The Man With the Gadgets: Sumlin, Strong & staying power

The Big 12 is still a legitimate college football conference. Austin is still a cool city. The University of Texas remains a member of the prestigious American Association of Universities.

Yet, look for University of Texas football recruiting to suffer in the coming years.

Not because of its conference, not because of its recent struggles and not even because Texas A&M is dominating recruiting in our glorious state.

Rather, because of new Texas coach Charlie Strong’s disdain for gadgets.

Surely, by now you know Strong seems less than impressed by Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin’s use of a helicopter in recruiting.

“The university speaks for itself,” Strong said last week. “We don’t need gadgets. We’re not going to be a gadget program.”

Strong words, indeed.

Word is Strong is uncomfortable in large meeting settings. Because of that discomfort, he may have just misspoken.

Or maybe it’s just Sumlin that’s making him uncomfortable. Could it be that Sumlin’s recruiting success is already putting pressure on Strong? After all, two players that were originally committed to Texas — defensive tackle Zaycoven Henderson and linebacker Otaro Alaka — changed their minds and signed with A&M.

And Sumlin didn’t even use a helicopter to recruit them.

Maybe Strong will compensate for his aversion to gadgets by allowing the use of “gizmos.” But questions will be raised if he remains adamantly opposed to gadgets.

Like, how is he going to contact prospects? He could call them on an iPhone, which is what most people do. But that’s a gadget. Therefore, an iPhone or any similar device apparently would not be an option.

Of course, he could drive to meet with recruits. The automobile has proven quite reliable even though 100 years ago thousands assumed the horse-and-buggy would never be replaced by Henry Ford’s gadget.

Oh wait, there’s that word again. The automobile no longer qualifies.

However, carrier pigeon would remain a viable alternative. After all, no techno nerd even dreamed up the idea of a pigeon. A pigeon, we can agree, is completely natural and organic.

Therefore, carrier pigeon would qualify as a non-gadget and be an acceptable method for Texas to contact recruits.

Well, except for one small detail …

A few years ago The Independent, a London morning newspaper, published a story entitled: “101 Gadgets that changed the world.”

Anyway, No. 59 on The Independent’s list was paper, a gadget which changed the world’s means of communication. So, carrier pigeon is out because the message cannot be written on paper, which is technically a gadget.

Fortunately, throughout history men and women have been more willing to employ the use of gadgets. The wheel was once a gadget that led to tires that would enable travel on the automobile that Strong would use to visit recruits. That is, if he could use the automobile.

He couldn’t even use a bicycle, which is No. 8 on The Independent’s list of gadgets.

Also, how does Strong plan to evaluate players? College football coaches obviously scout and attend games to get an eyewitness view of a recruit’s ability. But then Strong and his assistant coaches must be blessed with perfect 20/20 vision. Spectacles — or eyeglasses as we commonly call them — are 77th on the gadgets list and therefore are disqualified.

Strong cannot watch video tape, either. The camcorder (14th on the list) was something of a precursor to the video equipment that college football coaches commonly use.

He can’t use it.

If it seems that Strong has been left in the dark on these subjects, perhaps it’s because he is. We’re assuming he doesn’t use the light bulb (47th).

Perhaps the greatest problem that Strong’s opposition to gadgetry creates is that it will prohibit the use of the flushing toilet (34). You think Texas’ program stinks now? Just wait until that edict goes into effect.

Unless Strong reconsiders, Texas’ football program is sure to sag like those who eschewed the 13th item on the list (the brassiere).

No doubt, Sumlin’s embrace of gadgetry is a major reason Texas A&M has become one of the most popular programs in the country. Sumlin will use helicopters, text messaging, Twitter, music and even hire rappers to help build relationships with players and prospects.

Consequently, he just assembled a recruiting class that ranks among the top five in the nation.

Sumlin has already gotten off to a tremendous start on a 2015 class that could be just as good, if not better. If this keeps up it will create a lot of headaches for Strong.

That’s most unfortunate.

Aspirin is third on the gadget list.