Support for Rick Barnes

I am disappointed that Texas lost. Of course there were problems with the way we played against LSU. I think our team had as much talent as anyone in the country, and the head coach deserves blame when things don't work out.

That being said, I am 100% supportive of Rick Barnes as our coach. The program's growth has to be attributed to him, and anyone who suggests that he needs to go should have their head examined. Critique the game plan, the execution, the players, anything, but please spare me the talk of replacing Barnes.

Look how long it took Mack Brown to win "the big one." I am well aware that Mack and Rick were hired the same year, but Texas basketball is a distant second to Texas football. The support and tradition for the football program dwarf that of the basketball program.

Mack eventually rewarded our patience with a title. Does anyone really doubt that we're going to eventually win one in basketball too? The recruits continue to pour in. It's just a matter of time.

Look how far we've come from the Penders years. We just won 30 games in one season, and we're bitching that we lost in the Elite Eight. Simply making the tournament used to be a good season for Texas. Now anything short of the Final Four is a disappointment. That's called raising the bar.

Thank you Rick Barnes for the season and what you've done for the past eight years. It's not Barnes' fault that LA decided to shoot 20 fadeaways against LSU or that Baby Shaq apparently is a damn good three-point shooter from the top of the key.