Practice Report From The Asset(s)

Thanks, JS. I know the offense is frustrating, but it is encouraging to hear the coaches are trying to adjust to what we have, unlike in years past. How much that will help come Thanksgiving remains to be seen…

So excited about our D.

No QB controversy please. Have a fun week.

Everybody have a happy Thanksgiving and lets put a beating on A&M.

“At WR, Jordan Shipley gave it a go yesterday and looked pretty good.”

Oh how I wish this was correct.

Good to know that Jordan is better.

How is Jaxon?

JS,
Does the coaching staff think that Ash will eventually “get it”, or are they scrambling to figure out what todo for the remainder of this year and next year? Sad situation, given the performance of Shipley, RBs, and defense.

Good stuff, JS and Asset. Good to hear the defense is flying around.

We’ve played outstanding ball on the defensive side four weeks in a row. Well, three. Kansas hardly counts. But Tech is a capable offense and sometimes more. Mizzou is legit. K-State is odd, but also legit. We stuffed all four. We botched about two plays against Oklahoma State, and paid the price, but the talent and hustle are there.

The turnovers just aren’t. Can’t decide if that’s a schematic failure or just terrible luck. I want a lot of field time for our kickoff coverage team on Thursday night.

Anyone have a few suggestions where I can find the game streaming on Thursday…I will be without TV access but will have internet. Thanks, I’ll hang up and listen.

Overall, offensively we had a pretty mediocre practice

Right about now, after the past two Saturdays, “mediocre” offense sounds great to me …

I for one can do without all the trickeration bullshit. All that smoke-and-mirrors looks great right up until we snap the ball. At that point we look like my 8-year-old’s flag football team, and with eerily similar results (coach with his head in his hands on the sidelines).

We look retarded when we try one of these halfback-pass triple reverse hook-and-ladder statue of liberty plays that goes for 1 yard (or a fumble). I would much rather Harsin work on calling a proper running play from midfield with 3 minutes remaining and a chance to get the go-ahead score instead of throwing 4 straight incompletions, but maybe that’s just me.

If Texas forces even one (more) turnover we win against K-State. That “interfered” muffed punt turned out to be HUGE. That said, it’s pretty hard to force TOs when the Wildcats’ game plan was to run power into a 9-man brick wall time and time again. It’s possible we could have gotten a pick or two if we had taken an early lead and forced K-State to keep throwing.

Brown and Bergeron did not look 100% so I’ll believe it when I see it. Hard to believe that Ship could go from not dressing to 100% as well.

If Gray doesn’t go, the secondary should get plenty of action. Hopefully Tannehill channels his inner Sexy Rexy “F It, I’m Throwing It Downfield” again.

Some cigar rumblings that Mack is going to have to provide an exit strategy if he doesn’t decide to step down by the end of the season. Also, as we’ve maintained for the last year or so, Chris Petersen is the guy at the top of the short list. In fact Petersen’s always been the guy as our weekly Q and A’s will attest. He’ll likely be the next coach at Texas. This from the biggest of cigars.

Sorry, couldn’t hold this until the Humidor.

I expect the Ag’s to play there best game of the year so its going to take a big effort to win this one, several weeks ago I felt pretty confident but not after the last two eggs the offense has laid.

We need to running game to produce more than ever to control clock and keep Aggie off the field and of course mix in some explosive plays for points.

If we can get Tannehill into a throwing game and get pressure hopefully the turnovers will come.

Is the Jordan Shipley reference on purpose? Because Jaxon has a blown MCL? Just checking because Taylor Gaspar knows everything and she says he won’t play again this year (sarcasm).

All that fancy schmancy trickeration that makes your head spin lead to some of the few TD passes this team has thrown. Might be the only way to get the ball downfield at this point.

Anyway, there was nothing tricky, gadgety, or fancy about the ineptitude that was 4 straight passes from the 50. Quit trying to point at two wholly unrelated items to support your argument.

“Some cigar rumblings that Mack is going to have to provide an exit strategy if he doesn’t decide to step down by the end of the season.”

Oh. Wow.

adt2: We aren’t running enough base running plays for you? What game are you watching? That’s the only thing we do well and we do it a great deal.

JS,

Thanks for the Mack nugget regarding his status. After watching the presser on Monday I had a feeling of “its time for him to go” and I have supported Mack since the beginning but that is getting tougher and tougher to do.

I am getting really tired of the “baby kissing” during the press conferences, as the quote goes “you play to win the game”, nothing else matters unless you listen to Mack spin all of the stats each week, vomit!

“Chris Petersen is the guy at the top of the short list.”

Guess that would get rid of the question of Harsin or Petersen being the wizard as it wouldn’t matter at that point.

I don’t know about those cigar rumblings. I’d like to keep this staff together for a full off season and another year. I’m not anxious to plunge into the desert of looking for the right coach. I don’t know that Petersen is a can’t miss. How is he with Texas high school coaches? How well will he handle the administrative relations? Will he recruit well here?

Success is not always portable. We went from the bad days to very good days with Mack. Now we want optimal days and think they are the natural next step in the progression of coaches. There is no natural next step. The next step could be a doozy in either direction.

I don’t want Mack forced out. I don’t want to lose this recruiting class. I don’t want to scrap what has been achieved this year, as irregular as it is, for another new start unless there is some issue that is unseen. If the staff and team are unified, I say leave things as they are for another year.

Roma… well said.

If Mack goes this season, it almost has to be Petersen or else we probably just toss another season or two out the window while a new coach brings in his people. I wonder if Petersen would be ‘forced’ to retain Diaz, Davis, Giles, and Akina? I would hate to see those guys go. Chambers would likely be looking for work, but I hope Applewhite would stay on.

I would be kosher with Mack ‘retiring’ if we don’t have to go through another entirely new staff situation.

I think the time is right for Mack to step down. He’s an old 60 and just seems completely worn out. We’re at least two years from being in a conference championship discussion, and I just can’t see him hanging around that long. I see him announcing his retirement before the bowl game, leading to an inspired effort that sends him off as a winner. Petersen steps in with the same offense and defense, and we don’t lose any momentum that has been created this year. It’s the perfect exit strategy under the current conditions, IMO.

After watching the defense in the last two games, Ash must have looked dynamite in practices if they advanced the ball at all. He just needs to probably slow down a tad which is easier to say from the bleachers or sofa.

Just want to reiterate, I haven’t heard that Mack is being forced out this season. I’ll spill the rest in the Humidor.

Well, maybe the third time will be the charm for ex-Boise State head coaches.

How much does Mack really inject into game planning or practices? Is he the face of the organization or the heart?

CS,

Exit strategy doesnt have to be this year either, maybe he gets another year and then your plan kicks in. With the lack of offensive talent on the roster we cant afford to lose prize recruits. I agree with you that he seems worn down, we need a tougher coach, I am done with the glad handing and praise for our opponents etc, he is the only HC of a major program that does that IMO.

Is Meyer in negotiations with Ohio State? If not, he’s got to get a shot.

So, does that mean we see Petersen doing a lot of recruiting for BSU in Texas over the next couple of years?!? The previous HCiW project didn’t quite pan out, but this one at least keeps HCiW at enough of a distance to reduce friction!

Has mack made fresh errors this season? Obviously all the problems we have are a result of his sins but is he adding to them?

Dodds is not going to shitcan Mack or even ask Mack to gracefully leave. No matter how the year finishes up, he is fine through next year. You will know Mack’s time is at an end when Dodds decides to retire.

VA Horn: The “we might lose recruits” angle will be there regardless of when Mack actually does walk away. At this point, having fresh leadership seems more important to me than a recruiting class.

And count me as skeptical on the Petersen hype. Not saying the Asset is wrong, just saying that I am not convinced that he should be the slam dunk hire that people make him out to be.

Urban I get. The guy has proven he can win and understands what the HC role at a school like Texas means in terms of handling the ancillary bs that goes on. Granted, he will likely quit multiple times while here, but you take the good with the bad.

I’m not sure how a new coach gets us a red-shirt Junior quarterback who’s had the opportunity to learn the system and adjust to college-level game speed.

JS,

Interesting note on working nickel based on assumptions about Gray. Any chance that the Gray-injury-ambiguity is deliberate subterfuge by a crafty (i.e., awake) Sherman?

Great stuff and thanks as always

Just a note on the “glad handing” that people keep complaining about:

One of the things Texas fans pride themselves on is have a clean and classy program. I think that starts at the top. Does that mean Mack is justified, for example, in not running up the score when he has the opportunity? I don’t know. But I do know that Mack has done things the “right” way, and in doing so given Texas a huge platform to stand on when combating things like street agents.

I point this out because I think the two are tied together in his personality. No one is perfect. And I would prefer that Mack sometimes be more cut throat on the field. But I have no problem with him giving the other team credit. It shows class and respect, which is what sports are supposed to teach kids.

Complain about failure to supervise recruiting or recruiting the wrong guys, complain about his meddling or lack thereof, complain about play calls, etc. But to complain about the coach being respectful of opponents during press conferences is just ridiculous. This is college, not the NFL.

Jesus,

I have heard that Dodds promised the new hires when they interviewed that Mack and the whole staff would have a multi-year grace period to right the ship. The people I talked to said several of the candidates, namely Searles and multiple OC candidates, openly told Dodds and Mack that the offense would be a project that would take 2 years at a minimum and could take longer to get back to a level UT was accustomed to.

Any insight to this? Seems unlikely to me that there will be any pressure on Mack unless they really shit the bed next year.

I read “exit strategy” as Mack being asked to sign on to either (1) a conference title, or, (2) a BCS bowl. In a defined time period. Maybe next year, or in 2013.

This is not being forced out. This is his bosses saying, do you want to retire now, or are you willing to make a promise — (1) and (2) above — we can hold you to?

Nothing wrong with that.

Alternatively, Mack gets the cable providers to agree to carry the LHN.

Nickel,

The appropriate question isn’t whether Mack is adding to our problems but whether at this point in his career he is the best guy to resolve those problems.

Big Ern, yes, we heard they were each unofficially given 3 years. Again, my source didn’t say Mack was being forced out, only that some questions on a timetable were forthcoming. Unless, and don’t discount this possibility, Mack simply hangs them up after this season. I’ll tell you why this a distinct possibility in the next article.

Mack can’t quit. The University has too much goodwill invested in the mackbrown-texasfootball.com domain name. If Mack leaves, the site’s click-throughs will plummet.

With regards to Mack getting “fired,” this could just be more external & internal pressure on Mack to right the ship. If so, it would honestly be due diligence… otherwise the BOD would be making the same mistakes that Mack did…. complacency.

This is the best news I have heard. The headman should pay the price for the abysmal condition that this team’s offense is in.

Alternatively, Mack gets the cable providers to agree to carry the LHN.

Winning football, or miracles? Winning football probably is easier.

I’m wondering if it has something to do with North Carolina. maybe taking over as the A.D., seeing as to how their program needs some stability.

“Unless, and don’t discount this possibility, Mack simply hangs them up after this season. Again, I’ll tell you why this a distinct possibility in the next article.”

Is it because we suck?

Interesting news about both Mack and Petersen.

Not sure Petersen has the clapping chops, though. Those are big clapping shoes to step into. Maybe he can clap on, but can he clap off? I have my doubts.

Also I really think this

…is worth looking into. This would provide a competitive distinction matched by nobody in the FBS.

Big Ern said: “I have heard that Dodds promised the new hires when they interviewed that Mack and the whole staff would have a multi-year grace period to right the ship. The people I talked to said several of the candidates, namely Searles and multiple OC candidates, openly told Dodds and Mack that the offense would be a project that would take 2 years at a minimum and could take longer to get back to a level UT was accustomed to.”

Whoever you’re talking to is spot on Ern. The simple fact that almost 80% of starters on the offense are Freshmen or Sophomores told us from the first game that this was a complete rebuild project, and anyone who thought different either doesn’t understand the game or had completely unrealistic expectations. Even if the best we do is 6 wins, so long as we continue to play hard and physical every game, I will be proud of this team and coaching staff.

And we have brought it every game, including OU. Last year’s team could not say the same.

As much as I’d like to see a change at the top (assuming everyone else stays) I am weary of it turning against us. I say this as a resident of Knoxville, TN and one who has seen the “grass is greener on the other side” mentality when it doesn’t work. Also, I was a UT-Austin student during the days when we’d get excited about getting ONE Top 10 state recruit.

Peterson does seem to be a logical choice for an easy transition.

When I said the donors I talked to were fed up with Mack all I got was grief. 6-6 and there is a legit chance he is not coaching in 2012. I got this from two different people who would know.

Mack needs a win badly Thursday.

I don’t doubt that donors and boosters are pissed off and bitching and moaning. I have talked to a fair amount of boosters as well (all seem to think that they have the ability to fire coaches). I’m just not buying that it matters. If Mack wants to stay, he will stay. Now next year could be a different story.

With Mack stepping down in the next year or two does that mean he’s going to take over the AD position?

Everyone knew the program was in a rebuilding mode. It appears that there is an emerging sentiment that questions whether Mack is the right guy to lead the rebuilding effort.

Pretty strong rumors coming out of $ circles in Houston that both Petrino and Saban have been approached about their interest in an 8-10 year deal to coach UT. Calling these $ guys Big Cigars would be an insult to the size of their Swiss bank accounts.

Uh, wow, flipteach. I’m going to make Ransom look like Joel Osteen…

A new HC now would be about stopping our systemic death-spiral on offense—one that has Mack’s fingerprints all over it—and preventing the next wave of micro-managed, mail-it-in recruiting evaluations/decisions and player development at QB, TE, WR, and OL. Where else is the offense of a top-tier football program functional ONLY when it has generationally special, all-world talent at key positions on offense, and destined to be as weak as a HS offense when we don’t?

Something’s fundamentally wrong if we’ll simply step back and take off our burnt-orange blinders. The status of the program is a product of more than 5 years of incompetence at the top; no board at any leading corporation would tolerate such underperformance from its $5MM/year CEO.

We have the best brand, resources, recruiting footprint, and locale — not to mention an endless bevy of attractive co-eds — yet we consistently lose to coaches/lesser programs located in rural wastelands, stocked with 2* and 3* recruits and JUCO players. One conference title every 5-10 years is completely disporprotionate to our competitive advantages.

True, years of recruiting talent eventually overcame GDGD and Mack’s ways, leading to our 2006 MNC. But 5-7 and 6-6 (likely) seasons are the manifestations of a complete dereliction of duty to The University, players, fans, and alumni. Unfortunately, Mack appears to have been driven in his career by the goal of winning one MNC and by relationship loyalty, not by a passion to build an enduring program that could dominate after he leaves / without him.

As a long-time alumnus, I will always be appreciative for what Mack did for the program, but I refuse to be as flawed and unconditional in my loyalty to him as he was to GDGD and that staff of incompetent friends.

I also don’t buy that we’ll see significant decommit risk with recruits when Mack steps down. Do you honestly think J. Gray doesn’t already see what we see, and at least have doubts about this offense since the MNC vs. Alabama and the inexplicable, repeated lack of a legitimate D1 QB at UT? I think our recruits are at least as fired up about simply playing for Texas, The University, and new staff members as they are about playing for Mack. For that, we can definitely thank Mack.

When Mack steps down, it will be well thought-through transition that minimizes recruiting risk in the short-term. In the long-term, our resources, momentum and broader brand trajectory of the program will allow a new HC to take the program to the next level.

I’ll hang up and listen.

Big Ern-

These two never wavered before. Even during our 0-5 run to OU. They were only mildly annoyed by 5-7. A definite tone shift for sure.

When Mack took over in 99, he took on a rebuild. It took him 6 years to achieve that rebuild (with some brutal ass whoopings to OU, among others, along the way). I don’t think any one of us want to wait another 6 years (obviously not an apples to apples, but it gives food for thought). There is much to love about Mack. A ton in fact. But I’m in the camp that thinks this rebuild needs to be assigned to someone new.

Thanks a lot for the updates… Look forward to hearing more on the Mack situation.

Very interesting to say the least. I’ve been on record as being supportive of Mack staying as the ship gets righted for the sake of continuity in the rest of the coaching staff (who I all believe to range from strong to outstanding) and 2012/2013 recruiting. If a move was made for Peterson I think it would mitigate most of my continuity concerns – him being comfortable with Harsin is a no-brainer, and if Harsin then took the reins for BSU then Major taking over as the sole OC and collaborating with Peterson would stand us in good stead. It would be insane for Peterson to mess with anything on the defensive staff so I doubt he would, as he’d feel fine with his existing defensive staff continuing to stay on and thrive at BSU.

If these rumors continue to gain steam, though, I think you get pretty close to obligated to cut bait after this season. Mack lingering as a possible lame duck for another year could do far more harm than good with respect to recruiting and overall program health, and any sort of ‘conditions’ laid on 2012 achievements would be imperiled both by a very uncertain QB situation and some of the same instability brought on by our last semi-lame duck/HCIW scenario (although at least we’re spared infighting between competent and incompetent coordinators).

If Peterson were to succeed at another school would he not be the first from Boise State to do so? Coach Fran started the TCU powerhouse and he looked barely average at Bama and then Aggy.
Not so sure that because some guy named the Big Chigger says Peterson is coming that Peterson would agree to come or he would be asked to come. Looks like Gary Patterson might have figured this stuff out before the rest of you and that’s why he remains at TCU. Successful careers at some schools facing shitty competition may not do that well when they go to a Texas, or a Bama, or a Notre Dame.
It’s a bigger crap shoot than recruiting when you hire a new coach. You guys must be 23 years old if you haven’t lived through the Akers, MacWilliams and Mackovic years and I don’t look forward to that anymore or ever again.
The Asshat seems like he could be a water boy and a lot of things he is passing on is a little questionable at best.
This speculation is all fun and I am joking around about the Big Chigger or the Asshat name calling, but we are getting way ahead of ourselves here and I don’t look forward to Dodds selecting another coach for UT because he hired MacWilliams and Mackovic and he wanted Barnett before others stepped up and said no.

Me thinks this team’s got enough on its plate just getting ready for aggy.

Now they get to deal with questions about Mack’s ouster.

Not good. And not smart.

Anybody thinking the ship would be righted not even one year out is sadly deluded.

Even so, sans the injury bug, and one plastic shag field, this team would be possible top 10 with two losses.

I can understand Mack wanting to “retire” after 2011 but if he stays two more years, with what’s coming in, he just might get to ride off with two BCS bowl victories and an NC ring in Jan. 2014.

This team’s gonna’ be salty.

If they get the chance.

I don’t have near the number or size of Big Cigars that JS has, but I will say never underestimate how much Mack is loved by recruits, players and all of their parents.

Personally, I think the worst thing to discuss is the exit strategy. Let me in the dark and shock me when it happens. we do not need that stuff circling around while asking 18 yr olds to commit to us. It is nice to appease our curiosity, it has the potential to do more harm than good

“You guys must be 23 years old if you haven’t lived through the Akers, MacWilliams and Mackovic years and I don’t look forward to that anymore or ever again.”

I remember those years well- struggling to stay above .500 and having one incompetent side of the ball lose game after game for us. I would not want to risk going back to that. Oh, wait.

I’m not sure we can afford to lose Coach Brown and Coach Gideon in the same off-season.

I agree with Palmetto, this is the worst possible time for this to come up. Everybody should the shut the fuck up for two more weeks, imho.

The timing is not good, but “he just might get to ride off with two BCS bowl victories and an NC ring in Jan. 2014” assumes an awful lot of improvement under center.

I’ll wager that Applewhite is really, really looking forward to working for Saban again.

Saban? Jason Kidd and Huckleberry would call that a complete 360 from where we currently sit. I’d call it a 180 though.

Saban is not going to happen. WE KNOW he’s dirty. See Richardson, Trent.

In the 7 years it took Mack Brown to “rebuild” the UT program:

Stoops rebuilt OU to MNC in 2nd year
Tressel rebuilt OSU to MNC in 2nd year
Pete Carroll rebuilt USC to MNC in 2nd year
Saban rebuilt LSU to MNC in 2nd year

All of the above took place while MB was “rebuilding” UT program, which has since collapsed. And since the UT MNC in 2005,

Urban Meyer has 2 MNCs at Florida
Les Miles has MNC (and gunning for second) at LSU
Gene Chizik got MNC in his 2nd year at Auburn

Mack Brown is the problem, not the solution.

Saban and Petrino do not strike me as the most ethical sorts.

Isn’t there a middle ground between screw the rules win at all costs and keep the best man at your wedding and a 400 pound conditioning coach around because you like them?

Tressel rebuilt nothing OSU was loaded with talent. People love to say things like Urban rebuilt Florida, but all rebuilds are not the same.

Saban and Petrino are being approached by the same people that approached the Big X to seek admission for UT.

This is absurd, and might I note, has strayed pretty damn far from JS’s original comments.

damn, I missed the Chizik comparison. If I had knows you think he is a quality coach, I would not have replied

J.R. 69- Carroll’s was in his 3rd year but your point remains.

Re Mack’s background in offense and his tendency to meddle on that side of the ball, consider this- since 1998, if we have someone who finished top 2 in the Heisman ballot, we have a good offense, if not, we are pedestrian, especially against good defenses.

I’m all for recruiting good players but an offense that requires one of the 2 best offensive players in the nation to suceed might not be designed properly. Mack is the problem.

“Some cigar rumblings that Mack is going to have to provide an exit strategy if he doesn’t decide to step down by the end of the season. Also, as we’ve maintained for the last year or so, Chris Petersen is the guy at the top of the short list. In fact Petersen’s always been the guy as our weekly Q and A’s will attest. He’ll likely be the next coach at Texas. This from the biggest of cigars.”

Jesus, you really should add the graphic of a mushroom cloud when you drop something like this.

Good God! What will happen to Hornfans when this tidbit gets over there?

I think florida and lsu got their MNC before 2005.

stuckinm- you mentioned Carroll, but than went on about Mack. It is interesting that you say Texas offenses arent good unless he has a good QB. I bring it up, because guess how many BCS games Pete played in without a Heisman winning/1st rnd QB. Take a look at urban also. Though his first title was only partially Tebow. His offense was actually quite pedestrian. 90% of his wins were with Tebow and one with Alex Smith. Chizik hit pay-dirt with Cam Newton. I defensive guy that hasnt had a sold defense while at Auburn. Facts remains if you dont have a great QB, it is hard to win at a high level.

It’s hard to believe that the university could have drawn the quality assistants we drew during the last offseason if the 3-year verbal commitment was a one-way deal. I like the hires we made, and I believe they have paid dividends this season even though the W-L record is not dramatically better.

On D, I could not be more satisfied. A testament to ongoing quality at DC, even with the revolving door (Chizik, Muschamp, now Diaz).

On O, the drawbacks of the prior staff have been discussed ad nauseum and do not need rehashing. We are so far behind the ball that it will take time to recover. Seems like the current guys have the right idea, but they need a little time.

I don’t think Mack needs to go unless he feels like it is his time. Assuming he can still close in recruiting and that he has maintained the strong relationships with high school coaches that he built when he got here, of course.

The best head coach in history would have a hard time covering up the talent deficiencies, depth, and injuries we have had on the offensive side of the ball. I find it hard to believe that anyone pushes Mack out under those circumstances.

Of course, if Mack is tired and wants to hang it up, that’s on him and he would go with mostly blessings but also regret. I want the guy to go out on a high note. He did what he needed to do last offseason to build towards that. I can’t believe that he would have seen some of his best friends ousted after last season and not stepped down himself unless this season has taught him that he simply doesn’t want to do it anymore.

And if he has come to that conclusion, well, hold on to your ass. History tells us that there are few exceptions to even big time programs going through a coaching carousel and painful seasons until they get it right again. It’s not always as simple as hiring Nick Saban or Urban Meyer and then picking up the glass football at the end of the season.

We are about to get anally scarred by the ags in out last meeting with them for the foreseeable future. There is no better time than now to talk about this. I need silver lining.

Codaxx: Did I say Chizik was a quality coach? Read it again.

The point was, and I gave 7 (count ‘em) examples, it doesn’t take 7 years to “rebuild” a program of UTs stature to MNC status. All of the examples I gave did it in 3 (thanks, stuckinmn) years or less. And every one of them in the last decade!

And I didn’t even mention Saban’s 2nd MNC at Ala or Coker’s at Miami.

codaxx- I mentioned Carroll only to point out that he won an NC in his 3rd year, not in his 2nd as J.R. claimed.

Yes it is hard to win at a high level without a stellar QB. Yes, having a heisman level player makes anyone’s offense better (and isn’t that a self-fulfilling prophecy as nobody from a shitty offense receives Heisman votes?).

But many other teams manage to fashion very good offenses from a collection of good to great players. Not everyone requires a single superlative player to do that. We do.

Hahaha! Live long enough and you’re bound to read some of the above. Mack Brown has a contract that will pay him $ 5.2 Million this season and guarantees him an additional $27.5 Million through the 2016 season. He and Sally aren’t going to leave here with even one dime remaining on the table. Start getting used to it.

F this. I luv mack and he’s a class act. I want him to stay as long as he wants but I do admit that hr’d be a great AD to replace Dodds. When the time comes, I think meyer or petersen would be good replacements but by god we better keep manny bc he is soo good. Can’t wait to see our D next yr with the players now having experience with diaz system.

If Fozzy didn’t get injured we are probably 8-2 or 7-3 and everyone is discussing how many points we beat A&M by, even if both wins were close ones. Losing Fozzy was like most teams losing their star QB.

Yup… I could understand the grumbling if we looked like last year…. but i guess it will always come.

We are loaded in defense. More coming.
Offense has had 1 good recruiting class with a second that “looks good on paper” arriving.

The RB position is done. We lack talent at TE/WR/QB and somewhere along the line with regards to depth. It looks like we are 2 years from being a MNC contender again? Right? Or is that just dumb? Fire Mack Brown? For messing up 4 years ago and fixing it? Don’t think it will happen. But i am wrong on a daily basis.

Mack won 9 games 2 and 3rd yr and 11 his 4th. Saying it took him 7 yrs to rebuild Texas is blatantly wrong. Had 3 top 5 finishes by then and 5 top 12. Unlike Carrol and Tressel he did it and did not take down the program. I understand the frustration, but you are not giving him his proper due for the overall job he has done. 14 yrs and 11 top 15 finishes,7 top 10s, and 12 ranked yrs. Last top 10 Texas season was in 1983. UT had 9 seasons of double digit wins from 64 – 97. Mack has 9 during his tenure. Maybe he has lost it a bit, maybe he has another chapter only time will tell.

Last thing I am saying on this thread.

Mack screwed the pooch royally the last couple of years, but as many others have stated, its tough to make wholesale changes when you are playing in BCS games. He missed on Gilbert. So did many other top programs that had him targeted at the #1 QB in the nation. The offense lacked playmakers after Colt/Shipley Sr. left. We get it. He got. Old staff was summarily executed, and for the first time since J Charles, we actually have a running game despite our OL being Frankensteinian in its taking of spare parts and leftover scraps. We have a 3rd stud RB coming next year, one of the best tackle prospects in the nation, and several WR that should help matters in the near future. We are recruiting JUCO kids.

This fanbase is absurdly entitled – and we wonder how the team got complacent. Every other program that people have cited went through long droughts. LSU was going to fire Leslie last year. Did y’all see Florida almost lose to Furman? Bama went through decades of cycling through crap coaches before hiring Satan.

Firing Mack after this year is stupid. If he leaves of his own accord for a reason of his choosing, so be it.

Thanks to Jesus and Asset(s) for the practice report.

Probably better to maintain radio silence on the other stuff you’re hearing until later. I know it is interesting, but some people go a little nuts with the speculation and try to start a wildfire. Of course, you’ve already put it out there at this point, so too late in this case.

I’ll just relate this to the Philadelphia Eagles. Andy Reid also brought in new coaches prior to this season, although admittedly the OL and DE guys carbon date much older than any Mack hired on. I think it’s silly for people to be calling for Reid’s head right now. Transition time should be expected when changing not only coaches, but in many cases the style of athlete needed to meet the new blueprint.

I’ve read comments from some people coming to the conclusion everything is Mack Brown’s fault. Well, that’s fine, but I already knew he was the guy at the wheel when the trouble started. That all became largely irrelevant when he was allowed to stay on and make changes to the staff. Now the fans should be patient and see if those changes rectify the prior mistakes. Calling for the coach’s head now is worse because there is already a new plan set in motion. If some big wigs would like a more detailed vision of the future, that’s fine for a closed door meeting. Said meeting will probably get overblown by the public because of this post though.

All the Mack stuff is pure speculation until something actually happens. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s internal Bellmont/UT Front Office/Higher Roller Alumn discussion about succession plans for not just Mack, but possibly Dodds, Augie, etc, given their age, energy level, etc. But, I imagine that any succession planning is looking out the next 2-5 years for any changes to happen.

Remember folks, we’ve been in the running to make it the title game every 4 years since 2001: 2001 (lost in Big12 title game but would’ve played Miami in Rose Bowl), 2005 (won nat’l title in Rose Bowl), 2009 (lost nat’l title in Rose Bowl). If you notice the 4 year trend and BCS national title game rotation to the Rose Bowl the next magic number is 2013 when the BCS title game is back at the Rose Bowl. Given the talented Fresh/Soph class now, they’ll be plenty of salty to make a run in 2013 and we’ll have solved our QB woes by then … And, I would expect Mack retire after the 2013 season national title or not.

Big Ern wins.

the inexplicable, repeated lack of a legitimate D1 QB at UT…

What? Are you saying that the formula for success is NOT “find a nice big white christian son of a former quarterback and/or coach, who looks good throwing passes and make him the only quarterback you recruit, if you recruit one at all this year”?

Mack took over in 99, he took on a rebuild. It took him 6 years to achieve… whatever…

Which was due to Vince Young’s other-worldly physical talent, AND Mack actually letting him do his thing without undue interference from HC or OC… eventually.

Wheah yo’ Vince Young, now, Mistah Cholly? You be seein’ the closes’ thing fo’ this yeah down in Waco nex’ week. You done had las’ yeah’s Vince right down de road at Blinn, ‘n’ he wuddent a good enough boy fo’ you, was he, Mistah Cholly?

Chris Petersen is the guy at the top of the short list.

No Petersen… Bring us the Head of Holgo! We can pay him $5MB as long as he agrees to pay off Glora Allred’s clients out of his own pocket. The Big Ass Boosters and Cigar Aficionados can set him up with a chain of brewpubs or tittie bars (or both)… ummmm “HOLGO’S…” something or other. Now accepting names.

Codaxx:

Again, you’re not comprehending. It took Mack Brown 7 years (actually 8 FB seasons) to rebuild UT to MNC, number of wins per season be damned; it took the seven coaches I mentioned 3 years or LESS to achieve same, and in no instance did the given programs start collapsing as did UT’s.

You must be on MB’s wavelength, as IMO part of his problem is that he aims too low. Shooting for a 10-win season is not the same as shooting for a championship (see Stoops, Saban, et.al.)

Mack has led the ri$e of UT ’s program to the envy of all other programs. Four of which took the flight highway instead of trying to beat UT.
His departure will be methodical and graceful.

In the 7 years it took Mack Brown to "rebuild" the UT program:

Stoops rebuilt OU to MNC in 2nd year
Tressel rebuilt OSU to MNC in 2nd year
Pete Carroll rebuilt USC to MNC in 2nd year
Saban rebuilt LSU to MNC in 2nd year

All of the above took place while MB was "rebuilding" UT program, which has since collapsed. And since the UT MNC in 2005,

Urban Meyer has 2 MNCs at Florida
Les Miles has MNC (and gunning for second) at LSU
Gene Chizik got MNC in his 2nd year at Auburn

Mack Brown is the problem, not the solution.

None of those guys took over for Mackovic or a program that was in the shape that Texas was in.

USC and OSU didnt? Both are on probation. Not sure that is really what you want. Chizik is going to post first 7 win season for Auburn since 2001. Bowden posted a lot of mediocre seasons in his last days. Paterno also. DKR went out 5-5-1. You can say he has run his course and is losing his effectiveness, but say guys like Tressel and Carroll would have been better is completely wrong. I am happy for those that did it earlier. Notice Stoops is stilll stuck at 1 title. Winning a title is simply lucky. You need to avoid injuries and hope you win the beauty contest. Mack has accomplished a lot at Texas and done it with class. There are few coaches that have handled themselves like Mack and had the same success. You can slam him for 2011 and beyond, but slamming the job he as done for Texas since 98 borders on ignorance

Texas colleges don’t have to abide by the contracts they sign. They have sovereign immunity. Ask Leach, he’s in the Texas Supreme Court over it. You can’t enforce a buyout clause in a contract with a Texas public college, unless the college in the goodness of its heart wants to. We’re the only state that has this for contracts.

I spoke with my insider and he said that Deloss has updated his two deep to read:

Mack Brown OR Nick Saban

As you can see, Mack is listed first, but I think that “OR” speaks volumes.

Just our of curiosity, how many conference titles and national championships do you think we would have won over the same span if we had (assuming all the same recruits/rosters):

1. Saban
2. Meyer
3. Stoops
4. Peterson
5. Les
6. Tressell
7. Leach (serious)
8. Carroll

And this is in all seriousness, I’m not looking to bag on Mack. Just curious what others think.

The idea that we would bring in Saban or Petrino at Texas is a complete joke.

I would disagree with the assumption, since that is a major effect of the coach.

I wish this can of worms was still on the shelf.

Yeah, my $ource$ also say Saban and Petrino, also don’t rule out Tressell, Paterno, Woody Hayes corpse, or Jackie Sherill.

Also Darrell Royal has put feelers out on a fiery young defensive coordinator named Buddy Ryan from Weeb Ewbank’s Jets staff; except he swears alot, maybe too much for Texas.

I think some of the Mack chatter may be in response to the fact that Manny and Harsin (particularly Manny) are getting serious looks as contenders for HC positions elsewhere. I think there are probably MULTIPLE Big Cigars who do NOT want to see Manny walk out the door.

“The idea that we would bring in Saban or Petrino at Texas is a complete joke.”

That’s what I’m thinking.

Did people get tired of ripping on two young QBs? It will be interesting to see what the discussion will be if we win the next two.

“None of those guys took over for Mackovic or a program that was in the shape that Texas was in.”

OU was 5-6, LSU was 3-8 and USC was 5-7 in the seasons before the coaching changes. I’d say that was pretty bad shape. And there was no Ricky Williams ready to go, so I’d argue all 3 were in worse shape (yes USC had Carson Palmer but he’s no ricky and was an unproven commodity at the time) .

“The idea that we would bring in Saban or Petrino at Texas is a complete joke.”

Ding.

Thank You, J.S.! Great report!

1776 makes a good point.

Saying recruiting will suffer is a moot point. When a coach leaves it is never a good time, there is always a recruiting class we are going after, this happens every year/year round. Fortunatley there is not much evidence to support the theory that we will lose our recruits if Mack goes. Most coaches come in with momentum (unless taking over a scandal) and maintain at the very least 90-95% of the current class if not the whole thing. Citing recruiting as a reason for keeping any head coach is not valid IMO. Some other concerns may have merrit but not this one.

Leonidas….

None of that! This isn’t about the article above. This thread is dedicated to history and alternative universes.

The idea that we would bring in Saban or Petrino at Texas is a complete joke.

Make up your minds, people. Do you want to be Texas Good, or do you want to be squeaky clean? There’s some cognitive dissonance here where we get a lot of bitching about Mack needing to win more but simultaneously feel we’re above the coaches that do actually win.

Or are these two different camps? The camp that prioritizes winning, and the camp that prioritizes having a classy, clean coach higher?

A List:
Saben
Meyer
Petrino

B List:
Patterson
Peterson

The idea that Texas would reject Saban is mind-boggling to me. He’s not a kiddie toucher for fuck’s sake. His warts pale in comparison to his strengths.

Obviously he’s not leaving Alabama for another college job though.

“UT had 9 seasons of double digit wins from 64 – 97. Mack has 9 during his tenure. Maybe he has lost it a bit, maybe he has another chapter only time will tell.”

not to nitpick but these days you’re playing 13-14 game seasons, you better fucking win 10 games especially at UT and we’re paying you $5mil+/yr…..in the 60’s-80’s, winning 10 games was a big deal….

It looks like the Big Cigars have been reading my posts. This recent bit on A.N. Brocktoon is very welcome news for me! I would rather have an imperfect transition now than wait three years for the possibility of a perfect one. And, I think that Urban Meyer is a spent force. His health is still all fucked up and once you’ve broken the cherry on being a quitter it goes downhill pretty fast based on my observations of these types of things. Please don’t bring in this retread.

I strongly believe that we should just hand over the reigns to Major next year on an interim basis and see if he can win his way into the job long term.

I will be happy when we stop with the metric 9 and 10 win seasons as our standard for success and actually place more emphasis on W/L records against our main rivals.

Carson Palmer was a #1 pick. Palamalu is one of the greatest safties to play. Cassel, Keary Colbert, and Kenechi Udezi on the roster. That is 5 players with NFL careers I recognize on the roster that Carroll took over. 3 NFL Pro Bowl players

Discounting what Carroll did at USC is just full of folley.

Fine. Lets use top 10 finishes.7 in 14 yrs. 7 from 1970-1997 or 28 yrs.

My takeaway from the comments above = “My god, we’ve had like 10 straight losing seasons!!!” I really like the comments that say we are in year 7 of a rebuilding period – as if we weren’t in the MNC two-freaking years ago. I don’t know if folks just can’t admit that they think 10 great years followed by 2 lousy years is just not acceptable, so they have to act as if the program has been terrible for the better part of the last decade.

Yes, the offense has been poor this year, in some games quite painful to watch. But, how many people on here think that without the injuries to Fozzy and Brown OR Bergeron, we wouldn’t be sitting at 8-2 right now? There is little doubt in my mind that we beat Mizzou and K-State with a healthy Fozzy and either a 100% Brown or Bergeron.

Granted, we wouldn’t be a “great 8-2” but we’d be an 8-2 with a very good chance at 10-2. Not too shabby for a rebuilding year with a true freshman QB and FR/SO everywhere in the 2-deep.

Why not? he left the program in probation and shame. That is like celebrating the greatness of switzer or jackie sherrill

Exercise: The football Head Coach job at The University of Texas is vacant. You are in a position of some Influence in the selection process. Everyone is in play for your selection, Petersen, Meyer, Saban… even JoePa and Mack Brown. Even Pete Carroll, Rex Ryan, and all the NFL coaches and coordinators – even Jerry Gray.

Who do you choose, and why?

Good Lord, it’s not just about whether Texas would want Saban, it’s also about whether Saban would want to come to Texas. Alabama isn’t UNC.
And to say, “Texas wouldn’t hire Saban or Petrino” isn’t the same as “Saban and Petrino aren’t good enough at coaching to be at Texas.” Only an idiot would think that. We’re looking for the right fit at Texas.

Their morals are an imporant because we aren’t going to be a school that pays street agents, ignored booster malfeasance, and oversigns. This isn’t the SEC, you can’t apply those strategies here. Especially with the LHN providing a spotlight on the programs’ ins and outs.

I also love how speculation on the next head coach always centers on old established coaches who’s prime and greatest accomplishments are in the rearview mirror. “What if we brought in Urban Meyer and repeated Florida’s 2005-2009 seasons!”. Or what if we do what Florida did and bring in a young coach who can build something that will last here within the programs’ expectations.

Just our of curiosity, how many conference titles and national championships do you think we would have won over the same span if we had (assuming all the same recruits/rosters):

1. Saban
2. Meyer
3. Stoops
4. Peterson
5. Les
6. Tressell
7. Leach (serious)
8. Carroll

And this is in all seriousness, I’m not looking to bag on Mack. Just curious what others think.

I think this is a pretty useless question. First, there are multiple facets to a coach’s job. We have known for a long time that Mack is an excellent recruiting, from charming the socks off parents to the family atmosphere he’s created to kissing babies, he does it all. Xs and Os are not his strong suit. So asking what a coach who is better with the Xs and Os but not a great recruiter (like Mike Leach being an egregious example) would do with Mack’s recruits is meaningless. Mike Leach would couldn’t recruit the kids Mack Brown does, so it is a moot point and unfair to discount the countless hours of hard work Mack put in on the recruiting side of the equation.

Second, Mack has won with class. If he decided we should pay players (e.g. Carroll and Chizik) or if he signed 30 players a year, year in and year out (e.g. Saban and Miles), I’m sure the results would be wildly different. Not all coaches play by the same rules. Hence why USC is on probation now and Auburn, LSU, and Bama could well be headed that way (although we all know the NCAA probably won’t crack its golden SEC egg like that). All in all, I think this question is just entirely irrelevant and meaningless.

Frank Solich, imho.

“Just our of curiosity, how many conference titles and national championships do you think we would have won over the same span if we had (assuming all the same recruits/rosters): "

You can’t use the assumption of the same recruits. That is most of the job.

And how many years of NCAA probation?

LonghornTilDeath is more succinct than me.

Mack Brown is solely accountable and responsible for this program. The success or failure rests upon his shoulders. As General Lucian Truscott told his son, “Let me tell you something, and don’t ever forget it. You play games to win, not lose. And you fight wars to win. That’s spelled WIN! And every good player in a game and every good commander in a war…has to have some son of bitch in him. If he doesn’t , he isn’t a good player or commander. It’s as simple as that. No son of bitch , no commander”.

Again you can bitch about 2010-2011 performance of Mack. I am happy to join in, but to discredit what he has brought to the University and its fans the preceding 12 yrs is simply ignorance. You dont have to agree with that, you are entitled to your wrong opinion.

BCS games won, BCS championship appearances, BCS championships, conference championships, record against rivals, top 10 finishes

Abe Lemons’ summary of the present state of the program is accurate, but I think we will suffer serious decommt issues if MB retires this season because that wll mean one or more of the current assistants will bail. The current staff is the hardest working group of recruiters since MB came on board and by all accounts they are making headway with the classes of 2011 and 2012 despite one shithole season and one injury caused mediocre season. Also, the time and energy spent hiring new staff is wasted. Finally, our beloved opponents will tout UT’s “coaching instability” in the most negative way with recruits.

What I think is going on is not so much big boosters talking about a forced or immediate ouster, notwithstanding the disappointing season, but a recognition that MB may not or should not be HC for the long haul. In other words,, let MB stabilize the program and then bail out. This is consistent with the commitment to the new stafff.

As far as a replacement HC is concerned, Peterson would be great, but he will likely bring staff with him. Do we want Davis, Searles, Wylie et al to leave after one year? Even the “big cigars” must see how foolish that would be. I would just as soon take a chance on Diaz or Harsin and keep the staff intact. Recognizing DKR had HC experience when he was hired at age 32, there is precedent for having a staff of young, hardworking and charismatic coaches committed to rebuilding the program.

Any fan with any sense will see that the new staff, particularly the offensive side, did not inherit an OU quality roster of well-coached, well-conditioned and talented players. The program was run down and requires restoration which cannot be achieved in one year regardless of the HC or staff. The fact is, had Fozzy and the three fabulous freshmen not gone down, we would have pummelled both Missouri and KSU and would be awaiting the stomping of both ATM and Baylor. This team was just hitting its stride when injuries laid waste to the offense.

I don’t understand the talk of MB becoming AD at either Texas or North Carolina. The football HC is the point man for the Texas athletic program and MB wouild be bored shitless stuck in bureaucratic slot, not to mention the gigantic pay cut. His next job with be on television where he can bullshit with commentators, coaches, retired coaches, players and former players and be paid a fortune to do it – a perfect situation for him. Some might say that is what he does best in his current job.

OU was 5-6, LSU was 3-8 and USC was 5-7 in the seasons before the coaching changes. I’d say that was pretty bad shape. And there was no Ricky Williams ready to go, so I’d argue all 3 were in worse shape (yes USC had Carson Palmer but he’s no ricky and was an unproven commodity at the time) .

OU had plenty of talent bought by the corrupt John Blake, LSU is in the best recruiting situation in the country and Dinardo wasn’t Mackovic awful by any means, and Carson Palmer may not be Ricky, but he is a QB which is vastly more important than RB.

Agree that Petrino and Saban as candidates for Texas HC is a joke.

If Mack still feels he has the heart, passion and energy to coach at Texas, there’s no way he won’t get another year or two. But if and when he does step down, I do NOT think he should be the AD at Texas. The next AD at Texas needs to have hard-nosed business savvy (e.g. media rights, royalty and contract negotiations including ESPN/LHN, conference realignment decisions, financial analysis and budgeting/forecasting, 20-year vision for UT athletics, etc.) and be able to work hand-in-hand with and answer to the University President.

With Mack’s skill set, he would be a better suited to replace Bill Little than [to replace] DeLoss Dodds. Given that UT and DeLoss have been the Big 12’s lightning rod for the last two years, it’s hard to see Mack taking a huge pay cut only to be at the center of different firestorms… jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, so to speak.

Abe, stuckin… consider me a charter member of the choir you are preaching to.

In related news, let’s be generous enough to not criticize Mack for his brand of social decency.

But, I would criticize him for how he managed the last 3 minutes of the KState game, as I have previously stated on several threads…and only reference it again because no one else seems to have noticed.

How did we mismanage the last 3 minutes of the KSU game?

We had some dumb asses in here today.

Saban – He ‘only’ won 10 games after winning the NC. That should be a firable offense, apparently. He’s only going to win 10-12 this year. I wonder if they have internet fans claiming “We are Bama. We should be in the NC every year!” He’s in the same situation Mack was in 08
Urban Meyer – Why doesn’t anyone ever remember that he went 9-4 in between his two NCs? That he left on an 8-5 season? Or that he left UF in a bit of clusterfuck? He must have Tebow Jesus to win!! Can’t do it without a once in a life time player!
Stoops – He has conference titles, but he shits the bed in the BCS games
Tressel – Can’t win the big games either (according to internet experts). Oh, and if it wasn’t for the Penn state rape disaster, his program and firing would still be the center of attention, only in competition with Miami
Chizik – So who wants him this year?…Hell, most of you didn’t want him here as the DC
Pete – good thing he got out right before the sanctions. I’m sure he didn’t know about them

Yeah, they’re good coaches. Some of them (all but Meyer?.maybe?.) would have us on probabtion right now too.

For those who want Mack as an AD at some point: do you think that his principal flaw of excessive loyalty and his secondary one of meddling in his former area of specialty will not lead to potential disaster? An AD needs to be able to make cold hard business decisions and keep his hands off daily operations of the football squad.

I would say 1-5 on my list could recruit as good, if not better, than Mack.

Meyer won a MNC with players recruited by others. Ask Muschamp what he thinks of Meyer’s last few classes?

recruit as well*

adjective vs adverb, it’s not so hard

Petersen is essentially an unknown. He seems to be a good talent evaluator, but has never been on a stage similar to the others to have any basis of comparison. I may give you Stoops and Meyer. They recruit(ed) well. Saban and Miles recruit well also, but they oversign and trap door like crazy as well, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison.

I still think the question by its very nature is asinine and meaningless.

“The fact is, had Fozzy and the three fabulous freshmen not gone down, we would have pummelled both Missouri and KSU and would be awaiting the stomping of both ATM and Baylor. This team was just hitting its stride when injuries laid waste to the offense.”

Both Brown and Bergeron went down with injuries in successive games as they approached 30 carries in blowouts against KU and Tech. The coaches bear at least some responsibility for letting them continue to tote the rock long after the outcome of those games had been decided. The subsequent loss of Fozzy the following weekend against Mizzou (due in part because B&B couldn’t play) compounded the team’s losses and everyone’s frustrations even further.

The serious heat on the coaching staff for getting Bergeron and Brown injured is a little excessive. Was it the wisest decision? No. But getting RB’s injured in back to back weeks before 30 carries isn’t exactly criminal negligence. A lot of it is bad luck.

The current state of Longhorn athletics is pitiful. At least in past seasons when Mack has taken us out of contention early we had Horns hoops to look forward to. Going to be a sad winter.

Of course, once Bergeron had cramps that should have been it for him.

Nickel,

You’re right, injures are a part of the [violent] game of football and there is always an element of luck involved. I’m not saying our corches were/are criminally negligent but, like you said, it wasn’t very wise. Especially the game against Tech (after Brown was injured against KU), one woulda thunk that the coaches would have been more cautious not to push Bergeron to his limit. The team has obviously paid a heavy price for these little indiscretions, hopefully the corches have learned a good lesson from that.

I thought turf toe was a hyper-extension that basically could happen on any carry rather than an injury caused by overuse. The Bergeron one is a little more difficult to swallow considering he was no longer our insurance he was ‘the man’ and the fact that he had a gimpy hammy earlier in the year should have made us cautious about overuse. Add to it the fact that we didn’t even take the opportunity in a blow out to continue to get Ash some game-situation throws and the Tech game becomes the harbinger for a good part of what ails us now.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Either Mack is a CEO type coach that doesn’t know x’s or o’s and the woes were on the coords that are no longer there, or, it’s all Mack’s fault. But it can’t be both.

This is just silly now. Mack has another year (at least) before anyone forces anything. If he wants to retire, fine, that’s a diff issue. I can’t see him doing it though with most of this D coming back next year (though Acho is a huge loss), and the addition of a back that could potentially replace Fozzy.

When the O was clicking (for what, a game), it was pretty intimidating. This is a clusterfuck of issues including poor recruiting, overall Big12 strength, injuries, and new coaches. Next year is completely different (my suspicion). If not, THEN we can talk about how Mack might need to go,

Uttex.. You keep mentioning the FG it was the right thing. In your own Words you said “instead of trying to go for the tie twice we settled for a FG”, which completely misses the pt that we went for the win twice.

If we had a pool here on who will replace MB, I am quite sure that no one on this bbs would win. True to form, the replacement will come from out of the blue and we will all be left hoping that it doesn’t take 3 more HC changes and another 35 years to win an MNC.

I seriously doubt Mack quits this season, and Make no mistake, Mack goes when he is ready. If Dodds retires Mack could get that job if he so chooses. If he did decide to go in the next 1- 2-3 years I think Gary Patterson is way up the list. He knows Texas football, and if somehow Mack takes the AD job, he may be at the very top of the list. Gary Patterson speaks very highly of the Texas program and school. Last time i heard him talking about Texas and Mack Brown he was very careful in what he said and spoke of the high regard he had For Mack and the school., almost like a screening for a job. i think its one of the very few schools he would consider leaving TCU for. Besides he knows how to beat the Boise coach and Sooner coach.

Mack Brown will step down when the University has a position for him that he wants more than coaching (AD).

Mack Brown will never be the AD here — he is unsuited for it, and he would hate most of the details of the job. The only elite programs that I can think of that have an ex-coach at the head of the program are Tom Osborne at Nebraska and Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin.

Mack has watched one of the best in the business and I believe he would want very little to do with taking care of 18 sports, alums, donors, TV negotiations, NCAA requirments, etc.

The AD position is a full-time job, with as much demand on the person’s time as a football coach.

It is not somewhere to “wind down” your career after getting out of coaching.

Far from it.

Great points, srr. Bellotti gave it a shot too. The very problems Mack has had managing people/situations would be on a larger scale though maybe not as noticable to us. The one person that would notice that matters, Mack himself, won’t want the stress, if the way he currently looks is any indication.

I want Mack to go on his own accord. Soon, though I think he deserves one more year.

Petersen makes all the sense in the world, and I’d be good with it, if and when it happens.

It’s possible to both be thankful and respectful towards Mack while wishing for new blood. A few get that, but too many think it’s one or the other.

Very interesting topic but it seems like a bad time to discuss Mack leaving. Why not wait until after the regular season is over?

Ags will probably be a tough game. It is a tough atmosphere for young players (who tend to do worse on the road, anyway), especially young QBs. Glad to see the return of the tag team approach for the QBs (and not just because I predicted/recommended it). It will be less overwhelming for the QBs if they get to calm down and collect their thoughts on the sideline.

I am hopeful about the QB performance and think that it will improve somewhat this game. The key thing is no turnovers, relax, and play within themselves.

MVB on the money again – Mac clearly has done a lot for football in the state in general. He has enough credit in the bank that he can be trusted to make the right decision – almost any decision he makes should be considered the right one. Given that, I expect him to leave.

Ugh. I don’t have the energy for this right now. Can’t we wait until after the holidays?

I’m a Mack guy and regardless of what happens in January or 5-10 years from now, I will always treasure the National Championship game where we beat a semi-pro team coached by an unscrupulous staff and lauded beyond belief by the suppositious sports media cognoscenti.

NR, I agree that no way would Texas want a part of Petrino or Saban, and likely it would be mutual.

Somebody asked who the best coach hire would be, in a fantasy scenario, and my answer is the same as last year: Jim Harbaugh. As for realistic hires that fit the Texas program, I agree Peterson is probably the best fit. I do not think he is a repeat of Koetter or Hawkins. I don’t think it is assured he would succeed at Texas, but I think he is a good fit.

The thing that I can’t believe nobody is saying, 150+ comments into the thread, is this: If Jesus is saying there may be a reason why Mack would choose to leave after this season, isn’t the most obvious reason that ESPN told him they just can’t keep trotting Corso out there any longer to keep his seat warm? I have assumed for at least several years that Mack would take his place on Gameday. Doesn’t everybody think that?

It wont be the boise coach that takes Macks place, not going to be a orange field at DKR.

Another great read, but all speculation yet again. Same goes for the Mack talk. Hard to believe he’d be forced out the door especially with Dodds not prepared to hand him the reigns. Mack is Texas like it or not.

All the freshman excuses aside, we see how the great and mighty Boise offense works in real football. One big game a year with a few surprises sure, but not an entire season.

^All the freshman excuses aside, we see how the great and mighty Boise offense works in real football. One big game a year with a few surprises sure, but not an entire season.

Let me translate your logic chain for the rest of us

Notwithstanding that the passing game is a nonentity largely due to personnel , We see how the great and mighty Boise offense works in real football.

I know it’s a great revelation that one-dimensional offense is one dimensional. But it doesn’t have anything to do with Boise’s might or lack thereof.

The thing that I can’t believe nobody is saying, 150+ comments into the thread, is this: If Jesus is saying there may be a reason why Mack would choose to leave after this season, isn’t the most obvious reason that ESPN told him they just can’t keep trotting Corso out there any longer to keep his seat warm?

Maybe we’ll find out more when Jesus writes more about the Mack topic, but my first thought on why Mack would choose to leave was something health related.

Deepeddy (I loved that swimming pool) – You have made an excellent point and one I didn’t think of.
Particularly in light of Corso throwing the F bomb the other day.
All successful coaches have huge ego’s – Mack does for sure. That being said, what better place to stroke that ego than on Nat’l TV and ESPN?

Well done for a cognizant point!

De-Mack possibilities? I was thinking tossup between cancer and television… not that there’s a hell of a lot of difference. I dunno if I approve of Mack as a Corso replacement… he just doesn’t seem light-hearted enough for that role – maybe he just doesn’t have the right equipment (spotlight on Baby Arm Corso).

Agree, Tex Long… he won’t want to offend anyone and he won’t joke around enough.

I guess I’ve just got the wrong perspective, or just one that’s out of date. By the very nature of the mammalian nervous system, we cannot avoid comparison of sensory experiences, so just as I compare all audio commentary with the ineffable Kern Tips, so I compare the televised commentary with the equally, although differently, ineffable Dandy Don Meredith. Lee Corso, in his usual GameDay role of Meredith impersonating Cosell impersonating Meredith holding forth on the upcoming game, is not going to be replicated in any form by Mack. ESPN may have a different role in mind for him… maybe the Seasonal Grandfather Figure, in which Mack will don Pilgrim Father outfit, Hallowe’en Vampyrium, Turkey Grandad, and for the Bowl Season, Jack Frost’s Grandpa, and Saint Nick’s Uncle Remus, with Baby New Year’s diaper-wearing longbearded Granddad Old Year. Yeah, that’s the ticket, that’s where Mack’s headed, if he’s headed off to ESPNland.