As the Texas Longhorns’ search for their next head coach following the departure of Mack Brown grows longer, the reported list of names is getting shorter. But, one name that is reportedly still on that list is one that’s been on there from the beginning, and that’s Baylor head coach Art Briles.
After a season in which Briles led the Bears program to a Big 12 championship–coincidentally by defeating the Longhorns in the final game of the regular season–it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s highly thought of by Texas brass, given the way he’s resurrected this Baylor football team.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Craig Smoak caught up with Coach Briles. While we haven’t heard much from him to this point about the rumors, he did open up a little bit to Smoak about a possibility of him moving to Austin:
I just asked Art Briles about AA-Statesman report he would take UT job if offered. He said, "Anybody can say anything, you know.. (CONT)
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) December 29, 2013
Briles CONT: "I learned a long time ago, I think it was believe none of what you hear and half of what you read. And I know that our (Cont)
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) December 29, 2013
(Briles CONT) total focus is on beating UCF and that's the way it's going to be. I mean if I did anything that was not on that (CONT)
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) December 29, 2013
@CraigSmoak: (Briles) ...that would be detrimental to our football team and our university and I'm never going to do that." (CONT)
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) December 29, 2013
Briles: "I'm privileged and honored to be the head coach at Baylor University I can promise you that."
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) December 29, 2013
Pretty much what you would expect from Briles at this point as he is getting his team ready for their first-ever appearance in a BCS Bowl.