Mack Brown threatened to go public with info on Nick Saban, according to Chip Brown
By Mike Dyce
Orange Bloods’ Chip Brown reported early in the week that Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown would be stepping down. Since then, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has signed an extension with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Mack Brown is still the head coach of the Texas Longhorns.
Chip Brown went on NBC Sports Radio and talked to host Clay Travis about the week’s events. It included a fascinating little nugget about Mack Brown threatening to go public with information about Texas’ pursuit of Nick Saban.
This is what Brown had to say, via CoachingSearch.com:
“This is an unbelievable drama and it has really played out over two years. You had a group of regents and powerful big-money donors who had a conversation with Nick Saban’s agent last January. A former regent went to Mack Brown two days later and said, “Mack, do you still want to coach?” Mack said, “Yes.” Things proceeded, but the thought of Saban as coach never left that group. Mack Brown worked all year under the knowledge that if he didn’t meet certain criteria – 10 wins, BCS bowl-eligibility, BCS berth, at least a share of the Big 12 title – that he would be stepping down because the four-year failed rebuilding project would be too much.
“He knew that group was still focused in on Nick Saban. He was dead-man walking at 1-2. If Iowa State hangs on to an interception or gets a ruling on a fumble later, or Texas fails on the 4th & 7 against West Virginia, we’re not even talking about this because Mack Brown would have stepped down at the end, probably the day after the Baylor game. But because he was still in contention for a Big 12 title, he told the group he was not ready to meet.”
Brown said, “Mack Brown is apparently blaming press leaks for his unhappiness, but he threatened to go public with the details about the regents and the boosters’ attempt to get Saban for two years. That word got to Saban’s camp almost immediately and within an hour he had re-upped with Alabama. And Mack Brown’s future is still totally in limbo. There are billionaires at Texas that want to know why Mack Brown is still the football coach and there is not an offer being made to Nick Saban. That’s where we are. It is amazing. It is amazing.”