Ep 344: Why is anyone triggered by horns down, McCarthy is back, and forfeits in Fort Worth

Feel the heat of competition and the chill of controversy on our latest journey through the collegiate sports landscape. We tackle the trials facing the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team, whose anticipated success has been met with a disheartening 1-3 record in Big 12 play. Coach Rodney Terry's squad is under the microscope, and I'll share candid thoughts on their performance and the surrounding 'horns down' debate that's riling up fans and athletes alike. From integrity to sportsmanship, we dissect the impact of this provocative gesture and consider how it's challenging the team's composure and the overall culture of respect that should prevail in college sports.

Then, we pivot to the challenges at TCU, where the basketball team's low player availability has shone a spotlight on the unanticipated stars like starter Jade Clack. It's a testament to the resilience and adaptability of teams in the face of adversity, and I delve into how less experienced players stepping into pivotal roles can redefine a season. Engaging with us doesn't stop here; we invite you to contribute to the conversation on social media, sharing your views on sportsmanship, team dynamics, and the pride that comes with donning your team's colors. Join us as we unpack the latest developments in college basketball and beyond.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:06

Hi, this is Sean Clench, the host of Stories Inside the Mankay podcast, and this episode is brought to you by friends at Shoal Creek Saloon, your unofficial home to UT men's and women's basketball. And unfortunately the crawfish season is delayed at Shoal Creek Saloon all across the country. But we will have crawfish season soon enough and I'll let you know. Shoal Creek Saloon is your spot. Hey, the horn's down, it's classless. And the Cowboys will retain the services of Mike McCarthy and TCU Women's Basketball forfeiting games. Let's talk about it. Well, it was not a pretty sight, it's almost said the Irwin Center. At the Moody Center, the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team lost a tough one to Central Florida the other night. The Longhorns are now 12-5 and 1-3 in Big 12. Play Rodney Terry's first full season as the Texas men's basketball coach. Before we move forward, got to give a shout out to our sponsors of let's Talk about it Shoal Creek Saloon, your unofficial home, to watch Texas men's and women's basketball games, away from the mood or on the road and on its plumbing and air, where a handshake still means something. And right now is a great time to look into a new AC unit, HVAC, whatever you like to call it because during the winter months prices are a lot, a little bit. You can get a better deal if you're shopping for an AC during the winter months.

Speaker 1: 2:08

Okay, you saw that, rodney Terry, after the Longhorns blew a double digit lead and the team is not reached their potential. But the subject at hand is we're talking about horns down again, horns down, this. A lot of people do it. A lot of people do it across the country. It has become a fan favorite of those who are playing Texas. Everybody does it who plays the Longhorns. Well, after the game, central Florida, right near the Longhorns bench, they were doing the upside down horns to the crowd, to the Texas Longhorn fans. But during the handshake line they were doing it right there as well, while they were on the court. Central Florida, they had already knocked off Kansas earlier days earlier, and Central Florida's not a bad ball club.

Speaker 1: 3:06

But that the problem was, I'm almost positive, rodney Terry not happy with the outcome of the game. Nor should he be. The emotions are riding high, but you know he's a man of integrity, a man of character, and he told the UFC UCF almost said UFC, but Central Florida Knights, the Golden Knights what he thought about it. What he thought about it and I just can't believe that that has really become a national story. That being the horns down again. It's somewhat embarrassing that a fan base, those in the fan base because it doesn't represent the entire Texas Longhorn fan base I can tell you that for sure.

Speaker 1: 3:55

But it comes across as soft that there's this type of reaction to the horns down. It's what's great about college sports. But Rodney Terry, his reaction, I get it. I get what he was doing and why he said it. But to be the head coach of a program like the University of Texas, at that point you've got to dig deep, remind yourself who you are. But it's just my opinion. It's just my opinion. It really doesn't matter. And RT was asked about it after that loss to UCF.

Speaker 2: 4:33

You know I'm a big believer in you know you win the right way, you lose the right way. And you know I always tell my guys you know, whether you win or lose, you win the right way, you lose the right way, you carry yourself the right way. You don't go through the handshake line or probably get into the handshake line and have about six or seven guys putting the horns down. We don't do that, you know, because when you do those kind of things it looks very classless and it also looks like you were just hoping to win. We never go into games trying to hope to win. We go into games expecting to win. So we don't act like that. You know we expect to win. We don't jump up and down like we won a national championship. We sure don't step on anyone's home court deal and act crazy and try to show them up in any way. We don't do that.

Speaker 1: 5:23

Okay, classy, that is typical RT, just a good human being For and he does everything right. I get it, I really do. I totally understand where he's coming from, but in that situation I think it's when you're the head coach of any program I think you've got to practice to dig deep inside and move on. The only thing that I'm opposed to, the only thing I'm opposed to, is things like, let's say, a team winning and Going out and stomping on a logo. I think that's ridiculous. I remember 1992, the Aggies football game here in Austin, texas, went out to the Longhorn logos stomped all over it. You know, I get it, it's a rivalry, but that's the only thing that I have a problem with things like that.

Speaker 1: 6:26

I I'm a big fan of Rodney Terry and and on this podcast, even last year, we were one of many groups or Representative of a lot of people who supported them. And when Chris Beard was let go midseason, rodney Terry's a good man. I don't think he I know for a fact he didn't have any ill intention, but it just gave the wrong message. That the horns down Truly affects is representative of what a long horn, the Longhorn nation is. It's not a big deal and I know everyone has their opinion, I have mine, I respect yours, but that the horns down should not be as big of a deal to anybody. Because Everybody and I will say this, moving forward, as Texas plays their next six games, all against ranked opponents, beginning with ninth ranked Baylor, I guarantee you their next road game is at number 15, oklahoma. This is just gonna magnify what Rodney and that Texas men's basketball team, what, how they're going to be treated, what they're going to be welcome to, if this is just going to increase the amount of of horns down, especially on the road. It just made it worse, because that's what's great about college sports. It is like a soap opera. Football season, basketball season, it's what makes it fun and amazing.

Speaker 1: 8:00

But as Texas moves forward, baylor at home, their number nine in the country, at 15, oklahoma and Norman at Provo, utah, big arena, 20th in the country, and back home against fifth-ranked Houston Big 12 basketballs for real, big 12 basketballs for real. Then they go to Fort Worth and that's gonna be a rowdy, rowdy arena right there, number 19, tcu. Come back home, number 24, iowa State. We're gonna find out a lot about this Texas team because right now, if the season ended, they would not be an insubway tournament. I mean, there Net ranking is right there, I think around 59, 60, 61, pretty sure that's not gonna cut it. Um, the Texas, if they split these next six games, I mean that's they're gonna have three wins against three ranked teams and they're capable. They just have not found continuity or Consistency whatsoever. But again, they are definitely gonna be welcomed with a ton of horns down over the next all the rest of the season.

Speaker 3: 9:14

There is absolutely no doubt about that I went back through, you know, things that we felt may have factored and, like I said it, that the disappointment Component had a lot of layers to it. So we went through all those layers and then we, you know, talked about personnel and coaches and everything involved, so business affairs, and so, like I said, it was a it was a long, productive conversation.

Speaker 1: 9:41

My McCarthy talking about his conversation with one-on-one very long, long meeting with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Karthi will be retained but I don't like using this term, but it is what it is he's going into his last year of his contract. My McCarthy is with just one year, his last year in his contract with no extension, and that just tells me Jerry Jones wants to see what he can do, because I think now the pressure is on. Not only do and this is just an opinion, I think not only does McCarthy and the Cowboys have to Win a playoff game, they got a final way to make it to the NFC championship game before he receives a Contract extension.

Speaker 1: 10:31

The Cowboys are in a world of hurt as far as cap space. I Believe right now as of right now they're 16 million dollars over the salary cap. They've got some big decisions to make and you can look at this two ways Could be a window of opportunity to rebuild the roster, so to speak. They recently picked up to run it back Snoop Connor, malik Davis and a receiver, the former cowboy, martavis Bryant, is back in the roster. But now you look at because they have one, I think, one first round pick what do you do With some of the big money earners like Dak Prescott and Zach Martin, both key parts, and I'm gonna throw this out here, and I really it's probably gonna be a very unpopular opinion I like Dak Prescott, good human being.

Speaker 1: 11:31

I think he's a One of the upper echelon quarterbacks in the NFL. I won't throw that out there. There's no doubt about it. He receives a ton of criticism because he is the Dallas Cowboys quarterback and because of their inability to excel in the playoffs. What some people say is they choke in the postseason. I mean the number you can't hide from the numbers. It's just Facts of facts. But I'm almost to the point and I don't think this will happen. I think Dak would flourish With a new, a fresh start with a new franchise, new organization, a new team. I really do. If that happens, that will open up a ton of cash in that sour cap for the Cowboys now that they keep Dak and keep Zach Martin. They're gonna have to. There's a large group of cowboys which are earning a lot of money next year. But there's ways around that Restructuring contracts, extending contracts, trades and cuts. So this would take a half an hour for me to go through that roster and really dive deep with you. I mean, what do you think? I would love to hear what you had to say about what you think how Jerry and Stephen and everyone on the football operations for the cowboys, how they should handle this roster. What should happen? Keep it in the DF Dub.

Speaker 1: 13:08

But over in Cowtown TCU Women's Basketball has had to forfeit two basketball games this week because they have season ending injuries to players and current injuries to players which have left them in a tough situation, so much so that they have they held walk on open tryouts on campus, a major division one college basketball program in season. Walk on open tryouts from the student body Thursday night and then tomorrow, friday, six to eight PM. Isn't that amazing? I mean, it's mind blowing that you would have that much bad luck, to have those many injuries, and even to a local here in Austin area, sedona Prince, who played her high school basketball up in Liberty Hill. She had a broken finger, had surgery on it earlier this month. She's out of commission indefinitely but they have lost so many players. They don't have enough players to truly be competitive. Now Chris Clack's daughter, the former McDonald's All-American from Anderson High School here in Austin and former Texas Longhorn, the first McDonald's All-American signed by Texas, coached by Tom Penders His daughter, jade, is a true freshman for TCU. That's when you're having to go down that far and count on those type of players who need seasoning to be your starters.

Speaker 1: 14:47

I get it, but I've never seen this before at any level. Even that, or I just have a bad memory, but TCU doesn't have enough players to play competitively over the next two games and that may be extended, who knows? I mean, this is unbelievable. So that puts a wrap on episode 344. I definitely want to hear from you. Give me a shout on Twitter at stories man cave on our Instagram page, tiktok Facebook page Love it. Love it when we have involvement with you, the viewer and or listener, on the all podcast listening platform. That's where you can find this as well. For strictly audio and whatever in doubt, it's always the best decision to talk about.