"The Stack" 11-22-16
Jurgen Klinsmann is out as manager of men's U.S. soccer. It was only a matter of when after the U.S. lost 4-0 to Costa Rica last week.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Charlie Strong is still the head coach at Texas...for now. He will almost certainly be fired at the end of the season.
Gary Rohman-USA TODAY Sports
Amari Cooper's fourth quarter touchdown helped lead the Raiders to a 27-20 win over the Texans on MNF in Mexico City. The game though was marked by more bad officiating.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Stack is back on this Tuesday and we definitely have some things to talk about today. From football to futbol, there were plenty of stories that made headlines so let’s get right to it and see what made “the stack” for today, Tuesday, November 22nd:
Raiders top Texans in Mexico City on MNF
In the elevation on Monday night, the Oakland Raiders elevated their game when they needed to in the fourth quarter. They had over 200 yards in the fourth quarter alone and Derek Carr’s 35-yard touchdown to Amari Cooper who actually did most of the work on the play helped seal the deal for the Raiders victory. The Texans really did outplay the Raiders for much of the game, but couldn’t quite get the job done. The referees didn’t help them out much either though. Multiple times it looked like the Texans were given raw deals when the officials spotted the football. There was one drive particularly in the fourth quarter when it looked like the Texans had made a first down on a third down rush, but the officials gave them a poor spot. Fourth down looked like they had a first down and once again the officials gave them a bad spot. On the first drive of the game DeAndre Hopkins was called out when it looked like he stayed in bounds and would have raced for a touchdown. Officiating has not been good all season long. The Texans didn’t make enough plays in the end however and that will need to change if they want to make any noise in the postseason. This Raiders team though, watch out.
Jurgen Klinsmann fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach
After the loss the 4-0 loss to Costa Rica, it seemed like only a matter of time and when men’s national head coach Jurgen Klinsmann would be fired and not if he would be fired. Klinsmann was never able to take the U.S. over the hump in the World Cup or any other tournament and if anything the team and program seems to have regressed in recent years. Those factors along with some others contributed to Klinsmann getting fired on Monday. Klinsmann did lead the U.S. to the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup, but the past couple of years have not been pretty and now team U.S.A. will look towards possibly Bruce Arena for a second stint as head coach. We’ll see how that works out. They have a lot of work to do to become a threat and force to be reckoned with around the world once again. This does give me the chance though to remind everyone of just how good Iceland has become and hopefully they will make it to the World Cup. They are my favorite team and country to watch. Skol Iceland!
Charlie Strong still employed…for now
Perhaps the most stunning result of the day outside of Iowa State drumming Texas Tech 66-10 on Saturday in college football was Kansas topping Texas 24-21. The loss all but secures the fact that Texas will part ways with head coach Charlie Strong at the end of the season. Plenty of reports came out after the game and on Sunday too that Strong would be fired, but Texas Athletic Director Mike Perrin said that Strong would be evaluated at the end of the season. So they’re letting Strong twist in the wind? Well, during Strong’s press conference on Monday Strong said he is still the coach and has not been told that he will be fired even though even he has to think that he will be gone at the end of the season. Some players on the team have threatened to boycott this week’s game against TCU because of what is going on, but that won’t happen. It’s nice to see they have the support of their head coach. Unfortunately, it feels like Strong never had the full support of the university, and more importantly the boosters, from the moment he was hired. Strong deserved better. What his future hold remains to be determined, but it almost certainly will not be at Texas. That however will be decided at the end of the season which will be after this week’s game against TCU if Texas loses.
Coming up Wednesday: College football forecast plus other top stories in sports
