AUSTIN -- On a day like Monday, when reporters looked for any signs short of circling buzzards regarding Charlie Strong's future, it didn't go unnoticed that Texas' reclusive athletic director showed up for the weekly news conference.

The come-and-go cameo caught Charlie by surprise, too.

"I guess he's making sure I'm OK," Strong told the media. "I haven't jumped off the stadium yet."

Until Saturday at the State Fair, anyway, the gallows humor serves him well.

If Strong pulls off another upset of Oklahoma, he might actually get the last laugh because of a soft Big 12 schedule that could foul up the "fire-him-now-or-fire-him-later" scenarios circulating.

Consider the knee-jerk option first: Texas has never fired a coach at mid-season, and various university officials have told numerous media anonymously it won't happen now. Not everyone connected with the university is convinced. Down in San Antonio, Red McCombs, one of the school's biggest donors and an unabashed critic of Strong's hiring, told the Express-News he was more concerned than ever about the direction of the football program after two straight embarrassing losses.

So should Texas fire Strong now?

"It's not my call," McCombs told the paper. "But if they decide it's over, it doesn't do anybody any good to drag it out."

Especially if Oklahoma goes medieval on the Horns. Let's say Strong's boss, Mike Perrin, decides to follow McCombs' advice. Who's the interim coach? The top candidate would have been Vance Bedford, except the performance of his defense has been so awful this season, Strong demoted him Monday and took over the defense himself. The offensive coordinator, 38-year-old Sterlin Gilbert, is so new his mail hasn't caught up with him yet. Besides, he's got enough on his hands getting a consistent effort out of his new charges.

At least LSU had eager Ed Orgeron, a former head coach, to act as interim after Les Miles' exit.

Naturally, you can't bring up the LSU situation without mentioning Houston's Tom Herman, everybody's favorite heir.

Could LSU get the jump on Texas by offering Herman the job now? Careful of those covert deals. Reporters tend to find out about them, and they can ruin otherwise wonderful seasons. Bear Bryant always blamed a Houston Post sportswriter for an upset by Rice in 1957 and the loss of Texas A&M's potential championship season, all because Jack Gallagher reported Bear was leaving for Alabama. If Herman wants to preserve his status as college football's hottest ticket, he needs to stay clear of any back-room deals and keep Houston on track for a shot at the College Football Playoff.

And if you think Texas needs to get a jump on LSU, you should know that for all of the advantages presented in Baton Rouge -- primarily, locking up one of the most talent-rich states in the country -- there are more politics in Louisiana than the last 10 presidential elections combined. The coach who takes over for Miles will have to deal with it. Herman has waited this long. He's smart enough to wait a little longer for the best job available.

Let's say Texas officials have decided they'll wait, too, and let Strong finish this season before firing him.

Frankly, nothing Strong does in the short-term could convince me he's safe. He beat Oklahoma last year, then lost to Iowa State. Beat Notre Dame this year, then lost to Cal and Oklahoma State.

On the other hand, what if Texas goes 6-2 or 7-1 or, heaven forbid, runs the table?

"We can still make a lot of noise," Strong said Monday. "We're as talented as anyone in the conference."

In fact, Strong made the same point in a team meeting Sunday. Only the Sooners have as much or more talent.

"Everybody else?" Strong said. "Let's be real about it."

OK, let's be real: The Big 12 hasn't seemed so winnable in years. Oklahoma still seems like the best bet to me, but the Sooners keep doing silly things like giving up 22 points to TCU in the fourth quarter of a game they'd dominated.

Even if the Sooners win Saturday, the Longhorns could finish well if Strong turns around the defense.

Let me ask: Could Texas really fire him if he wins 8 or 9 games?

Frankly, I'm not even sure where the pressure would come from anymore. Perrin is about as low-key as they come, and the president, Greg Fenves, got on a plane to help close the deal on Gilbert. Does that sound like a man ready to get rid of his head coach? As for the big boosters, no offense, but Red McCombs had no impact on Strong's hiring. Why would he have any juice now? With Joe Jamail's passing, a vacuum seems to have developed. Maybe Strong's case leads someone or a cabal of sorts to fill it.

Until then, consider the take of linebacker Breckyn Hager, speaking for the majority of his teammates Monday.

"You guys gotta listen to us as players," he said. "We're saying he's a great coach. We love him as a coach. Getting a new coach is just gonna set the program back. We have one of the best in the business. You've gotta keep him. He's not only a great coach, he's a great man who's helping us become better men. We're blessed to have him.

"Our fans need to realize that and listen to people that are being coached by him every day."

Of course, the best argument Hager and his teammates could make is on a football field, starting Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. They need to atone for the disconnect between Strong's track record and what we've seen lately. If they want to save their beloved coach, it's past time to get started.