So, he would risk the public perception fallout of being associated with an ugly exit and scuttling of Saban? Not to mention giving up the payouts beyond his official payout? Nothing leads me to believe that Mack cares more about keeping Saban out than his public perception or money. Saban benefits him in many ways. It implies that only a Saban could replace a coach on Mack Brown's level. It backs up the notion of the best job in the country and having the best coaches, which improves Mack's image as one of the "Texas legends" like Nick Saban and Royal. Although not necessarily true, Mack will be able to claim that he built the program and had us set up for the success that followed. He will claim he left us in the best possible hands and it was his plan all along. His camp will always be able to claim that whatever success Saban has Mack would have had the same because he was right on the brink of another run. If he hands his empire over to a less competent coach it will lessen Mack's legacy in all the aforementioned areas. A crappy run after Mack leaves gets placed on his shoulders and diminishes his legacy.