Texas introduced Steve Patterson as its next athletic director on Thursday, and he said significant changes may not be necessary in the near future in Austin.
“I met with the staff this morning and tried to communicate that this is the premier athletic department in the country ... and that’s something we want to continue and grow,” Patterson told reporters, via the Austin American-Statesman. “I don’t see this as I have other places ... that needed a dramatic turnaround.”
That’s a somewhat vague declaration -- Patterson didn’t come out and say anything either way about Mack Brown’s future. Brown publicly supported Patterson’s impending hire, but like Patterson’s comments they came off as a political necessity. Perhaps Brown truly believes Patterson is an excellent hire, and perhaps Patterson doesn’t think any major changes are necessary. But both Brown and Patterson had to say what they said, so reading between the lines from afar isn’t easy.
For all we know, Patterson could’ve been referring to structural changes within the athletic department and how it’s run, not the football team.
Texas is 5-0 in the Big 12 and very much is in the running for a conference championship and BCS berth. The Longhorns still have home games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, as well as a season-ending road game at Baylor, to end their season.
Whether winning out and making a BCS bowl would be enough to save Brown’s job, though, remains to be seen after Patterson offered no clues on Thursday.
Photo credit: Deborah Cannon, Statesman.com via AP