If one report is accurate, the question of will he or won’t he as it relates to Mack Brown and his future as Texas’ head coach should be answered before the end of the week.
Citing what he calls a “high-ranking source,” Bobby Burton of 247Sports.com is reporting that the “decision on Mack Brown’s future [is] expected in [the] next ’48 hours.’” Whether that decision will be made by Brown alone -- to return or retire/move on -- or if the long-time UT coach will have some “help” from university officials and powerful boosters is the ultimate X factor.
Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman had reported Sunday that a decision on Brown’s future could come in the next two weeks.
The way the Longhorns began the 2013 season made it seem like a foregone conclusion that Brown’s 16-year run in Austin was fast approaching its end. After that 1-2 start, however, UT won seven of its next eight games to put itself in a position to win the Big 12 and qualify for a BCS bowl with a win over Baylor in the regular-season finale. A 20-point loss to the Bears ended any hope of that as well as once again throwing the rumor mill into high gear.
Athletic director DeLoss Dodds, long a champion of the coach, has left his post and was replaced by Steve Patterson, who will ostensibly have a hand in helping decide Brown’s fate. Another long-time and ardent Brown supporter, UT president Bill Powers, will have his employment discussed by the University of Texas System regents at a closed-door meeting this week. The meeting will evaluate a “recommendation” that was made regarding Powers; what that recommendation is specifically is unknown.
Have confirmed that UT president Bill Powers didn't join Mack Brown and Steve Patterson in NYC this week. Brown & Patterson met Sunday.
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) December 10, 2013