Twistity Sports Exclusive: HORNS UNHOOKED

Charlie Strong took over a University of Texas football team that had become a little too privileged and a little too self-indulgent. Strong promised to change the culture and instill some values.

Now we know why he gets up at 4 a.m. This value-instilling is hard work.

In August, Strong kicked two players off the team after their arrests in a case alleging a sexual assault in a dorm. He suspended starting left tackle Desmond Harrison for the opener for violating team rules. Strong must have jumped out of bed even earlier on Thursday, because he has now suspended Harrison and starting right tackle Kennedy Estelle for Saturday’s game against BYU for further breaches of team rules.

Given the injuries Texas suffered in winning its first game against North Texas State, clearly Strong means business. He lost his starting center to a broken ankle and his quarterback to effects of a concussion. So the Longhorns go into the BYU game (and BYU positively handled the Horns last year) with almost no experience on the line, which must protect a sophomore quarterback, Tyrone Swoopes, who has had little playing time.

Full props to Strong for doing what he said he would do. Cleanliness, if it can be expected at all in high-octane college programs, is a dirty business.

Today’s question: Can a coach really clean up a program or is sports inherently a mess? Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman