Mack Brown resigns, will coach bowl game

Nov 9, 2013; Morgantown, WV, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown (center) looks on during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

What do OU fans really think of Mack Brown? Well to be honest, most love Brown at the helm of Texas’ football program. Since 1998, Brown has only won two Big 12 championships and just one national title, as well as beating Oklahoma seven times and losing to the Sooners nine times.

Bob Stoops and his staff have done an excellent job of shifting the conference power in favor of OU, but after an 8-4 season, Mack Brown has decided to resign from his position as head coach.

While he could have stayed at the richest program in the country and tried to rebuild Texas in to a true power for a few more years, Brown has finally decided to put down the headset.

Who can really blame him, though? Brown can walk out of Austin saying he beat OU one last time and will never have to endure the torment of being blown out in the Cotton Bowl.

He was very close to winning a Big 12 title outright, but the Horns should be happy they were even in a position to earn a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. Texas had plenty of close calls this year, but Brown’s Longhorns persevered, dropping two out-of-conference games and were rattled by the likes of Oklahoma State and Baylor.

He will coach the Alamo Bowl against the Oregon Ducks, who opened as a two touchdown favorite over the Longhorns. Mack Brown will definitely be missed, as “Keep Mack” was a common slogan in the Norman area.

Texas’ upset victory in this year’s OU-Texas game seemed to be the key win to keep Brown in Austin, though, there is an interesting trend with Texas Longhorn coaches.

John Mackovic and David McWilliams, respectively the two previous head coaches of the Texas Longhorns before Brown, beat OU in their last years in their tenures as the main man at UT.

Fred Akers, who preceded McWilliams, was the last Longhorns head coach to end his tenure with a loss to OU. And just worth noting, one of Texas’ most esteemed head coaches, who bears the name of UT’s football stadium, and former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback and defensive back, Darrell Royal, ended his tenure in Austin with a tie in the annual Red River Shootout.

Mack Brown, at the age of 62, though, will go out as the man to bring back a crystal ball to Texas in 2005 and could add a massive victory over the Ducks in San Antonio in his final game.

His presence on the sideline in Dallas will certainly be missed considering the amount of money Texas should be throwing around at some of the biggest names to come coach the burnt orange.