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AUSTIN — Early Monday morning, the majority of the Texas football team received a mass group text. The message was simple; it was really just a series of facts.

Head coach Charlie Strong would be speaking in the Centennial Room of Belmont Hall at 11 a.m. If you had time to come, come.

Upwards of 50 players followed and watched as the head coach spoke at his usual Monday press conference in the wake of a very unusual 36 hours that began with Texas’ first loss to Kansas since 1938. It was a show of support directed at “everyone,” they said — the administration, media, the people “who want Strong gone” and even Strong himself.

“It wasn’t something we were trying to hide,” said freshman quarterback Shane Buechele.

It may be too late, but Strong’s players are doing everything they can do to try and save their head coach’s job (except maybe win when it matters most).

Reports swirled Sunday night that the Texas administration has already decided to fire Strong. Less than 12 hours later, a report followed that players were threatening to boycott Friday’s game against TCU. That won’t happen, several players said, but it was a real thought at one point.

Then as each was summoned to speak to the media, each gave their own pitch as to why Strong should be given another year in Austin.

They talked about how he has developed them as men, not just football players. They talked about how he’s been a father figure, especially for those who don’t have one. They talked about how he’s laid the foundation for a championship-caliber team.

“It’s a process,” said senior Tim Cole. “You ask a guy to come in and change the culture, he’s done that. It’s a process. You’re not going to get complete change in three years, you have to give it time.”

“I feel like fans only look for the wins and losses, which in football that’s important,” Warrick said. “I’m not going to say it’s not important, but at the same time it takes more time than you expect, it’s not going to happen right away. I guess what I should say to [fans] is why don’t you come coach then.”

Senior Paul Boyette struggled to get through his time with reporters, wiping away tears in his eyes. “[Strong] doesn’t want to see the young men he brought into this program fail. He doesn’t want us to fail and we don’t want him to fail.”

That support was broadcasted live on the Longhorn Network on Monday morning, but will it make any difference?

“I hope so,” Warrick said. “The fans they can be mad, but they’re not playing or actually have to go out there and play, I think [the players] opinions matter more.”

Perhaps, what upsets some Longhorns the most is that Strong has been left in limbo, without a clear answer on his future. He receives questions from reporters each week, starts trending on Twitter and has to hold back the distractions from his team.

For some players, this really isn’t anything new. Three years ago, Texas’ nine scholarship seniors went through the same process with former coach Mack Brown, just without the press conference theatrics.

They saw on Twitter and every other social media network that Brown was no longer the coach at Texas and were left wondering who would take over in the following days.

“I guess it’s just normal at this point,” said senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes.

That’s why when Strong said a few players looked like “they saw a ghost,” when he showed up for Sunday night’s team meeting, the seniors didn’t have to do a double take.

“I’ve dealt with coaching changes so to me until it’s set in stone, I wasn’t surprised [to see him],” Warrick said.

As Strong ended his 27-minute press conference, his team applauded as he walked away from the podium before giving each player a hug.

The Longhorns have at least one more game with Strong on the sideline. After that, they aren’t totally sure what will happen. But they’ve left little doubt as to where their stance lies.

“With my heart and my spirit, I want him to be here,” Boyette said. “All I can do is pray and hope for the best.”

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