Charlie Strong’s hourglass at Texas has expired

Where’s the fat lady?

Somewhere, Longhorns nation can hear her singing.

The Charlie Strong era at Texas is over, though it likely won’t become official until November 26 once the regular season concludes.

A 2-0 start has now become a severely underwhelming 3-4 effort and Strong’s Longhorns are amid a rapidly spinning downward spiral.

Sure, Strong could lead Texas to five straight victories to conclude the regular season, earn a bowl big and save his job with the first postseason victory at Texas since his arrival. But let’s be realistic, that isn’t happening.

Next up for Texas are an undefeated, No. 9-ranked Baylor team in Austin, Texas Tech and its explosive aerial attack in Lubbock, and then back home to host an undefeated, No. 12-ranked West Virginia squad that’s surging as of late.

How does 3-7 sound?

It’s beginning to look like Strong’s third season on the 40 Acres — one that was always going to determine his future at Texas — could quite possibly go down as his worst.

The 2016 season looked to turn a corner after Strong’s ‘Horns were once ranked as high as No. 11 following the season-opening win over the Fighting Irish, but Texas has since dropped four of its last five games and currently ranks eighth in the 10-team Big 12, ahead of only Kansas and Iowa State.

Sure, you can argue many of the shortcoming over the past few seasons can’t be solely placed on Strong, but when the identity of a team has become self-inflicted wounds and a reputation of finding ways to beat itself has been developed, something clearly isn’t working.

That begins with the head coach.

Two top-10 classes now headline the Texas roster and a first-year offensive coordinator in Sterlin Gilbert has, for the most part, breathed new life into an offense that had been stagnant under Strong.

But a coach that built his name on dominant defenses has seen those units under his watch in Austin get torched to historic degrees, and with nearly laughable records in numerous situations (see Texas on road, when opponent scores first, when Texas trails at halftime, down by at least 14, etc.), enough is enough.

After promises of change and a bright future, it’s becoming apparent that Texas isn’t destined for success under Strong.

Pleading that Strong needs more time now holds no weight — Strong’s hourglass at Texas has expired and there’s no one to blame but him.