Those of you among the 70,000 people following Mack Brown‘s Twitter account have known since Monday that the former Longhorns coach is leading a burnt orange contingent on a goodwill trip through Dubai.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, the trip is “football-related” meant to “explore future possibilities for Texas athletics.” Ipso facto, Texas is playing a game in Dubai sometime soon.
Not so fast, my friend.
A Twitter back-and-forth between San Antonio Express-News beat writer Mike Finger and Dallas Morning News writer Chuck Carlton shed light on Texas AD Steve Patterson‘s intentions for the transcontinental trip.I am told Texas is not, on any level, entertaining the possibility of playing football in Dubai. Even if I could’ve used the air miles.
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) April 22, 2015
Re: Mack Brown in Dubai. Yes, he’s serving as an ambassador for a Longhorn Foundation contingent and looking for football opportunities.
— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) April 22, 2015
Why send Mack and two former football players, then? Well, presumably, they attract bigger crowds at fundraisers than the volleyball coach.
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) April 22, 2015
Just don’t expect Texas football in Dubai. Texas hasn’t been able to put one together yet for Mexico City. Imagine the logistics for Dubai.
— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) April 22, 2015
The Statesman reported last January that Patterson expressed interest in scheduling a football game in Mexico City though, tellingly, that rumor hasn’t gone anywhere in the 15 months since.
As brand-conscious as Patterson is - the man did schedule a basketball game in China for this November, after all - playing football in Dubai is an entirely different animal.
In the end, Finger summed it up in the native tongue of the Internet.Anatomy of an internet rumor: 1. Patterson mentions alumni in Dubai a year ago. 2. Mack goes fundraising there. 3. OHMYGOD DESERT FOOTBALL!!
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) April 22, 2015