Clown

Several months ago, University of Texas super-booster Red McCombs told a San Antonio radio station that newly hired Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong would make a "great position coach, maybe coordinator." Red, aka Billy Joe, is a rich guy. Red sells cars. A lot of cars. Red owns radio stations. He may even own the San Antonio radio station that was interviewing him. That would be the only sort of radio station that would be the slightest bit interested in what Red has to say about football. The only reason that we even get Red's opinion is because he bought a building for his school. He has a lot of money so we are forced to hear what he has to say. When he has a chance to say something significant about the hiring of the first black head coach in University of Texas history he says something stupid. Stupid on so many levels. Who would expect anything else? At least the decision-makers at Texas didn't listen to Red this time. Charlie Strong is an excellent football coach. In four years as the head coach of Louisville, he was terrific. The year before he was hired, the Cardinals were 4-8. Tied for last in the Big East. 7-6, 7-6, 11-2, 12-1 over the next four years. 2 Big East titles. The University of Louisville was no longer just a basketball school. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was a big reason for the dramatic change in the football fortunes of Louisville but Strong recruited and coached the kid. That's all part of the job of a college football head coach. Now Strong is the head coach of Red's football team. Strong deserves and earned this shot at leading a top college football team. He should soar past the accomplishments of previous coach Mack Brown. Likely a Red favorite due to the color his skin.

Billy Joe "Red" McCombs bought the Minnesota Vikings in 1998. The change in ownership sent a surge of excitement through Minnesota and all Vikings fans. The team had always been owned by a roomful of people. It was refreshing to finally have one person to blame for any possible woes. It was a good time for the squirrelly Texan to step into Minnesota. There would be only one woe that first year. Red bought a football team that was about to take apart NFL defenses. Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Robert Smith, Jake Reed, and the incredible rookie Randy Moss. The Vikings could score at will. Everyone bought into the "Purple Pride" rallying cry. Especially Red. The thrill didn't last long. He owned the team from 1998-2005 and it was clear early that Red didn't know much about football. The players didn't like having him around them. He was a clown. Let's see what he did as the owner of an NFL team. Red bitched regularly about needing a new stadium but he didn't really do much about it. His lack of action became even more apparent when current owners Zygi Wilf and family did all that they could to get that stadium. The Wilf's succeeded. They got what Red never could because they did everything that Red didn't. Getting that stadium took a lot of time and work. Red seemed to think that it all should be handed to him. That great 1998 Vikings football team was handed to him. It was pretty much down hill after that. Red fired Dennis Green when Green lost the team. Red hired offensive line coach Mike Tice to replace Green because Tice was cheap. Red didn't spend money to improve the team. The Vikings forays into the free agent market was modest, at best. The Red years brought one top free agent, corner Antoine Winfield. The talent on the team was declining. So were the facilities. Prospective free agents probably looked at the Eden Prairie offices, turned around, and left. Even the Viking ship out front was falling apart. The Red days were sad days. Embarrassing days. Clown days.

Red should stick to selling automobiles. It's clear that football and decency is out of his wheelhouse.