Mack Brown stepping down.

[Garin]

Mark it down Saban is in @ 115 million 10 year deal. Already closed on a new house in Austin. Alabama kids are already decommitting from the tide.

[Pete]

^

That's all premature and speculative.

The school is denying it... Has a board of regents meeting on Thursday. If anything official is going to happen, it will be announced after that.

[Roger S]

Mark it down Saban is in @ 115 million 10 year deal. Already closed on a new house in Austin. Alabama kids are already decommitting from the tide.

Hmmmm... Can you cite any sources on this info?

[Stew]

Mack Brown is a fine coach and Tejas should give him a life time contract with a $50,000,000,000,000 buyout clause.

[lasomeday]

Mark it down Saban is in @ 115 million 10 year deal. Already closed on a new house in Austin. Alabama kids are already decommitting from the tide.

Really? Espn is denying your source.

Mack Brown denies report that he is stepping down as Texas Longhorns coach - ESPN

[warreng88]

If Saban comes to UT, I don't think he will do it for less that $7 million/year, which would be $2 million more than any college football coach. And he would make $1,000,000 less than the highest paid coach in the NFL and $1,000,000 more than any of the other coaches below him.

[adaniel]

Still not convinced he would be leaving Alabama. I think he is just toying with UA to cough up more cash. Saban is too ruthless to want to engage in the good-ole-boy politicking that is needed at UT.

There seems to be a big rumor out there that Saban's wife just closed on a home in Austin. Even if that is true, supposedly they own real estate all over. And Saban does recruit heavily in TX now, might as well get a place.

[Jersey Boss]

Terry[Saban} bought property in Baton Rouge last year, and she’s a licensed real estate agent with plenty of money to play with if she’s interested in making business deals. Perhaps the house is for Saban’s son and daughter-in-law? Before we jump to any conclusions, there are in fact 1,000 different reasons Mrs. Saban could want property or a home in Austin.

Saban?s wife house hunting in Texas goes viral | Saturday Down South

[dankrutka]

Mark it down Saban is in @ 115 million 10 year deal. Already closed on a new house in Austin. Alabama kids are already decommitting from the tide.

Do you just bounce from thread to thread posting inaccuracies? Mack may leave. Saban may come. Neither is verified at this point. Where did you see Alabama decommitments? Goodness. Please just suspend your judgment and think about it for a while before posting.

[OKCisOK4me]

Mack Brown was at a house in Miami, FL, recruiting and he tweeted that if he was stepping down, he wouldn't be "killing" himself down there.

[Martin]

mack brown was at a house in miami, fl

THIS JUST IN, MACK BROWN LEAVING TEXAS TO COACH AT MIAMI. MARK IT DOWN. -M



/not really

[venture]

This morning Mack said he will have an answer in 2 days on what we wants to do. Then rumors went crazy and he came out denying them. What a mess.

Thread title should be changed because this is just all made up stuff at this point by Garin. Unless he would like to cite his sources. Used toilet paper doesn't count.

[stratosphere]

"Im not going anywhere" - Les Miles 2004

[venture]

"Im not going anywhere" - Les Miles 2004

Every coach tends to say that. I just think we need some sources when specific numbers and actions are being "reported" by a handle on a message board.

[Garin]

Mack brown is stepping down its fact. Will happen either Thursday or Friday. I won't give up my source but it's 100% accurate. The thread title is accurate.

[Chadanth]

Mack brown is stepping down its fact. Will happen either Thursday or Friday. I won't give up my source but it's 100% accurate. The thread title is accurate.

Here we are on Saturday, Mack Brown is still employed and Saban just signed an extension at Alabama. Any other bold, 100% accurate predictions?

[SoonerDave]

Here we are on Saturday, Mack Brown is still employed and Saban just signed an extension at Alabama. Any other bold, 100% accurate predictions?

I would expect part of the dance here was that Texas wasn't going to force out Mack until they had their #1 draft pick in house. Now, assuming that Saban has actally signed the extension, Texas power brokers are looking for their #2 guy in the hopes of making it look as though he, whomever it may be, was their intended all along.

Now, mind you, not to put too fine a point on all this, but unless someone can find a report to the contrary, every media article I've seen so far on this has said that Saban has agreed to or finalized and extension with Alabama. I would very much like a pointer to an article that affirmatively and specifically states Saban has signed that deal.

Before someone suggests I'm trying to delude myself into thinking there's some secret notions that might still land Saban at UT, I'm not; I've never been much in the "Saban to UT" camp. But I would like to see something that says he actually signed the new deal. Just for the sake of completeness.

As for Brown stepping down, I don't see any way around this. Texas' athletic structure until this year insulated Mack Brown from the more powerful of the contrary donors, which was essentially DeLoss Dodds. When football plus other factors regarding legal entanglements made Dodds' departure inevitable, so went Brown's protection. Mind you, the groups that have wanted Mack out didn't just start brewing this season - there's been this sentiment for a time now. I don't pretend to have any double-secret sources, just a fairly reasonable interpretation of what I've read about Texas football over the last several years, not just in the last week or so. There's still a 1-in-100 shot Brown could stay, but it's almost impossible for me to see how. Dodds' was truly his last defender with any influence to keep him, and the big-time guys who want him out now have (essentially) their guy in charge now. Can't see how he stays. Nothing's impossible, of course, but it just seems a real longshot to me now.

[Chadanth]

I would expect part of the dance here was that Texas wasn't going to force out Mack until they had their #1 draft pick in house. Now, assuming that Saban has actally signed the extension, Texas power brokers are looking for their #2 guy in the hopes of making it look as though he, whomever it may be, was their intended all along.

Now, mind you, not to put too fine a point on all this, but unless someone can find a report to the contrary, every media article I've seen so far on this has said that Saban has agreed to or finalized and extension with Alabama. I would very much like a pointer to an article that affirmatively and specifically states Saban has signed that deal.

Before someone suggests I'm trying to delude myself into thinking there's some secret notions that might still land Saban at UT, I'm not; I've never been much in the "Saban to UT" camp. But I would like to see something that says he actually signed the new deal. Just for the sake of completeness.

As for Brown stepping down, I don't see any way around this. Texas' athletic structure until this year insulated Mack Brown from the more powerful of the contrary donors, which was essentially DeLoss Dodds. When football plus other factors regarding legal entanglements made Dodds' departure inevitable, so went Brown's protection. Mind you, the groups that have wanted Mack out didn't just start brewing this season - there's been this sentiment for a time now. I don't pretend to have any double-secret sources, just a fairly reasonable interpretation of what I've read about Texas football over the last several years, not just in the last week or so. There's still a 1-in-100 shot Brown could stay, but it's almost impossible for me to see how. Dodds' was truly his last defender with any influence to keep him, and the big-time guys who want him out now have (essentially) their guy in charge now. Can't see how he stays. Nothing's impossible, of course, but it just seems a real longshot to me now.

I was pointing out the foolishness of a guy on a forum in OKC saying it was a done. 100% deal. I'm convinced Brown is on his way out, but it might wait until after the bowls. There's not a lot of talent on the street right now, and coaches of bowl-bound teams aren't going to jump ship just yet.

[SoonerDave]

I was pointing out the foolishness of a guy on a forum in OKC saying it was a done. 100% deal. I'm convinced Brown is on his way out, but it might wait until after the bowls. There's not a lot of talent on the street right now, and coaches of bowl-bound teams aren't going to jump ship just yet.

I still think Texas would be crazy not to at least take a shot at Gundy, but I don't know if he fits their "ego" profile. They have to hire someone who they think is as "big" as Texas. I think Gundy is a heck of a coach, despite some of his curious public relations moves. There's some notion they might want to look toward the NFL, but I can't fathom any current NFL coach that would be worth pursuing would break away from an NFL gig unless that gig just wasn't working out, a la Shanahan at Washington. But he's a falling star IMHO, so there's no way Texas would want him. David Shaw would be a good hire.

Right now, you're right in pointing out that there's just not a great deal of "big enough" talent out there for Texas to snag now that it appears Saban truly is off the table.

No matter who they hire, that has to be prepared to handle Texas' internal athletic politics. Don't think that aspect gets nearly enough play, as I think that's a huge internal obstacle to most any coach being successful.

[Jersey Boss]

I would expect part of the dance here was that Texas wasn't going to force out Mack until they had their #1 draft pick in house. Now, assuming that Saban has actally signed the extension, Texas power brokers are looking for their #2 guy in the hopes of making it look as though he, whomever it may be, was their intended all along.

Now, mind you, not to put too fine a point on all this, but unless someone can find a report to the contrary, every media article I've seen so far on this has said that Saban has agreed to or finalized and extension with Alabama. I would very much like a pointer to an article that affirmatively and specifically states Saban has signed that deal.

Before someone suggests I'm trying to delude myself into thinking there's some secret notions that might still land Saban at UT, I'm not; I've never been much in the "Saban to UT" camp. But I would like to see something that says he actually signed the new deal. Just for the sake of completeness.

As for Brown stepping down, I don't see any way around this. Texas' athletic structure until this year insulated Mack Brown from the more powerful of the contrary donors, which was essentially DeLoss Dodds. When football plus other factors regarding legal entanglements made Dodds' departure inevitable, so went Brown's protection. Mind you, the groups that have wanted Mack out didn't just start brewing this season - there's been this sentiment for a time now. I don't pretend to have any double-secret sources, just a fairly reasonable interpretation of what I've read about Texas football over the last several years, not just in the last week or so. There's still a 1-in-100 shot Brown could stay, but it's almost impossible for me to see how. Dodds' was truly his last defender with any influence to keep him, and the big-time guys who want him out now have (essentially) their guy in charge now. Can't see how he stays. Nothing's impossible, of course, but it just seems a real longshot to me now.

While I could be mistaken, I believe reaffirmed President Powers is a Brown supporter.

[bluedogok]

While I could be mistaken, I believe reaffirmed President Powers is a Brown supporter.

Yes he is along with the two largest donors who have buildings and schools named after them on campus and one is Mack's attorney.

[Chadanth]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Brown go, but why would Saban leave Alabama? He's built a machine there and it would take a few years to get back there, if ever.

[SoonerDave]

Brown stepping down was reported by OrangeBloods.com, a reasonably reliable source of Texas athletic info. They were among the first to report about DeLoss Dodds' departure as Texas' AD, which was immediately and vehemently denied, only to be announced to the world "officially" a couple of days later.

My inferences from what I've been reading and hearing today is that there's a fairly carefully orchestrated dance going on. Texas wants Mack out, but they don't want to dishonor or humiliate him because he has been one of their most successful coaches ever, in spite of some conspicuous failings. I believe there is a desire to give Brown the option to "step down" on his own, and the last rumblings I read suggest this will happen later this week.

There is, however, considerable doubt about just how much of a "lock" Saban is for the job. Some reports I've read (sorry, I don't have links, because the reports are old and frankly don't remember the sources where I read them) when this was not so nearly as "hot" a topic was that Saban politely already declined the Texas job, but did inform them that it was about the "only job he'd leave Bama for." That's led some to speculate that a sufficiently large truckload of money might sway him, but there also lurks the notion that he'd like to give the NFL a second try - especially given the fact the's set the bar so high at his previous college efforts, what would be the point of trying again - his college coaching legacy is secure.

I have absolutely no double-secret insider info either way on Saban. I personally think there are political issues inside Texas that make being the HC down there a lot harder than people realize - which is precisely why a school with all the resources they have, including virtually unlimited money, has only produced one national title since the 60's (under Brown), but has produced seemingly myriad coaching disappointments - folks like John Mackovic, or even Fred Akers back in the day. IMHO, there's a great deal to be said about the influence of what I'd call the Texas "good ol' boy" network, that more or less tells coaches whom they should or shouldn't play - and they're expected to listen. Do I really think Mack Brown didn't want RGIII? Or really thought Chris Simms was the Next Great QB at Texas? Brown will have a mixed history at Texas, but he's not stupid - I firmly believe that many of his more curious coaching decisions were a direct result of that "good ol' boy" influence. Think of it as the Jerry Jones aura at the college level, but spread over a handful of powerful, crusty, old donors. And I also think Nick Saban is smart enough to know that while those issues exist at virtually every major college program in varying degrees, they have a unique potential to serve as a seriously obstructionist influence at a place like UT - and he surely doesn't need or want that kind of hassle.

Some suggest Saban will go merely for the fact that rumors are surfacing that the SEC plans to start coming down hard on schools for the practice of what's called "greyshirting," which is a method of oversigning athletes to scholarships knowing they don't have enough for all the kids that are signed - and then not telling them until they arrive on campus and have no option to go anywhere else. Make no mistake - one element of Saban's success has been his ability to scoop up ridiculous layer of NFL-caliber talent year in and year out, and if one technique to do this is being cut off, he could find this a great reason to bail out now. Who knows.

The point is that no one knows, although I suspect the Orangebloods.com report is reliable. And I think Mack Brown will be done by the end of the week. He may opt to force the issue on Texas, as if to say, "No, I won't step down and take a different position in the athletic department. If you want me out, you'll have to fire me in front of the whole world." That's obviously a bridge-burning scenario Texas wouldn't want or need.

We'll see how it all unfolds.

[dankrutka]

...the influence of what I'd call the Texas "good ol' boy" network, that more or less tells coaches whom they should or shouldn't play - and they're expected to listen. Do I really think Mack Brown didn't want RGIII? Or really thought Chris Simms was the Next Great QB at Texas? Brown will have a mixed history at Texas, but he's not stupid - I firmly believe that many of his more curious coaching decisions were a direct result of that "good ol' boy" influence. Think of it as the Jerry Jones aura at the college level, but spread over a handful of powerful, crusty, old donors. And I also think Nick Saban is smart enough to know that while those issues exist at virtually every major college program in varying degrees, they have a unique potential to serve as a seriously obstructionist influence at a place like UT - and he surely doesn't need or want that kind of hassle.

Wait. You think donors get together and tell coaches at the most powerful programs who to recruit and play? I don't think so. The biggest coaches are running things and certainly not being micromanaged by donors unless they let it happen. You also realize that Chris Simms was a more highly sought after recruit than RG3, right? Recruiting is not a science and a lot of people miss on great prospects. Anyway, I don't really disagree with your larger points, but that this part was pretty shaky.

[SoonerDave]

Wait. You think donors get together and tell coaches at the most powerful programs who to recruit and play? I don't think so. The biggest coaches are running things and certainly not being micromanaged by donors unless they let it happen. You also realize that Chris Simms was a more highly sought after recruit than RG3, right? Recruiting is not a science and a lot of people miss on great prospects. Anyway, I don't really disagree with your larger points, but that this part was pretty shaky.

At most programs? No. At Texas in particular? Yes. I think Texas is a peculiar subculture unto itself. You telling me that a school that develops its own nationwide football channel and basically owns its own football conference wouldn't have the donor impetus to micromanage that football program if they chose? Don't think its a shaky suggestion at all. There has to be a reason why a program like Texas, with its unmatched resources, has produced only two national titles in, what, five decades?

Think about it - how long did it take Texas to embrace minority athletes the way, say, Switzer, did? You think that was solely because of the coaches that went through that program, or because of the implicit direction of the higher ups? Not saying that's what's going on now, but I think the mindset of "he who has the gold makes the rules" is a significant player in the overarching history of Texas football.