AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas football coach Charlie Strong said Monday that he will coach the regular-season finale Friday against TCU and believes that his future is still up for determination, as he was told it would be by school officials.
Strong's statements came before an overflow press conference and in the wake of myriad reports that the school has already decided to fire him.
The fire that had been simmering all season as the Longhorns have struggled to win just five games increased after Texas lost to hapless Kansas on Saturday for the first time since 1938.
Some media outlets have reported that Strong would be fired Monday, but the Longhorns' coach -- in the third year of a five-year contract on which he's owed $10.7 million the next two seasons -- was steadfast when he said the job is still his until he's told differently.
"I spoke yesterday with (Texas athletic director) Mike (Perrin) and he told me that we would be evaluated at the end of the season," Strong said. "That's when the decision will be made. We have one game to play and need to win."
Texas can still make a bowl game -- its first since 2014's Texas Bowl loss to Arkansas -- if it beats visiting TCU on Friday.
"I hope the decision hasn't been made yet," Strong said. "I don't really know what (Texas officials) are thinking but I have to think winning this game will help."
Perrin, who was not at Monday's press availability, released a statement late Sunday night that echoed Strong's.
"There are a number of rumors out there about the status of coach Strong," Perrin said in his statement. "I've said it all along, we will evaluate the body of work after the regular season. We have a game to get ready for against TCU on Friday, and I hope our fans will come out and support our team. We'll discuss where things stand after that."
The speculation about Strong's future in Austin, or lack of, intensified in the wake of Saturday's shocking 24-21 overtime loss to Kansas, a team that had lost 19 straight Big 12 games and had not beaten a FBS opponent in almost three seasons.
Strong is 16-20 in three seasons with the Longhorns and currently has the lowest winning percentage of any coach in Texas football history. If he loses to TCU, which, at 5-7 with two games to play, is also fighting to earn a bowl invite, Strong will become the first coach to oversee three consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 1936-38.
"I know the wins and losses don't stack up," Strong said. "But the program is on a solid foundation now, all our players are on track to graduate and we've set a standard in this program. We are focused on building a total person with the players we have here."
More than 50 Texas players stood at the back of the room in a show of support for their beleaguered coach.
"Not many people look at this from a player's point of view," Strong said. "I told them a few weeks ago, 'Don't give up on me, I won't give up on you.' I think this is a group of players that will win the national championship -- I'm really convinced that's true."
News reports earlier Monday claimed that several players were considering a boycott of Friday's game if Strong was fired. Both Strong and a number of his players refuted those reports Monday.
"That was never going to happen," said Texas senior defensive tackle Paul Boyette. Jr., who spend the majority of his time Monday with the press fighting back tears. "We are going to finish as a team and work together and hard to get this win, for the seniors, for a bowl game and for coach Strong."
