“Circumstances changed.”

Christ, this whole article about the Tom Herman firing is a steaming pile of bullshit.

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte wanted to keep coach Tom Herman in place for the 2021 season. He issued a statement on Dec. 12 saying as much, even though every word was torn apart on social media.

But as December rolled on, more things kept cropping up, creating the perception of real trouble within the program. “Circumstances changed,” Del Conte told the American-Statesman late Saturday.

“From the time I made the statement, I had not completed my evaluation,” Del Conte said. “When I completed that evaluation, it became apparent a change needed to be made.”

If you hadn’t completed your evaluation, why on earth would you give the man your vote of confidence?  (Insert your “even Greg McGarity” observation here.)

And this is what were supposed to believe were the changed circumstances?

With Texas unable to win a title, players started opting out. Junior left tackle Samuel Cosmi announced he was skipping the remaining games, followed by junior safety Caden Sterns.

Seniors started opting out to start working toward the NFL draft, too — defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham and safety Chris Brown. Junior receiver Brennan Eagles opted out, and so did junior defensive end Joseph Ossai, who would later earn first-team All-America status from The Associated Press.

Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger, the biggest name left with 2021 draft value, stayed put. He played in the Alamo Bowl but suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the second half.

School officials were astonished and concerned, albeit privately. Why would so many players suddenly want to quit on the team?

You can’t be that gullible.  Nobody is.  Otherwise, you’d have seen a rash of coaches fired along with Herman.  As noted in the article, “Opting out of meaningless bowls is the wave of the future, though.”  More like wave of the present, but you get the drift.

Throw in a little trouble on the recruiting trail, the racist fallout from “The Eyes of Texas” controversy (“With how The Eyes situation and lack of leadership is shaking out, I am asking for a refund on the complete sum of 2020 athletic gifts/ticket money”) and voilà!  Changed circumstances, motherfucker.  Never mind that stuff was brewing before Del Conte gave Herman his pat on the back for 2021.

No, the real tip that the verdict was in way before Del Conte finished his “evaluation” was this:  “Within hours of his firing, the school announced the hiring of Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian as the next Texas coach.”  [Emphasis added.]

Don’t mess with Texas boosters.