The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.01.2014 | Football
NFL commissioner seeks Strong’s opinion on several topics
By Jessica Dentino, Texas Media Relations
Austin, Texas – Honesty, treating women with respect, no drugs, no stealing, and no guns are the core values head coach Charlie Strong introduced upon his arrival on the Forty Acres in January 2014.
These core values have been at the forefront of the 2014 Texas Longhorns football team, catching the eye of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Goodell's informal meeting with Strong on Sunday, Sept. 28 was arranged by NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, an acquaintance of Strong's.
"We were so fortunate to have Roger Goodell and Troy Vincent stop by our offices to meet our staff and to have a chance to talk," said Strong. "It was really a great conversation and we shared a lot of thoughts and ideas."
One of Vincent's roles with the NFL is outreach with college programs and he said the opportunity to speak with Strong while they were in Austin was one they couldn't pass up.
"We have several coaches that we're visiting with and I can tell you this, after talking with Coach Strong, he's at the top of our list for what he stands for and how he runs his program," said Vincent. "It was refreshing to see that the basic core values were principles he firmly stood on. Hearing his thoughts makes you realize that he's a coach we need to listen to – a coach the kids listen to, follow and are impacted by. He just has always had great effect on the kids in his program. It was a great finish to an outstanding trip for us."
Strong has said they did not discuss any specific situation Goodell is currently facing, just the character of the athletes that are going on from elite colleges, such as Texas, to play in the NFL. Strong believes that it falls on collegiate programs to cultivate relationships with these young athletes and prepare them for the future by shaping their character. He conveyed this opinion to Goodell and expressed his concerns about sending players of questionable character to the National Football League.
"We talked about trying to build a relationship with the college coaches, dealing with young people and how we can work to make sure that we help them build character, and get around the right people," said Strong. "They wanted to see how we handle with some of the issues that we're dealing with right now on this level. It was a great meeting where we shared a lot of information and we plan to stay in touch and continue to build on that."
Strong is a firm believer that building relationships with his players helps develop character, and discipline is at the center of that.
"A lot of times when a young man knows that you care about him and he can trust you, then you'll get a lot of things accomplished," said Strong. "You have to develop a relationship. It doesn't matter what level they are at, they're all still looking for discipline, and you have to discipline players. They're looking for it."
Strong has positioned himself as an enforcer of these values at the collegiate level, but his players don't see them as an arbitrary set of rules to follow.
Many of the Longhorns, in fact, have spoken in support of the system put in place by Strong and his staff. What Strong expects of his players is the same that has been expected of them before they ever arrived at UT.
"Those five core values are things that you grew up with your whole life, so it should be something that is instilled in every man, every person," said senior cornerback Quandre Diggs. "I think guys should pay attention to that because Coach Strong is obviously doing the right things here."
To the players, it seems that Strong's values are commonly accepted throughout football, just followed more closely at Texas.
"The values that he's brought in aren't really anything new, but he shows the ability to stand by them and not bend or fold just because a player is a good athlete," said senior linebacker Jordan Hicks. "He shows the ability to stand by what he believes, and I think that's showing respect."
The first-year Texas head coach also practices what he preaches, following the rules as closely as his players are required to.
"He handles himself and carries himself in a way that he wants us to carry ourselves," said senior wide receiver John Harris.
That's a sentiment that Vincent says he has seen throughout Strong's coaching career.
"Watching how Charlie Strong commands the respect of student-athletes going back to when he was an assistant coach is impressive," said Vincent. "I ask so many players who have come through the programs he's worked for, who the most influential person has been to them, and to a man, it's Charlie Strong. What he did at Louisville and what you're seeing now, when it comes to developing young men, molding the next generation of football talent, it's unprecedented."
Vincent said he walked away from the visit feeling that the system of support Strong has created is exactly what he is looking for as a parent.
"His expectations of these young men to work as a team, his focus on academics and being involved in the community are clear in his message," said Vincent. "He reminds these young men to remember who they are and who they represent, and to make all of those people proud. Visiting with him was inspiring. It just reiterates that this is the value of football. It develops young men. He's teaching life lessons, character and values through football.
"We want to talk to the people who are having success. We know the wins and losses will come, but it's critical for us to talk to those who are doing it with strong principles. Walking away from our meeting, I can say this with the utmost confidence. Texas is very fortunate to have a man like Charlie Strong leading their program."
