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When embattled Texas?coach Charlie Strong walked into a team meeting room on Sunday, a day after another devastating loss, this time to woebegone Kansas, he said his players looked at him like they were seeing a ghost.Guys, its really me, Strong told them.Strong was the only Texas official with enough courage and guts to show himself in public on Monday, a day after there were various media reports, including from ESPN, that athletic director Mike Perrin and university president Gregory Fenves had already decided to fire him.For the record, Strong said he met with Perrin and talked with Fenves on Sunday. Strong said he was told that he and his coaching staff would be evaluated at the end of the regular season, and that a decision wouldnt be made until after Fridays regular-season finale against TCU in Austin. Perrin said the same thing in a statement the university released on Sunday night.For what its worth, Strong believes the result of Fridays game will carry some weight as to whether or not hell be coaching the Longhorns beyond this season. It might only be wishful thinking -- or maybe not.I dont really think so, Strong said, when asked if he believed a decision about his future had been made. Id like not to think it has, because Ive been told they would make the decision after the TCU game. I dont believe it has been done.Clearly, the odds dont seem to be in his favor. The Longhorns dropped to 5-6 overall after losing 24-21 in overtime at Kansas, which hadnt defeated Texas since 1938. The Longhorns have to beat the Horned Frogs on Friday to become bowl-eligible.Strong is 16-20 overall and 12-14 in Big 12 play in three seasons at Texas.I know the wins and losses dont stack up, Strong said.But after cleaning up Texas off-field issues, Strong believes his young team is improving every week and will be even better in 2017.Next year, I want to come back, Strong said. I look at the job this staff has done and the players theyve put in place and how far weve come. ... Youre looking at a young football team that, when you get everything back in place for the upcoming year, has a lot of talent.Its hard to imagine that Perrin and Fenves would string Strong along for five more days, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday, if theyve already decided he wont be returning for a fourth season. But then again, we are talking about Texas, where the uncomfortable ending of longtime coach Mack Browns tenure dragged on for days before reaching finality in 2013.If Fenves and Perrin had already decided to fire Strong, would they really have paraded him out in front of a roomful of reporters for his regular news conference on Monday? If they were certain they were going to fire him, wouldnt they have already delivered the news to him? At least then he and his players could relax and enjoy what might be their final game together on Friday.Strong said he could already sense that his team was playing tight as speculation about his future swirled the past few weeks. The Longhorns blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter against Kansas, which had lost nine straight games and 19 consecutive Big 12 contests. Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele threw three interceptions, including one in overtime, and star tailback?DOnta Foreman?fumbled twice.I can tell on the field how were playing not to lose, Strong said. We have one game left. Its important we play this game for our seniors, because they deserve to get to a bowl game. Were all frustrated. Standing in the room [with his players on Sunday], I could see the look in their eyes how frustrated they were about that loss.Its hard to say Strong has lost his locker room given the show of support Texas players gave on Monday.He doesnt have the support, I guess, of some of the people who are trying to get him out, receiver?Jacorey Warrick?said. But the people who really matter, the players, you can see where our support lies.Texas defensive tackle?Paul Boyette Jr.?made a tearful defense of Strong on Monday. In my heart and my spirit, I want him to be here, he said. I dont make the decisions. Im not the head man in charge. All I can do is pray and hope for the best. I cant say enough about him.If Texas administration has no intentions of bringing Strong back next season, waiting another five days to fire him is only going to make matters worse. The current situation in Austin is eerily similar to what happened at LSU last season, when the Tigers were trying to decide whether or not to fire coach Les Miles.In the days before LSUs regular-season finale against Texas A&M in 2015, there were widespread media reports that the administration was leaning toward firing Miles, who guided the Tigers to two SEC titles and the 2007 BCS national championship.But then a funny thing happened: LSU fans decided they wanted to keep their popular coach. They chanted his name and roared when he was introduced during Senior Day ceremonies. Other fans waved signs of support from the stands. After LSU knocked off the Aggies 19-7, LSUs players carried Miles off the field on their shoulders.Then athletic director Joe Alleva unexpectedly announced that Miles would return to coach for another season. According to various media reports, LSU president F. King Alexander decided Miles wouldnt be fired during a meeting with Alleva and influential boosters in a luxury suite at halftime of the game.Of course, LSUs decision is also a cautionary tale for Texas. After getting new life, Miles coached the Tigers for only four games this season. Alleva fired him the day after an 18-13 loss at Auburn dropped LSUs record to 2-2.Regardless, the Longhorns need to decide what theyre going to do and go ahead and do it. The outcome of one game really cant mean that much in the big picture.As Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley famously said in 2002: If something needs to be done eventually, it needs to be done immediately.It sure beats Strongs current predicament.No person deserves to be in this type of limbo, Boyette Jr. said.Sale Custom College Jerseys . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. Custom UCLA Bruins Jerseys . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. http://www.customjerseyscollege.com/ . PAUL, Minn. Custom College Jerseys Store .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Custom College Jerseys China . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action.TORONTO -- Last winter, Hockey Canada and Bauer Hockey Inc. commissioned an independent survey to better understand the challenges facing non hockey-playing families. Thats because according to the two organizations, approximately 90 per cent of Canadian families choose to not have their kids play hockey. So a survey of 875 non hockey-playing families in Ontario and Nova Scotia was conducted to better understand why they dont play the game and the top four reasons given were a) it wasnt fun b) was too time consuming c) safety concerns d) and affordability. The good news is 73 per cent of those surveyed also said theyd consider putting their kids in the game in future while 40 per cent said theyd definitely consider it. Hockey Canada and Bauer Canada unveiled pilot programs Thursday at Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) for launch in Ontario and Nova Scotia this fall to address the survey findings. Its the next phase in Grow The Game, an initiative launched last year to add one million new players by 2022. "What this does is (set off) that little bell," said Paul Carson, Hockey Canadas vice-president of hockey development. "Its a reminder that youve got promote the game in a way people understand the fun and positive experiences youngsters have in the sport." Former NHL star Mark Messier is assisting Bauer and Hockey Canada in their quest to get more players in the game. The six-time Stanley Cup champion says theres more to hockey in Canada than making it to the NHL, winning gold medals on the world stage and playing at the highest rep level. "That is a great part of our game, we all know that, I mean I lived it, so many Canadians have lived it and fans live it," Messier said. "But hockey is so much more than that for our children and thats the idea were trying to get across that it doesnt have to be that. "Im in no way demeaning those programs because theres a need for that and theres kids who are ready for that. But its the other kids we need to pay attention to and theres a lot of those kids who are kind of getting bypassed right now." Six-week pilot programs will be launched this fall and next spring in Hamilton, the Toronto neighbourhood of Scarborough, Halifax and East Hants, N.S. Bauer, Hockey Canada and local governing bodies will hoost fun days for parents and children while also providing information on hockey safety and educating on proper equipment fit, among other subjects.dddddddddddd As well, enrolment and equipment will be bundled together at $100. Once the programs are launched, they will be re-evaluated and expanded into other regions. Kevin Davis, the president and chief executive officer of Bauer, said addressing the issue of hockey affordability was important. "We just want to completely remove that from being a barrier and its a compelling offer relative to other sports," he said. "Again, its a pilot program and were going to roll this out and see what kind of success (we have) and my guess is were going to learn some stuff as we go. "We have a responsibility to our shareholders to grow the company but we have a responsibility to the sport. This is the heart of hockey here in Canada . . . were committed to getting more kids on the ice." Messier, for one, was stunned by the survey results. "I think it comes to a shock to everybody," he said. "We like to consider ourselves at the top of the pyramid in hockey around the world and if were going to stay there . . . we have to continue to develop our talent pool. "In order to do that we have to continue to introduce the game to more kids, get more kids playing and keep those kids that do try it in the game. This is one way, hopefully, we can start to do that. Were trying to send the message now that hockey is for everybody and theres a place for everybody if you want to play hockey." Messier said its important for kids to have alternate places to play other than rep or travel leagues. "We dont want to make our kids feel like theyre failures because that (rep, AAA) isnt for them or theyre not ready for that," he said. "Right now theres not a real soft place for them to land if they dont make that but still love the game. "If theyre not in the game they cant make it so were going to keep the kids in the game, theyre going to more fun and theyre going to be passionate about it. If they do develop and get that keen sense of passion that you need to play at that intense level, I think were going to have more kids who are funnelling through that, it just might take them a little longer." ' ' '