What's best for the program?

[hornrush]

There are may opinions floating around about Mack Brown and whether he'll be back for one more year or not. Mack's supporter's, sometimes called "Mack sniffers", are leading this charge since Texas summarily dismantled the vaunted Tech offense, put 41 points on the board in spite of Case McCoy and are now staring at, at least a tie for the conference championship with a win over Baylor next Saturday and the outright crown if ou defeats oSu.

As unlikely as those two scenarios are, I think it may be time to put away the rancor and flags declaring which camp everyone belongs to and start asking some hard questions and coming up with some hard answers, about what's best for the program going forward, regardless of what happens in Waco. So here we go.

I'll ask these questions and try to answer each one, dispassionately and honestly as possible and then invite you to chime in with your thoughts.

QUESTION 1-IF MACK BROWN WERE TO RETURN FOR THE 2014 SEASON, WHAT WOULD BE THE REAL EXPECTATIONS FOR HIS TEAM VERSUS THAT OF A NEW COACH AND STAFF COMING IN?

Tough question right off the bat. If Mack were to come back, staff and all, this team would undoubtedly HAVE to win, at the very least, a conference championship. A major bowl berth would almost certainly be required to not just win the fans back but to also put a fire break in the recruiting war now currently being won by A&M. This answer, in and of itself, raises the next question.

QUESTION 2-DOES THIS TEAM HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON?

There are more than a few holes in this team next season that would make the answer to this question a "maybe" at best.

--The QB position. Ash? A big maybe right now. Swoopes is a project. A BIG project and it's time even the "sniffers" came to admit this. We don't have a JUCO QB right now and Heard is probably going to need a year of seasoning before he can step ahead of Swoopes or a JUCO. Let's face facts, the QB position on this team is the most important one and right now, it doesn't look very promising.

--On defense, who's going to play on DLine and who's going to back them up? What's going to happen at LB? Like I said, there's some holes.

QUESTION 3-WHAT HAPPENS TO RECRUITING IF MACK DOESN'T RETURN AS COACH IN 2014?

It helps...a lot! We need that fire break I mentioned above and the buzz generated from a new coach, especially a big-name coach, would provide that break and even provide some needed momentum that this program hasn't had in recruiting for some time. What do I mean by that? Right now, everyone, and I mean everyone, is using negative recruiting against Mack Brown like a sledge hammer. If Mack were to return, that hammer would only get worse.

QUESTION 4-IF A NEW COACH AND STAFF ARE IN PLACE IN 2014, WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION FOR A RECORD FOR THEM?

Use history as the judge. When Mack Brown came to Texas in '98, the expectations were to build something within 3-4 years. The next year, 1999, Texas won the south and lost to Nebraska in the CC game. In his 4th year, Mack was a bad Chris Simms day away from playing for the MNC. Patience after 4 years I think would begin to run out no matter who the coach is but whomever the new guy might be, he would at least be given those same 3-4 years to turn it around.

QUESTION 5-IS THERE A DANGER OF TEXAS LOSING ALL THAT'S BEEN BUILT UP BY MACK BROWN IF HE STAYS?

This may be the question that only a few are asking right now. The short answer? Yes, a very real possibility.

So let's review.

1. If Mack Brown were to return in 2014, a conference championship at minimum, major bowl berth or possibly even in the tournament for the MNC would be required to reverse the ills that the program currently suffers under.

Not likely to happen with Mack at the helm.

2. This team can possibly win a conference championship but it all starts with Ash returning and playing a solid, healthy and complete season. Other holes along both lines and finding a FG kicker would probably say the safe money on this answer is no, they won't.

3. Recruiting would benefit if Mack was NOT coming back next season. New blood, new energy and a new outlook should give us a bump. The gains would outweigh any potential losses.

4. Expectations for a new coach and staff would be less than what they would be if Mack stayed. The fans would come back and the program would, as it did when Mack started here, be given a chance to heal and build. Winning back the fans is important.

5. Texas fell down a deep and dark hole in the mid-eighties and it took nearly 15 years to recover. We can't afford to let that happen again. If Mack stays, the fan base continues to leave and the program continues to wallow in mediocrity, losing recruiting battle after battle, there is a real possibility that history repeats itself.

So, looking at these questions and answers, it's time for you to put yourselves in the role of Mack Brown and ask, "what's best for the program?"

I think he's already answered that question and that's why I think this is his final season. His leaving, or "retiring" is what's best for the program. If he doesn't know that, if he hasn't weighed these or similar questions in his own private way and been honest with himself, then shame on him for ever bringing up the phrase, "what's best for the program".

Your turn.

Hook'em!

 

[LongviewLobo01]

Good post. Here are my answers:

QUESTION 1-IF MACK BROWN WERE TO RETURN FOR THE 2014 SEASON, WHAT WOULD BE THE REAL EXPECTATIONS FOR HIS TEAM VERSUS THAT OF A NEW COACH AND STAFF COMING IN?If Mack returns, he has to win something of consequence. Obviously a MNC would be best, but that's probably not realistic, but he HAS to win the Big 12 conference and win a BCS bowl at minimum. No more than 2 losses, if that. If Mack comes back the fanbase is going to be smelling blood and the first loss he has is going to be brutal for him, his staff and the players.

QUESTION 2-DOES THIS TEAM HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AT A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON?Of course they do. This year's team could be playing for a share of the Big 12 title against Baylor with injuries to the starting QB, RB, one DT and one LB. Even if Ash isn't able to return, I think Swoopes can at least produce like McCoy. My thinking is that he won't have nearly as much responsibility because I fully expect the offensive line to make a major jump next year under Searles or whoever returns. I think the run game takes another step forward next season and the WRs will improve. Yes the DL loses Jeffcoat, but Reed is a gamechanger and I think Blueitt and Davis are ready for primetime. The major question mark here is depth. LBs and DBs should be solid, but it depends on who's coaching them. I think we will be just fine. The conference isn't going to be too great again IMO. It will be OK State's to lose with Baylor being strong again and maybe OU getting back into the thick of things. There's no standout team IMO.

QUESTION 3-WHAT HAPPENS TO RECRUITING IF MACK DOESN'T RETURN AS COACH IN 2014?Depends on who the coach is. Saban comes in and probably takes some of the top kids from A&M in the short period of time he can come in. If it's not Saban, but another big name I think we could close strong. If we hire someone with a lesser name I think things could definitely be difficult, but the new coach could make some differences with the 15 class. It's hard to predict what could happen to recruiting until we figure out who the coach is.

QUESTION 4-IF A NEW COACH AND STAFF ARE IN PLACE IN 2014, WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION FOR A RECORD FOR THEM?Once again, it's hard to predict, but I think a maximum of 3 losses next season no matter who the coach is. And that might be too many. Without breaking the schedule down game-by-game, I think a new coach should be able to come in and win quickly.

QUESTION 5-IS THERE A DANGER OF TEXAS LOSING ALL THAT'S BEEN BUILT UP BY MACK BROWN IF HE STAYS?Without question. Mack staying another year fractures the fan base even further than what it is now. It also gives schools like Baylor, Tech, Ok State, OU, A&M, LSU, Alabama, etc ammunition to use against us. How can Mack sit in living rooms with top recruits with everyone talking about Mack coaching his last season for the 3rd straight year. The 2014 class is already struggling with the difference makers and 2015 ends up going the same route IMO if Mack stays. Especially if we end up getting smoked by Baylor and lose our bowl game. What kind of momentum would we have at that point? Mack staying another season probably sets the program back at least 3-5 years. Mack would be using up the last of the eligibility of his last strong, top of the ranking class and leaving the new coach with very little difference making talent to build upon.

 

[Horn78]

At this point imo the unknown is a bigger positive than the known which is a very underwhelming 2 conference titles in 16 yrs. I don't know much at all about Patterson but I am very confident there are quite a few coaches who could come in and use the resources available at Texas and produce better results than Mack. I have wanted him replaced ever since the second ou beatdown.

 

[coolhorn]

Bobby Bowden proved that every coach out there has an ego, and some coaches let that ego get in the way of what's best, both for themselves, and the team they coach. There are a lot of similarities between Mack and Bowden, and I'm not taking anything for granted until Mack actually makes an announcement that he's stepping down. What's obvious to us, as fans, may NOT be so obvious to Mack and his ego.

 

[Lord Vader]

QUESTION 1-IF MACK BROWN WERE TO RETURN FOR THE 2014 SEASON, WHAT WOULD BE THE REAL EXPECTATIONS FOR HIS TEAM VERSUS THAT OF A NEW COACH AND STAFF COMING IN?

The QB position is still going to be a mess, and there is no elite (yet) wide receiver out there. Its an offense dangerously close to being in the hands of kids with no game experience (This abomination with Swoopes doesnt count). The guy is still going to meddle with his assistants, only this time hes really harming some of the best kids we've gotten in quite awhile. Its another 7 or 8 win team with blowout losses to the bigs.

A new coach still faces these issues, but has time to get things ready, in addition to bringing in schemes and tendencies the rest of the league does not have years of film with. Its worth another win or two, and I am fine with 9 wins and a real chance to go up from here.

QUESTION 2-DOES THIS TEAM HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AT A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON?

No. As stated above, QB position is a mess, there is no elite guy at WR, and the defense has several holes to fill.

QUESTION 3-WHAT HAPPENS TO RECRUITING IF MACK DOESN'T RETURN AS COACH IN 2014?

It'll be fine. Some kids will walk out, others will walk in, but I believe the key guys in this class, the ones who committed to TEXAS, will come.

QUESTION 4-IF A NEW COACH AND STAFF ARE IN PLACE IN 2014, WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION FOR A RECORD FOR THEM?

9 wins. Could be more.

QUESTION 5-IS THERE A DANGER OF TEXAS LOSING ALL THAT'S BEEN BUILT UP BY MACK BROWN IF HE STAYS?

Yes. Brown has already cost this program dearly in recruits and the progress of our opponents in the state.

 

[DocHorn]

Mack suxx now as our HC. What is best for the program, and for him although he may not know it, is to retire with some dignity, if he comes back next yr he will literally be run out of town and not be welcome back for a long time.

Time for Mack to go

 

[Santiam]

There is no way that I can imagine that Mack being back would be positive for the program. In fact, another year with Mack just digs our hole a good bit deeper. All to this talk about Mack possibly being back is for lack of a better word "toxic." I just hope those who have the power to make change understand what keeping Mack on board would likely mean. We can't remain in this never never land forever.

 

[GetHooked]

There is not way that I can imagine that Mack being back would be positive for the program. In fact, another year with Mack just digs our hole a good bit deeper. All to this talk about Mack possibly being back is for lack of a better word "toxic." I just hope those who have the power to make change understand what keeping Mack on board would likely mean. We can't remain in this never never land forever.

I understand that Mack has 5 million reasons to come back. I have no use for the man. He's not a football coach. He needs to go or the fan base is going to be fractured.

Toxic is a great word to describe his affect on the program at this point in time.

 

[SlickStreet]

excellent OP, and I'd add that I can't understand any true benefits for the program as a whole for Mack to return. IMO, though he's in obviously a different spot than us, I think it would be even selfish for Mack to try to return (whether it's granted or not). What would be his true purpose--prevent the likely disliked Saban from taking over "his" program? Beating DKR's win record?

Yes, as many head coaches would do, he'd possibly convince himself that he could still do the job effectively. But even the great DKR knew when to retire. He didn't have to be coaxed (though no doubt he unfortunately faced some powerful detractors at that point of his career)--inevitably, DKR made that determination it was time to step down.

Mack, stubborn or not, needs to do what is best for the program, not Mack Brown. As the OP noted, recruiting will almost undoubtedly further suffer significantly. We're seeing this already with the '14 class, which has easily the LOWEST per player ranking of any of his classes (don't be deceived by the #10 ranking, because that's based on us at this point having a good bit more total commitments).

As the OP notes, we need new blood to infuse, to generate some excitement, not for its own sake, but simply because this program needs new and improved direction. There is, of course, no guarantee the successor will do better over a mega-year period than Mack. However, if we want to "be Texas," we're not going to attain what this program is capable of unless we proceed with what's deemed in business/investments as "managed risk."

Everything, in fact, is a risk--this fear of not moving forward due to "going back to the days of Mackovic" is simply paralyzing, and it brings its own risks--HUGE ones, in fact. As the OP notes, we are at risk right this moment of already being on that path to McWilliams-Mackovic-like levels. Heck, for that matter, when you consider this last four years and the horrible home record (win the other night included), ineptitude against ranked competition, and generally highly erratic performance, we are largely already there now.

After all, even McWilliams and Mackovic were recently off of conference titles prior to being given their resignation papers. So Mack could tie for the conference this year but still generally be in a degrading position with the program. As noted, recruiting and overall on-field performance the last few years are alarming indicators.