if anything, comes from the Longhorns threats but it doesn't look good for Strong. As ESPN carried his press conference with a graphic that read "Texas to fire Head Coach Charlie Strong," the embattled coach said he has been told he and his staff would be evaluated at the end of the season. He also said he hoped to return next year.

If Strong is indeed done, it won't come cheaply to the University. He's owed a $10.7-million buyout for the remaining two seasons on his contract.