I know some will disagree with this

[JimR]

I am a nobody here (hell, don't kid yourself, Jim. You are a nobody everywhere), but I disagree with the premise that MB is making is easy on UT. I understand not wanting to quit. That feeling is instilled in athletes and coaches, and not giving up is one of the many great lessons one learns from athletics. It is quite another thing, however, to refuse to accept the result when the game is over. This game has been over for MB for awhile now, but he has refused to accept it publicly, and thus far, he has refused to bow out gracefully. Maybe he will, but releasing JJ, his personal junkyard dog, to express his denial for him while he maintains his "it is all about the kids" MB image spin is not a good sign. I hope he does the right thing today.

It is all about MB for him. That has been true since day one. MBTF? Bullshit. It is Texas Football, and it will be here and strong long after this big ego moves on. I respect the accomplishments but not the man.

 

[DougNTexas]

I agree JimR. I also think the shot across the bow this week by the BOR @ Powers is the one thing that has really made a difference. Mack thought he was un fire able. He should have been fired no later then 48 hours after the Baylor game period.

 

[Marian Hinton]

I think he genuinely has the players at heart. He isn't a mean, selfish man, as many have recently come to believe.

 

[RealtorHorn]

I am a nobody here (hell, don't kid yourself, Jim. You are a nobody everywhere), but I disagree with the premise that MB is making is easy on UT. I understand not wanting to quit. That feeling is instilled in athletes and coaches, and not giving up is one of the many great lessons one learns from athletics. It is quite another thing, however, to refuse to accept the result when the game is over. This game has been over for MB for awhile now, but he has refused to accept it publicly, and thus far, he has refused to bow out gracefully. Maybe he will, but releasing JJ, his personal junkyard dog, to express his denial for him while he maintains his "it is all about the kids" MB image spin is not a good sign. I hope he does the right thing today.
It is all about MB for him. That has been true since day one. MBTF? Bull$#@!. It is Texas Football, and it will be here and strong long after this big ego moves on. I respect the accomplishments but not the man.

This is how I see it too.

 

[Marian Hinton]

+1 Monarch.
McPhaul has already told us how difficult Mack is making this.

I'm sure different people are getting different interpretations, just as with any such situation.

 

[RoyalCrowns]

I've long been a supporter of Mack Brown and his contributions to the Texas football program. But he's put a slightly better than mediocre product on the fiel the past three seasons after a disasterous 2010 campaign. All the while he has taken home a cool 5M for his efforts annually. Now let's be honest, if any of us produced at slightly above the .500 mark (18-17) in Big 12 play over the timespan, we'd be shown the door and or bankrupt the business. He's missed on several blue chip QBs and opted to play a legacy recruit that would have trouble starting at the juco level. My point is Mack has had time. He chose to stay with a DC and essentially derailed the 2013 season from the get-go. It's time to accept your legacy and rest assured you will never be compared to DKR if you make a mess of the transition process. See Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno. I only use the Paterno comparison as tied to stubbornness to step aside when asked. And can I close by saying 2 conference titles in 16 years is not our standard. The afore mentioned DKR had 11 conference crowns in 20 seasons on the 40. It's time, Mack. It's time. FWIW

 

[Johnny Utah]

My question is this. To date there's been strong suggestions of about half a dozen players getting paid at Bama under Saban. That's only the players that have hit the radar. It's reasonable to assume there's plenty more than that. There's also been plenty of noise about cheating at LSU, his last place to win championships. Does everyone think Saban is going to have the same success at Texas without cheating? Or is everyone fine if Texas just starts cheating? Or, is Saban just going to collect $50mil over five years with no championships, plus a buy out, and ride into the sunset as the most recent fired coach from Texas?

I was listening to JOX out of Birmingham last night and they were talking about Red's quote and agreed that Texas could outspend anyone it they wanted too. But then the two host (who were once in the Dallas market) insinuated that Texas uses that money in some underhanded ways and said "I have heard stories". I about drove into the ditch....here in the heart of SECSEC country where cheating is a way of life they were trying to throw Texas under the bus, who I believe tries to do things the right way.

 

[coolhorn]

I've been careful not to overly criticize Mack, because I DO recognize all he's done to resurrect UT football since he arrived in Austin. That being said, and mostly because of the mediocrity of the last four years, I'm not quick to praise him. I'm sure he has tried to bring UT back to championship contention, but he's also the biggest part of the reason UT slipped so much from their last championship game, against 'Bama. The first step in dealing with a problem is recognizing it, and I'm not very sure Mack has ever recognized how much a part of the problem he is. I'll agree that Mack could have made things worse in this last month than he has, but he sure could have made things better too. He's tarnished his legacy by coming across as only interested in squeezing every last dollar he can out of UT...and it's not as if he's poor and gonna be living on his social security. Nobody blames anyone for trying to get paid, but at some point, it becomes unseemly...and Mack has gone right past that point. It should be plain to him that he needs to hand the team over to another coach, that the fans know that too, and that his refusal to face facts that are so obvious is pushing him into Bobby Bowden - Joe Paterno territory. I don't think, based on my perception of Mack Brown, that he wants to paint himself into that corner, but maybe I'm wrong, and maybe he really does only care about the buyout.

 

[alonghorn72]

I've long been a supporter of Mack Brown and his contributions to the Texas football program. But he's put a slightly better than mediocre product on the fiel the past three seasons after a disasterous 2010 campaign. All the while he has taken home a cool 5M for his efforts annually. Now let's be honest, if any of us produced at slightly above the .500 mark (18-17) in Big 12 play over the timespan, we'd be shown the door and or bankrupt the business. He's missed on several blue chip QBs and opted to play a legacy recruit that would have trouble starting at the juco level. My point is Mack has had time. He chose to stay with a DC and essentially derailed the 2013 season from the get-go. It's time to accept your legacy and rest assured you will never be compared to DKR if you make a mess of the transition process. See Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno. I only use the Paterno comparison as tied to stubbornness to step aside when asked. And can I close by saying 2 conference titles in 16 years is not our standard. The afore mentioned DKR had 11 conference crowns in 20 seasons on the 40. It's time, Mack. It's time. FWIW

Well stated.

 

[lilMAC25]

I agree.There's a lot of balls in the air currently.

This could all still work out fine.

could. But then again, Mack could try to renege in his word again. He's done it several tines in the past. I just hope EMis right here

 

[lilMAC25]

I think he genuinely has the players at heart. He isn't a mean, selfish man, as many have recently come to believe.

Mack is extremely selfish about at least 1 thing... His image.

It drives 99% of what he does, if not all of it.

 

[exped]

Good thoughts and a needed 'time out' for all of us.

 

[HornEsch]

The thing is, Mack Brown has always been a master of the media. If he really wanted to make Texas look bad he could easily do it.

However you also have to figure that he knows if he does that it will tarnish his legacy in the public. I'm not talking about with the hard-core fans on the forums, but the general fans which are not as much worried about him leaving. Mack knows if he makes a nasty exit, public he will ultimately be tarnished.

As EM stated, this is not to say he is not making it difficult and fighting behind the scenes. However from Mack's perspective if he somehow saved his job he would have a lot of bad blood out there and if he does do this in the public his legacy takes a big hit.

Just look at the major outlets. They are all treating Mack with respect. If he loses that by going nuclear on the school in public that will change. If there is one thing we know about Mack, it is that he worries about the image being presented.

Just my 2 cents from a non-insider.

 

[TheContractor]

But Mack's handling this well, imo. He could easily make this whole thing a nightmare for Texas. He's not. Just about any other coach would be talking to the media and making things more difficult. I think we're all just expecting too much given the circumstances. Everyone keeps bringing up USC. USC didn't fire a legend. They fired a JAG that nobody will talk about anymore and who didn't deserve that job. What's going on right now is a soap opera because that's the only way it could be in this scenario. Texas splitting ways with one of it's top 2 coaches ever and about to potentially hire maybe the best ever. This is kind of a big deal.

EM, completely disagree. Mack could make it a lot better. He seems to be causing a lot of issues bc he selfishly want to be back to beat Royal record.

 

[TexasEx_98]

I'm tired of the people throwing support at him. He's had long enough. Last 4 years, last 4 days...he needs to step down and get the f@ck out!

 

[CallawayItIs]

I agree. I will want it over as quickly as the next guy.

 

[dmanderson21]

I thought Mack's comment from yesterday's presser of "Anytime your AD changes - that changes the game. So with all due respect, I want to sit down with Steve...." was all the hinting we needed. He's stepping down; the game has changed.

But as many have speculated, UT won't announce it unless they have their guy lined up. Isn't there a possibility that the delay here is due to the Saban camp? Or any other target (if not Saban)? I want Mack gone as much as the next guy, but maybe Mack is being cited as the source of delays in order for all the ducks to get lined up.

 

[Mulligan30]

Is Mack handling all this well? That is debatable. Could he be handling it much worse? Most definitely.''

 

[Navinjohnson15]

But Mack's handling this well, imo. He could easily make this whole thing a nightmare for Texas. He's not. Just about any other coach would be talking to the media and making things more difficult. I think we're all just expecting too much given the circumstances. Everyone keeps bringing up USC. USC didn't fire a legend. They fired a JAG that nobody will talk about anymore and who didn't deserve that job. What's going on right now is a soap opera because that's the only way it could be in this scenario. Texas splitting ways with one of it's top 2 coaches ever and about to potentially hire maybe the best ever. This is kind of a big deal.

I agree completely people have let their emotions get in the way of the fact that things like this take time. I am sure there has been a plan in place for a while when and if Mack steps down. Let it play out and let see if Mack does it with class just like the majority of things he has done throughout his career.

 

[Akersaway]

Mack knew the score after the BYU game and what it would take to hold onto his job. So certainly going into the Baylor game he knew if he won he could have a leg to stand on and if lost then he didn't satisfy conditions laid down. So to take all this time it is showing it is just about him (all probably orchestrated by JJ) and not what is best about UT.

Hell even Tom Landry got fired. I think Mack is damn lucky they haven't pulled the trigger on him. It would be better to have Mack as an ally but enough is enough. Time to move on you are holding up progress.