Ep 379 with Nathan Thornhill & Mike Hardge: Shocking Coaching Move: Jim Schlossnagle's Transition and Its Impact on College Baseball

What happens when a high-profile college baseball coach makes an unexpected move? Hear Nathan Thornhill and Mike Hardge's firsthand reactions to Jim Schlossnagle's shocking transition from Texas A&M to the University of Texas. They share emotional responses, personal stories, and insights, including how Harge's influence shaped Thornhill's career. This segment captures the rollercoaster of emotions and the unpredictable nature of sports, highlighted by Schlossnagle's heartfelt apology to a reporter.

The discussion takes us through the evolving landscape of college baseball, focusing on the importance of stability and relationships. Discover the inspiring journey of a coach who decided to work alongside his best friend, the Athletic Director, underscoring the value of trust and camaraderie. Relive the rich traditions of the University of Texas and the honor of preserving a legacy built by legendary coaches. Moreover, we address the significant impacts of NIL and draft system changes on the game and its players.

Finally, we dive into the business side of coaching hires, examining the buzz around potential candidates like Tony Vitello and Frank Anderson, and Schlossnagle’s eventual selection. From surprising contractual details to the optimism and reflection within the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M fan bases, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the strategic decisions shaping college baseball's future. We conclude with a heartfelt appreciation for our guests, Thornhill and Harge, acknowledging their contributions and anticipating the exciting developments ahead.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

In my experience with college athletics or any sports period, I don't think I've ever seen two weeks as dramatic like a soap opera as I have seen involving UT and Texas A&M baseball. This trumps Lincoln Riley leaving Oklahoma, duping the media, and the next day overnight he bounces to LA, to USC. Well, this takes the cake. Jim Slosnago is now the head baseball coach at the University of Texas. Let's ride.

Speaker 2: 0:40

Wake your ass up or take a damn nap, and we're the three best friends that anybody could have.

Speaker 1: 0:47

It's time. I mean, Sean, you were twerking. That's going to happen.

Speaker 2: 0:55

Murph, don't be a dick all your life.

Speaker 3: 0:56

This is one of the more fun podcasts I've ever done.

Speaker 2: 0:59

Hey, I'll tell you what. If you're not talking about sports in the man cave you no, I bet that's it You're not talking about sports in the man cave, you know, I bet that's it I think it's pretty selfish of you to ask me that question, to be honest with you, uh, but my uh.

Speaker 3: 1:20

I left my family to be the coach at texas a&m, took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again.

Speaker 1: 1:28

What was that? And I've got two people who I absolutely have the utmost respect for, and that being an All-American. Well, Harz, were you ever an All-American at any point?

Speaker 2: 1:39

Yeah, absolutely I was, but. I'm not going to talk about myself in that way. But yes, I definitely was an All-American. Yeah, absolutely I was, but I'm not going to talk about myself in that way.

Speaker 1: 1:47

But yes, I definitely was an All-American. Yeah, we got Nathan and the ties run deep with these two right here Nathan Thornhill, all-american pitcher from UT, and then, of course, harbaugh Harge, one of the OG man Cave boys. In fact, harge helped coach instruct and I think I want to say Harge had a hand in Thornhill's success at some point. Is that accurate?

Speaker 5: 2:10

100%. Actually, fun fact Harge probably gets tired of me saying this, but in fifth grade I did a project on my Hero and Mike Harge is my hero. Wow, he came to my school and listened to my speech. It was pretty cool.

Speaker 2: 2:23

Yeah, I was very impressed by that man but, uh, I was excited when nathan, when nathan asked me to be, to be part of his report at first I was like, are you being serious man? He was like, no, most definitely. And I was like I'm definitely honored. I was very, uh, impressed with nathan as a young athlete, not only baseball. People forget how good he was at quarterback at Cedar Park as well, you know. So we run, we go way back. And that's my dog and always will be.

Speaker 1: 2:55

For sure.

Speaker 1: 2:56

That's what this podcast is all about Kind of family inspiring. But today, fellas, because of our investment, especially Horn Hill's investment. As a former Longhorn not too long ago, I know time flies once eligibility runs out, but in hard at one point was a UT baseball commit decided to go pro, and I don't blame them because right out of high school everybody wanted them. But we're going to establish this in a chronological order. We saw that interview, we heard the rumors, probably the last two or three weeks, involving Schlossnagel UT. I myself. I think I can speak for all of us. There's no way that's happening. But how he responded to that Tex-Aggs reporter, but how he responded to that Tex-Ags reporter, now that I, what has all transpired since then, does it all make sense? Now We'll begin with you.

Speaker 5: 3:52

Nate, you know I think it does make sense and, like you, I heard the rumors. I didn't believe them Maybe I thought it was wishful thinking and I was kind of hoping I was wrong. But he actually touched on this answer today. I went to the press conference when they introduced him and he apologized to that reporter who was in attendance and said you know, I didn't answer that the way maybe I should have and he, the reporter, had every right to ask that question. He also talked about the emotion after you know the last pitch of the national championship and that question comes up. I I'm sure he had an answer in his head that he wanted to say, but probably some emotion got in there.

Speaker 1: 4:32

And you know, we've all had emotional responses, maybe the way that we wish they wouldn't have been. How about you?

Speaker 2: 4:40

Harge, I know you and I have spoken a lot about this on the phone for the last month. Yeah, you know I the answer to the reporter. You know he knew he messed up and there is a way to go about it. And the reporter's job is to ask that. Sean, you've been a reporter, you have got to ask questions. You've been in all these arenas to be to even have this opportunity. So for me he knew he screwed up and I'm glad he apologized. That's the first step of making sure that you set the record straight. Don't blame a young person for doing their job and having his big moment. So it actually might have helped him in the long run.

Speaker 2: 5:23

With that conversation, to be quite honest with you, but like everybody else, I heard the rumors. We had listened to it. I was like how can you do that? What was the reason? Is Texas? You know, we hear the saying all the time Texas is Texas and that's the place you want to be, that's where you need to be. But then you start to think about it and you're like is he really going to do that? Why would he do that? Well, he did it.

Speaker 2: 5:50

And here we are now. Here we are now.

Speaker 1: 5:55

Hey, before we move forward, you can see the big banner on the second level of the screen Shout out to Jim Saxon State Farm Insurance Agency. He is an Austin Texas OG, the son of a Heisman finalist and a Longhorn legacy, and he's been sharing Austin for several decades. Jim Saxton State Farm Insurance Agency and be sure to like all of our social media platforms. So we're going to work a little bit backwards. It's been an interesting week and we all heard the silence, so to speak, since UT season ended in the regional at College Station after they got out tended to Louisiana.

Speaker 1: 6:35

The David Pierce era ends the morning of officially. I think it ended days before, but on that last day of the college baseball season it officially was released by UT. There's been rumors that Kurt Bowles, who's now with the Houston Chronicle, leaked it out and reported it, but that's his job as a reporter. But they officially did it and I heard that. I think we all know that. There's also, I think, cdc planned to do it on Tuesday, not Monday. But to you, nathan, I saw your tweet and I knew you. It's just a classy tweet. David Pierce, eight years. It wasn't a failure. It just as you know, coaches are judged by the success they have in Omaha.

Speaker 5: 7:29

Yeah, I like. First and foremost I'm just going to say I have a ton of respect for Coach Pierce and I really like him as a person. I would consider him a friend. It goes further back than everybody might think. He recruited me at Rice and I remember that relationship and that process. And then I stumbled across him when I was in pro ball in clearwater, florida. I was rehabbing after surgery and he was there for his uh, for I think maybe two lanes conference championship in clearwater and I went up to him I just shook his hand, said I don't know if you remember me at, you know nathan thorne, he goes, of course I remember you and and then he gets here and makes a joke about how he recruited a bunch of us to rise and he's the one that ended up at Texas and you know, just a good, a good person really, and I meant that like he's a better man, he's a great coach but a better man. And you know, watching this all unfold was unfortunate. It's sad because you really like coach Pierce a lot.

Speaker 5: 8:22

Frankly, most programs would take what he did at Texas and give him a raise and an extension. I think a lot of people forget. I'm bouncing around a little bit, but look at what he inherited. No offense to the guys that played after me. I was a part of two bad teams under Augie. We righted the ship in 2014. But then look at what Coach Pierce inherited I think a team with a record. I think you know 55 and 66 or somewhere around there not a winning record over the last two years before he got there and he put Texas back on the map. He won three Big 12 championships, went to Omaha three times and arguably his best team that he had.

Speaker 5: 9:01

The season gets canceled because of COVID and I really think and like everybody can say hypotheticals, but I think Texas has a had a really good squad that year that got canceled and who knows what would have happened. I don't know if they went at all, but I think they probably knock on the door and so it's just. It's a. You know, it's a program that prides itself on winning in Omaha. Coach Pierce did a really good job of getting there and really did a good job of winning the conference several times. But I think you know maybe you could argue things were trending in a direction people weren't excited about or whatever it was, and a change was made and again, I feel for coach Pierce and I think he probably deserves more appreciation than he gets from our fan base. No, you know, don't want our fan base attacking me for saying that, but I do think we should look at what he did and be thankful for that versus, you know, acting like it was you know eight or seven horrible years. It wasn't, it was pretty good coaching.

Speaker 1: 9:56

Yeah, it was. And you know, I think and to add to what you said, I consider him a friend. I was able to touch base with him briefly, just by text, yesterday. Finally, you know, I didn't expect him to answer. I didn't expect him, I know, it's your livelihood, it's the pause button and when you lose your job, and but if he's watching this, or but I think I told him it was not a failure. It just did not reach the levels to which was expected, right, and you played with that expectation. So you know all about it yeah, I mean.

Speaker 5: 10:38

I really do think that it's not reasonable for me to say this, but I think if our fans got to hang out with Coach Pierce the way, you and I have probably gotten to just spend time around him. I think my favorite thing about him is he's just a guy. He's a fun guy to be around. He's a real person. He's not a celebrity and I think because everybody didn't get that experience, he might not get the excitement he deserves. But, like know, I was rooting for him because he is just a guy and he's coaching baseball.

Speaker 1: 11:07

He's a good coach and, uh, I was pretty proud of what he was able to do while he was here and I, I would imagine he will land on his feet and I, I think you know, I think the natural fit that you, myself or anyone will say that he'll probably go to Houston. It writes U of H or I don't know, a Southland conference school, and but you know, I think he'd be an asset to any staff.

Speaker 5: 11:36

For sure. Yeah, I mean I think he Houston or Rice would be wise to look at him as their next head coach. I know they don't have vacancies right now but if you look at the direction of those two programs I think he could come make an impact day one. He's very familiar with the area from his days at Rice and I think he'd be an exciting hire that could go recruit, even if he just stayed in the Houston area thinking about all the talent there and get and build a built, you know, get rice back to being where rice has been before. It'd be really cool to watch.

Speaker 1: 12:11

Rice should not be where they are. Just my opinion. I 100% agree, I know it's tough.

Speaker 5: 12:15

The landscape has changed with NIL and all that stuff so like, but it's it's. It's sad to see, cause I remember Rice being like a powerhouse and that was pretty neat, because they're not a football school, they're not, they were a baseball school and then an academic school, and so I just I wish it would be cool to see, and Coach Pierce was the pitching coach for a lot of those really good teams, and so I just think it's kind of a natural place for them.

Speaker 1: 12:42

I don't know if they're looking whatever, but I think they should I do too, and you know he comes from the old school wayne graham and, uh, he coaches that way. He's a laid-back guy but coaches more. Yeah, you know, and some people I will say, and it's to each their own, it's not a knock on anyone's personality, some people don't respond well to our coaching. So that announcement officially came, was released Monday, monday night. Great, I thought it was a great CWS great championship series. It ended. It was heartbreaking for Aggies, so close. And then the very next morning this occurred. I mean, arriving back in Aggieland, let's go. There's Schlossnagel, you know, shaking the hands, everyone unbeknownst to everyone in that audience. What was about to hit the fan later that evening and what happened was the formal announcement he's hired by Texas. What was your initial response? Because I thought, maybe because Kendall Rogers does a phenomenal job across the country.

Speaker 5: 14:01

Yeah, he does.

Speaker 1: 14:02

And everyone criticizes him because they say he's pro-aggie. He does a great job of being objective.

Speaker 5: 14:08

He does. I have a joke and I think everybody has a joke that Kendall hates everybody's team. I wouldn't fault Kendall if he really does hate Texas now being an Aggie, but I think he's too much of a professional to actually do that. He's a pro. He's really good at what he does for college baseball. I mean I think he probably deserves a lot of credit for where college baseball is. I agree Because of how he and his team cover the game. I mean it's grown even from since when I was playing. Like it's just amazing what college baseball has become. I watched every game of the championship series and my rival from when I was playing was playing for a national championship and I watched every game because it's hard not to watch. It was interesting, it was great baseball. I mean the quality of the game today because of NIL and maybe because the draft has less rounds, like it is. From a fan experience it's way better than it's ever been.

Speaker 1: 15:05

It's a great game and it's, I think, the viewership's up the production value. I, I, I love going to the ESPN three app and watching those regionals, much more than I like March madness, and I know I'm in the minority on that.

Speaker 5: 15:22

I'm there with you then.

Speaker 1: 15:25

Hey, harge, he's driving around San Diego, california, and that's a big shout-out to him of coming back on. But what we're looking at right now, harge, and to you at home or wherever you're watching this, this was Schlossnagel's statement that was published by the 12th man. He basically gave a shout-out to his boss, trev Albertson the 12th man Incredible experience. But here's the key sentence I chose to make a change, to join a longtime friend, to continue my career as a college baseball coach, and then you know I know it looks like he's just like okay, I'm just making a statement. I really felt like he meant this because, as we did, as we go on in this podcast episode, I think everything's going to make sense how close he and cdc are that, to me, is is the key to this relationship.

Speaker 2: 16:20

you know we all have friends that we have worked with that we also have done business with, and sometimes it's a tough decision. They go their separate ways but we find a way back to each other because I know your work ethic, you know my work ethic and a lot of times that's the way it goes. Nathan, you got a chance to play professional baseball. You saw it throughout your career of relationships matter and a lot of people want to work together again when you've had a lot of success and their relationship seems to be a lot deeper than even a professional relationship. I believe I saw a report where he is one of my best friends. You know, I mean, it rolls a little bit deeper than that. We've all worked with our best friends, some of them. It works out. Sometimes it doesn't, but I can't fault the guy that wanted to go back and work with a friend of his.

Speaker 5: 17:15

Yeah, I'll just add a little bit to that. I mean you're right, relationships are everything. That's why your teammates, when you see them, even if you haven't talked to them in months, when you see them you haven't skipped a beat. Same thing in business. I mean we all have relationships that matter and that's why I think we all probably do what we do, because we value relationships, correct?

Speaker 5: 17:35

Well, slosh today in his press conference mentioned and he said the way he said it was very delicate. He said there wasn't anybody at A&M I couldn't trust. So he didn't, wasn't throwing them under the bus but he goes, but there's nobody I can really trust more than CDC and having the chance to come work with him in a landscape that is changing rapidly, it's the most uncertain time in college baseball. And you have CDC who's his best friend, that's technically his boss. He's relying on that relationship to CDC's going to do what's best for him. Now CDC will put the program ahead of him, but I think CDC believes he's going to do great things for this program. And then he also touched on having an administration and board of regents who's also in alignment with your athletic director. I mean to have I think he used it, the term narrow to have everybody so tightly together, uh, was so appealing for him, and the fact that it's his best friend as the ad had a lot to do with that yeah and that's key and that's key to continue the success.

Speaker 1: 18:38

And just a couple of bullet points from his resume. I mean this is four school but in three schools he's been to Omaha seven times and nine trips to the college baseball suite 16. And we saw what he did in three seasons at A&M. Now I think you can achieve the same at A&M as you could at Texas, but Texas is the gold standard of college baseball because if you get the alignment as you guys both talked about, you can have a long-duration career. Ie Bib Falk, uncle Billy Dish, Coach Gus Augie Garrido long careers of tremendous success. Why that didn't happen for Coach Pierce we may never know, but look at that. I mean that is the type of success that UT fans are used to, right there.

Speaker 5: 19:44

For sure, and I think I mean I took my wife with me to the press conference today. I got to have a guest so I told her, if she wants to come, come on. And at one point she looked at me and goes how many times has this happened in Texas history? I go six, this is the sixth one and she goes. That's kind of cool and I was like I didn't even think about that, like every time we've had, but like there's been six.

Speaker 5: 20:05

You know, maybe press conference back then but like something similar You're introducing a new head coach.

Speaker 5: 20:12

I mean that tradition is really something to be proud of. And Schlossnagel touched on Gus and Augie and coach Pierce today, today in his press conference. He's friends with coach pierce, he, he admired augie, he said he kind of took him under his wing, uh, towards the tail end of his career, and even talked to him about the texas job. And he said one thing if you ever get the job at texas, you know it's not your program, you're just there to steward it. And that's how Augie felt. And and Schlossnagel touched on that today and said that's right, he goes. I've stewarded every program I've been to, but he goes. My program's Elon, that's where I played, but I'm here to be the best steward of this program as I can.

Speaker 1: 20:51

I thought that you.

Speaker 2: 20:56

I love the way you said that me, and I'm not saying Coach Pierce did not do this, because I'm sure he did. He recruited some of the former players' kids, but the thing that I keep looking at is being open to having former players like yourself be involved with the program. I have been saying this for weeks. I've been saying it for years. Look, I love the kids in California. I'm in California right now, but kids from California don't know the tradition and the wars that they go through in Texas athletics period point blank. And that has been the biggest thing. Biggest story for me is I want to see Texas kids playing at the University of Texas and I believe that Texas kids will start coming back to the University of Texas. Now. We've had some good ones. We've got some kids on the team. I'm not discrediting the ones that we have, but there's no reason for Texas not to have the best pitchers from the state of Texas pitching at Texas.

Speaker 1: 22:01

Right? No, that's the key, because if you look at A&M's roster, I'll bet you to say I'll just throw a number out there 85% to 90% Texas-grown kids, and I think that is an underrated factor in these programs' success and Harge. I know you're driving, but nate and I are right now we're looking at a graphic and it's pretty impressive that ut just spit these out so quickly. We've already got a photoshopped of slosh nego in a texas uniform, but I was going to ask you guys about this.

Speaker 1: 22:36

The he brought his three key members of his staff with him, beginning with michael early, nolan cane and the young, very youthful pitching coach, max wiener, which a lot of people had some fun with that, uh, during the college world series. Hey, max wiener is has made an appearance, but have this full step out here. I mean hearts, hearts go back to you, to Nate. That's huge because and this is not a knock on Coach Pierce because we've seen a revolving door of assistance, I don't know the last five, maybe six years with Coach Pierce, but this is what Schlossnagel really drove home today stability and people he trusts again, like these guys.

Speaker 2: 23:25

Yeah, that's huge when you think about it. You just wiped out the entire pitching staff I mean the entire staff of your biggest rival in less than 24 to 48 hours of them losing in the College World Series, and now they have to pick up all the pieces. I mean, there's nothing there and it's a. It's an interesting time and I'm glad he brought this up as well, the interesting time in college athletics. It is something that we thought we were prepared for but hadn't seen anything like it.

Speaker 5: 23:58

I said.

Speaker 2: 23:58

I referred it to the wild, wild West a little bit earlier today, because that's where we're in. We're in these times where an athletic director from Texas A&M can go to Ohio state, a person from Nebraska as an athletic director can go to Texas A&M, and now you're looking at Jimbo Fisher being taken away from Florida State in that particular moment. And now we're in a place where Texas just pulled off the biggest coup in college athletics, maybe ever. When you sit back and you truly think about what just happened and the gut wrenching move that CDC the savage that he is was able to pull off but not savagery. He brought back his best friend to the school that he is winning Director's Cup and Athletic Director of the Year. This is huge in the state of Texas and we knew there was going to be a rivalry.

Speaker 5: 24:57

Well, that just went up to about 12 immediately yeah, I mean I think he hit on in his press conference today. But bringing the whole staff over I had a friend text me who's not affiliated with either university goes dang. Y'all did them dirty.

Speaker 5: 25:14

I was like, oh man uh but slosh nagel hit on it today in his press conference. He just just said it's not me, it's all of us as a collective. He's like I'm not the secret sauce, I'm the head guy, but without those guys we don't get where we were at Texas A&M. And so I just think one, what a good leader to understand that you can't do it alone. And so he knows that he has to have good generals, which he has underneath them, and I mean they all, I feel like, have a ton of accolades and a lot of praise out there in the college baseball community, and so to get all three of them is really impressive. I was worried that you'd get two of the three, which is still great, like that's kind of expected. Actually, to get all three, I feel like, is very fortunate.

Speaker 1: 25:59

I mean, what's your thought on? Texas was prepared. So that tells me. I mean not just planning ahead, but the potential of this happening. This just tells everybody. This was in the works, it was a matter of formalities. It's just my opinion.

Speaker 5: 26:18

Well, I think your opinion could be correct. I don't have any direct evidence of that, but when there's smoke, there's fire, that's right.

Speaker 2: 26:29

Right now, you might want to look for an extinguisher.

Speaker 1: 26:37

Yeah, just got one from Amazon, by the way, we can use that because that's real. So we're seeing it the portal in addition to NIL and managing all these new nuances of collegiate athletics. You've seen three of the Aggies' top players enter the portal. Do you guys expect them to be in Austin soon?

Speaker 2: 26:55

I don't know if I would expect them to be in Austin, but I wouldn't be surprised by it at all. Nothing will shock me at this particular moment. But the thing about it is, what do you expect? There's nobody there, you know. I mean I would expect every player at the University of or Texas A&M University to think about jumping in the portal. They don't mean they have to leave, they can just put their name in there, because there is absolutely no one left that they went to that college to play for.

Speaker 5: 27:27

Right.

Speaker 2: 27:29

So to me, why not? Because the coach that comes in may not want you either.

Speaker 1: 27:34

Right.

Speaker 2: 27:35

So there's a lot of moving parts that will be involved If they come to the University of Texas. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. But the reality of the situation is this those kids have no, they have a home for now, but what if the next coach comes in and he wants to bring in his guys? That always is the message.

Speaker 5: 27:58

Yeah, that's a good point, Harj. I think getting in the portal, there's no harm in it. Personally, I tweeted out whenever I saw that it looks like we need about five Lamborghinis. I'll be a little more forward. I would like to see some of those guys in Austin.

Speaker 1: 28:16

Yeah, I'll probably just butchered his last name. That's a big one. That's a huge one. Before we take a very quick break, I got to get your thoughts on this and it's listen, this is not, this is a podcast. We're able to express our opinions, deliver some facts. Listen, I respect Slashnago, but I'll I'll just put it out there. I was really, really curious and hopeful that Frank Anderson could return to Austin because his daughter's here, I believe, in law school, the pitching coach once for Augie Gritto, now at Tennessee, has done a fabulous job and I really was intrigued by Tony Vitello. I love his antics, I love his excitement. But I'll start with you, Harch, and then to Nate, your thought on that process. And do you really think Vitello and Frank Anderson were seriously considered?

Speaker 5: 29:18

Uh-oh, I'll jump in there. You know, considered, I don't know. I think I go back to the friendship piece of this. Schlossnagel has hit on it a lot, but you have to think CDC was coming from that same angle. I'm sure if there was doubt that you could get Schlossnagel, I guarantee you they would look at Vitello and several others who are really good coaches and upcoming coaches. I mean, I think Batello's an exciting coach and I think you'd have a hard time getting him away from Tennessee now. But I just think Schloss was probably the. I think it was more of a rifle shot and not a shotgun approach. Where I think CDC goes, I can go get that coach who's my best friend. If I can do that and I'm doing it and I'm going to try it before I try anything else yeah, that's if we were go ahead.

Speaker 1: 30:09

Hart, I agree with that 100%.

Speaker 2: 30:12

I think it was going to be Jim Schlossnagel from the jump. I thought it was going to be Jim Schlossnagel from the word go, and I would have to agree if it wasn't going to be him. I'm a big fan of Tony Vitello. I think the energy that he brings every single day is something that the fire that you want to see of a coach defending his players and pushing back a little bit to try to help those guys out. I was all in on that. I had no problem if it was going to be Vitello, but the fact of the matter is the relationship came to number one and number one accepted. So we'll never know.

Speaker 5: 30:51

You're right.

Speaker 1: 30:52

Man, you have a beautiful ceiling to your car rental.

Speaker 2: 30:57

Hey, well, I'm just telling you your boy's trying to back in to be done, so I don't have to drive anymore. I'm trying to look out for us.

Speaker 1: 31:04

Hey, let's let Harge back up. We'll take a quick break, have a Hargrove roofing shout-out and then we have a really quick second segment. And man, a busy week. A lot has happened in the amount of four days. We'll see you. Oh, coming up on the other side. I almost forgot A piece of Slashnagle's contract I was not aware of. Totally shocked, and you wonder why Texas A&M allowed it. That's coming up on the other side of this break.

Speaker 4: 31:37

Here at Hard Grow Roofing we try to think outside the box, to kind of get the creative juices flowing. So I brought in my friend Stevie Lee, former defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns. He's going to help the team strategize, really motivate them, light a fire.

Speaker 2: 31:48

This guy's going to block down. This guy's going to block down. You put your butt into the guard and that way my Mike linebacker gets free to do what.

Speaker 4: 31:58

Not only are they going to learn a thing or two, but they're going to also leave with a great attitude and a bunch of smiles on their faces.

Speaker 5: 32:05

I'm sorry. What does this have to do with roofing exactly?

Speaker 2: 32:09

Get out Right now. I said get out.

Speaker 4: 32:16

For me, that's what it's all about. It's just having fun making our employees have a great time. Hargrove Roofing Know who's on your roof.

Speaker 3: 32:38

When I was at TCU. These rumors have always been around because of our relationship and I can't control that. If you ask our coaches, they have had to deal with it since the day I got to Texas A&M. I mean, I had a specific buyout specifically for the University of Texas and that's because of my relationship with Chris and so thankfully, it's really not a question we'll ever have to answer again.

Speaker 4: 33:04

Wow, wow.

Speaker 1: 33:07

That's hard to go. He's on family vacation in San Diego, california, and the fact that he took time for us speaks volumes to the yeah To you, nathan. You and I texted about that. A&m clearly had a reason why they allowed it to happen contractually, but he had a specific out on his contract that said, okay, there's this certain buyout if I take the texas job.

Speaker 5: 33:39

I mean, everyone has outs in their contracts, some don't, but I would venture to say most do right when you first read or heard that you were there, were you in disbelief like well, that's bad business yeah, I mean I was wondering like, if, if, if it's specific to texas, like every, like I said, every contract probably has a buyout, yeah, um, but to have one specific to texas, like, I want to like to read the language and see what the other buyout was for not Texas. Was it discounted or was it more? I don't know, but I think if you're A&M allowing that, you're trying to lure him over from TCU, so you probably don't have a ton of leverage. You want to make him happy, you want him to be your coach.

Speaker 5: 34:28

The Texas job might come up well after he's built this program and then he won't want to leave because you know you had coach Pierce was 2021, 2022, 20 like some pretty good seasons there that ended in Omaha with conference championships, and so you're probably going. Yeah, you know Pierce has got it going down there. They're not gonna that opening, so we'll agree to it. I don't know, I can't exactly. I don't know why you would allow it if you knew that he and CDC are so close At the same time. Maybe they put a probability on it and it was a low probability and they said whatever, we want to get him over here from TCU, so we have to do it, but I'm glad it's there for the Longhorns.

Speaker 1: 35:09

That works. And so now you're going to have these coaches talk calling their agents. Hey, listen, if my dream job opens, give me a discounted buyout. Yeah, For the other university, something like that. You mentioned it, you alluded to it and I got to tell you something. Something just came up on Twitter. I just saw, and I can't tell who to attribute it to 11 Aggies are now in the portal.

Speaker 5: 35:36

Again, I thought Harge made a good point. I didn't think about it from his perspective of there's nobody over there right now. You don't even know who your coach is going to be, so you should get in the portal just to protect yourself. You might end up putting the A&M uniform right back on, and that's okay. In fact I bet the majority of them probably did. But to get in there and protect yourself and have your, have your options open is smart and from a Longhorn perspective. I'm hoping some of them are making plans to head this way.

Speaker 1: 36:06

I agree with you 100%. You alluded to this. Schlossnagel told the story today about how he always wanted to be a friend of Augie's. It was during a rainout between, I think, TCU and Texas on rain delay.

Speaker 5: 36:23

I think it was TCU, it was at Rice, it was Reckling.

Speaker 1: 36:31

Park it was. I think it was TCU it was at Rice.

Speaker 5: 36:32

It was Reckling Park. Yeah, it was against Rice. It was game two of a regional. It was the winner's bracket game, so both teams were 1-0, and he was talking about a rainout.

Speaker 1: 36:44

Yeah, and then he flew out to California to go visit them.

Speaker 5: 36:48

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 36:49

And that's when what you said, that he told him and I just you're starting to put the pieces together and learning more about a guy that a lot of people didn't want to learn about, because he's the head coach of the main rival and I think aggie fans, they have every right to be pissed off. Yeah, for sure, it's meteoric what has happened, you know, and they probably feel extremely slighted. So I get it, but we're on this side of things that we see from the Texas side. The story just seems like this was meant to. I believe that the universe has a way of aligning where you're supposed to be.

Speaker 5: 37:31

I'm going to backtrack. I had my story wrong. It was TCU versus Texas the Augie part. So sorry for confusing you there.

Speaker 5: 37:38

I was going to confuse the CDC, so that's on me, but it does feel like on the Texas side. It's almost a little bit like destiny with with CDC and Schloss specifically in their friendship, and so I'm excited about it. I think it. You know he's a great coach. I played against him and he always rolled out a really good squad that was difficult to play against and I think he's probably only been in the sec for three years to where he's even sharper than he was at TCU, and I think our players and our fan base is really going to benefit from him being here. I think his ability.

Speaker 1: 38:18

I mean he talked about his from the staff to the nutrition and weight and you know the strength and conditioning to everybody that you don't see. And in those three key members of the staff he said he was probably going to be hiring more. I don't, I know that just because of the revolving door for Coach Pierce, I just didn't feel like there was a lot of stability around that.

Speaker 5: 38:45

Yeah, which is a bummer, because you know, when Pierce got here he had his staff that had been with him at his previous two stops and things happen. Actually, I think the sign of a good staff is when you guys get hired away. That's a great point. Again, the lack of stability is probably a factor here. But Pierce, when he did have that stability, it was pretty good, even with the revolving door. I still think he accomplished some really good seasons.

Speaker 5: 39:16

I think it's probably more about the opportunity to have Schlossnagel and less about what Pierce was lacking in. I think it was one of those things that again, most programs would look at coach Pierce's resume at Texas and say how long can we sign a contract with them for? And so again, texas is a different animal. It's, it's tough, our, our. There's high expectations, which I'm glad they're there. But you're not judged on, I'm not going to say I'm not going to, it's not completely rational in my opinion sometimes. But you're not judged on, I'm not going to say it's not completely rational in my opinion sometimes, but those expectations are there.

Speaker 1: 39:54

So do you feel like you, you've played and you navigated how tough it is at the program, but you, you, you wanted that pressure, you wanted to be a part of that. Do you feel like this may not that there's any fracture or division, but the old Longhorns of those great 80s teams and 90s. What do you think this has done this hiring? Do you feel like it has any effect on bringing everybody together?

Speaker 5: 40:22

Yeah, you know.

Speaker 1: 40:23

I hope so.

Speaker 5: 40:24

I think TBD, really no matter who you play for Gus, augie or Pierce you want Texas baseball to be successful. So we all have that common ground and I'm hoping there's some kind of things, whether it's football season or baseball season, where they get us get the alumni back under the same roof and everybody can hang out and have a good time and really get behind the new era of Texas baseball. I mean, I think coach Losnagle and his staff and whoever the players are that are in that dugout, they deserve all of us to be supporting them. Uh, and I think CDC says that a United Texas is a reckoning and I think we have a responsibility, um, as former players, as fans, as anybody who wants to wear the burnt orange, to get behind that statement.

Speaker 1: 41:13

Yeah, and that's key because it is a family, there's no doubt For sure you work with family close. Before we wrap up, who do you think is the next Aggies coach? Do you think Skip Johnson? Have you talked to Skip?

Speaker 5: 41:26

I have not talked to Skip. He'd be a great hire for him. Uh, you know, I I think he would do a pretty good job. He's done a great job at ou. I think he really likes norman, uh, and I think they've treated him well up there to where skips skips all about. I mean, we were talking about relationships earlier. That guy is a, that's all that matters to him, his relationship. And so if, if you treat him well, he will treat you well a hundredfold, and so I think he's got a pretty good thing going up there. He's a Texas guy though, so you know, I have no doubt He'd probably listen, but we'll see. I think he'd be a good option for him.

Speaker 5: 42:06

And then I don't know who their coach is going to be. But one thing Schlossengel did do was prove that you can win there and get to the big game. I mean, they've won games in the past, but like, get to the big game, and I mean really seven outs away from a championship in game two and then one run away on game three. I mean that's knocking on the door, you and that's knocking on the door. You know that their fan base is passionate. You know that they're going to have resources behind the program, so it's an appealing job. I think they'll land somebody who's going to be a good coach, which is why a lot of those guys who are in the portal might stay.

Speaker 1: 42:43

But if it's Skip or someone similar, you know they're going to be competitive. There we go. I want to send this photo of you to Skip All right, this is how we end it.

Speaker 2: 42:55

We got to end with some positivity.

Speaker 1: 43:01

Hey, ben, tell me something good. All right, nathan Thornhill. Longhorn for Life. All-american for Life Throughout all this. I don't know, it may be something in life for you but tell me something good.

Speaker 5: 43:20

Oh man, something good. I think I'll keep it related to this conversation we've had today. I just think it's an exciting time to be a Texas Longhorn. We were kind of in the desert there for 10 or so years. I think Chris Del Conte deserves a ton of credit for getting us on the right track and let's not forget those times that we were in the desert and let's enjoy this a little bit, because it is good and you know, I think as fans and alums, we should enjoy the moment and get behind our teams on every field and every arena, in the pool, whatever, because it's a, it's a fun time to be a Texas Longhorn.

Speaker 1: 43:53

Couldn't have said it any better. And you know what I've got. I gotta be cool. I have to acknowledge the Aggies you know. Listen this. We don't know how to explain this, but I promise you your job is. It is alluring, it is a would be, a would be a huge opportunity for anybody in the country. I don't even know what to tell you. I get it. I would be pissed off too, but there are brighter days ahead and if you can make it that far again, you'll be there again.

Speaker 5: 44:24

There's no doubt about it. I agree to A&M. I understand being frustrated and upset. Don't forget, though, you just play for a national championship, which is pretty cool. So, like, maybe focus on that a little bit more. You know you can get there and you know football season's around the corner and you can try to beat us then. But good luck.

Speaker 1: 44:45

That's right, nate man. It has been fun. Always enjoyed our time when, when you were playing for Longhorns back in my media days, you made it fun. I don't know if I ever had an opportunity to tell you that I appreciate it, thank you.

Speaker 5: 44:57

Always made time and you humored my ridiculousness sometimes no, this is a one I always enjoyed working with you when I was playing, and then that's the cool thing about being at Texas is, you know, 10 years later, we're still talking. That's right, and neither one of us is doing what we were doing back then, so it's really cool.

Speaker 1: 45:19

We're always evolving and you know what I will say those beverages at the places we've crossed, they've been very cold and very delicious. We'll have to do it again, 100%. Hey for the Nathan Thornhill and Harbaugh Hards for taking time out of his day in San Diego, california, with a family vacation man. We owe him. Nate Hards I know you may be watching this, it's recorded, we're going to stream it. I owe you both cocktails. This, it's recorded, we're going to stream it. Oh, you, both Cocktails and, of course, nate's better half as well. We'll make it happen, man. I appreciate you. Thanks, sean, I appreciate you. No problem, man, and it's going to be. I think the fun is just beginning. It's been a great soap opera so far, this hiring of Slashnago. It's not over with. There's many things, many pieces to be inserted, and can't wait for each. But for Nate, for Harge and the other two OG man K boys, that being Big Mike and the Coach Mo. We are out.

Speaker 4: 46:23

You see the drip and I'm fitted up, I'm in my car, in a Gideon.