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AUSTIN, Texas -- Charlie Strong should be feeling the pressure.After two consecutive losing seasons, there are daily questions whether he can not only win at Texas, but win enough to keep his job. He enters the season with an 11-14 record at Texas and a roster of talented, unproven players facing a Sunday night season-opener against No. 10 Notre Dame.Behind it all is the issue of race: Strong is the first black head football coach at Texas and one of just a handful across the nation. To be the first at Texas, which is still grappling with a segregationist legacy, is something Strong addressed the day he was hired in 2014 with a nod to those who never got a chance.Strong said its his role as a pioneer among black coaches that props him up, not wears him down. It comforts him.He will win, Strong said, because he simply cant fail.It drives me every day, Strong said. It doesnt make it harder. So many people are counting on you. You cant let them down ... Thats why I have to be successful.That Texas hired Strong from Louisville in the first place was significant. The school resisted integration in the 1950s and 1960s and had college footballs last all-white national championship team in 1969. Race issues still reverberate on campus, although 52 years after the Civil Rights Act administrators are now fighting legal battles to expand opportunities for minorities and scrub the campus of remnants aligning it with the old South in the Civil War.Earlier this year, Texas won a significant legal victory for affirmative action in higher education when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the schools consideration of race in some student admissions. And the school recently removed a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from its prominent perch on campus.Texas sociology professor Ben Carrington, whose work has focused on race and sports, praised former Texas athletic director Steve Patterson for hiring Strong barely two months into his tenure. Patterson was forced out in 2015 after alienating large numbers of fans, boosters and school administrators. Patterson also hired basketball coach Shaka Smart, the first black coach to lead that program as well.(Patterson) pushed back against the old-guard network, Carrington said. He deserves credit for that.Carrington, who sits on the schools athletics advisory council, has closely watched how Texas received Strong and says the coach has a groundswell of appreciation and good will toward him right now.But another losing season would likely leave Texas little choice but to make a change, Carrington said. It gets trickier for Strong and Texas if he wins, but doesnt win enough.This year is different. If Charlie Strong does not have a winning season, I dont see how he stays on, Carrington said. If they have a winning season, which they should do, how much is enough?If Strong has a winning season and still gets fired three years into a five-year contract, the element of race will jump front and center, Carrington said.The research shows that (black) coaches have longer to wait and less time to prove themselves, Carrington said. That becomes a judgment call ... and the cause will get loud.No one wants to pin down what would be enough for Strong. Last season, Texas beat Oklahoma and Baylor but still finished 5-7 with blowout losses of 38-3 to Notre Dame, 50-7 to TCU and 24-0 to lowly Iowa State.The program is still rebuilding. Strong is still unsettled when it comes to quarterback, he has a new offensive coordinator and his best talent remains young, sprinkled among freshmen and sophomores. That leaves Strong little margin for errors like missed extra points, dropped punts and other missteps that turned winnable games into heartbreaking losses the last two seasons.Texas hasnt had three consecutive losing seasons since the late 1930s.We know how critical this year is. If I start thinking negative, it will wear me down. I cant let that happen, Strong said.So he leans back on his strength: the idea that he cannot fail. Strong often tells the story of an elderly black woman who approached him at gas station and asked if he was the Texas coach. She grew up in segregated Austin and told him she was praying for him to succeed at Texas.Strong smiles at the story.I said, `As many prayers have been sent up for me, Im going to be able to walk to the pearly gates of heaven. She said, `Yes, you will, baby, Strong said. You see? They want success. When I have success, they are going to feel a part of it. Edmonton Oilers Shirts . 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Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. NEW YORK -- With one week left in the WNBA season, the playoff picture has become a bit clearer. At least as far as who will be playing in the postseason.Where teams will be seeded, thats still is a bit blurry after the top three.Chicago, Indiana, Atlanta and Seattle all clinched playoff spots Sunday leaving only one berth undetermined.It means a great deal especially because we got eliminated in the first round last year and that has been in the back of our heads, and we really want to make an impact this year in the playoffs, Chicago guard Cappie Pondexter said.The Sky won without star Elena Delle Donne, who has been sidelined with a thumb injury the past two games.Phoenix holds a two-game lead on Washington for the final spot and the Mercury need just one win or a loss by the Mystics to secure a place in the postseason. Atlanta clinched a spot despite losing to the Mercury on Sunday.Our season has been one of ups and downs. I thought we started the season off right and then we went on a six-game slide, but I think weve done a good job of recuperating and getting into this position, Dream coach Michael Cooper said. Our goal right now to finish out the last three games is to get that fourth playoff spot and kind of stay there, because again, we could use the rest. But whatever the basketball gods have for us, were ready, committed, and were going to make a good run.Atlanta, Chicago and Indiana are tied for fourth. Whichever team finishes in that spot will get a first-round bye.The Fever reached the postseason for the 12th straight yeaar.ddddddddddddIts the third longest active streak in American professional sports. While it seems that Indiana is a lock to make the playoffs every year, the Storm qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2013.It feels good. You can feel in the locker room there already is a bit of a buzz, Storm guard Sue Bird said. Its not easy at times to make the playoffs in this league and for awhile, I think our franchise even took it for granted because making the playoffs was the expectation. To not get in there the last couple of years and to finally get back feels really good.While fourth through eighth is still to be determined, the top three seeds are set. Minnesota clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory over San Antonio and a loss by Los Angeles to Seattle.We are pleased to have finished No. 1 overall in this very tough and balanced league, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. Our success this season is a testament to our teams strong leadership as well as the selfless nature of every single one of our players. Together we have been able to overcome the many challenges of the regular season. Ultimately, while pleased, we also know we have work to do to find success in the playoffs.Los Angeles will be the No. 2 seed and New York the 3. With the new playoff format, the Lynx and Sparks have byes until the semifinals.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '