Sources: Mack Brown still coaching at Texas for now
Mack Brown continues to do his job as football coach at Texas in the midst of a report Tuesday that his resignation is a done deal.
Brown was recruiting in Florida on Tuesday and is trying to arrange a meeting with school president Bill Powers and new athletic director Steve Patterson for next week in Austin, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports. The three hoped to meet in New York this week at the National Football Federation’s annual function, but Powers was unable to attend.
In his absence, Patterson and Brown met for several hours Sunday, according to sources, in talks that were characterized as positive and productive. But Brown is pushing for another meeting, which includes the president.
Powers is embroiled in his own job crisis, with Gov. Rick Perry among his reported adversaries. A Texas Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for Thursday, with an official agenda item to vote on his continued employment as school president. The outcome of that vote may have an effect on Brown’s status, a source said, citing Powers’ longstanding allegiance to Brown.
Patterson issued a brief statement to the media Tuesday, saying "We continue to discuss the future of Texas Football. Mack Brown has not resigned. And, no decisions have been made."
Texas’ football banquet is scheduled for Friday. The Longhorns, coming off an 8-4 regular season, will play Oregon in the Alamo Bowl at the end of the month.
Amid rampant speculation that that will be Brown’s last game at Texas, sources emphasized Tuesday that any reports of a resignation are untrue.
“Mack hasn’t had a meeting and has not told anyone he’s stepping down,” one source said.
Industry sources have said Texas boosters continue to campaign through back channels for Brown to be replaced by Alabama coach Nick Saban. Saban and his wife, Terry, have said publicly that they are not leaving Tuscaloosa, but that was before the Crimson Tide’s shocking upset loss to Auburn, which ended their shot at a national championship three-peat. And it would not be the first time Saban has publicly denied he was taking a job he ultimately accepted – that’s how he got to Alabama from the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.
