Could Mack Brown Be The Next Texas AD?
By Ty Duffy
Texas rid itself of unpopular Steve Patterson. The obvious next question is who replaces him (and what that means for Charlie Strong). One early candidate that has emerged per Fox Sports: Mack Brown.
The argument for Brown is clear. He’s preternaturally charismatic. He knows the landscape. He has extensive experience selling people on Texas. The first priority for Patterson’s replacement will be rebuilding relationships with donors and fans. Brown should, on paper, be quite good at that, however awkward the timing.
There will be calls for an experienced athletic administrator. The business landscape, in the multi-billion-dollar TV contract era, is more complex than it once was. With the changing nature of amateurism in coming years, there will be challenges.
The counterpoint: it’s not that hard of a job. There’s no professional degree or particular expertise required. The closest parallel to Texas right now is Michigan firing Dave Brandon last year. The Wolverines appointed former player Jim Hackett, with no AD experience, on an interim basis, and thrust him into hiring a new football coach.
Sure, Hackett had some personal relationships that helped land Jim Harbaugh. But, beyond that his MO has been removing the Brandon reforms that irritated everyone, and deploying common sense. Suddenly, Michigan fans want to buy football tickets and Nike wants to offer the biggest apparel deal in college sports. Hire the right football coach. Don’t nick and dime and annoy people. Not that hard.
Of course, the difference from Michigan is the football coach timing. When Hackett was appointed, it was clear Brady Hoke had to go. Charlie Strong is two games into the second season of a rebuilding job. Is this irresolvable chaos? Or, is this inevitable growing pains exacerbated by not having a quarterback?
The next AD must support Strong and build support for him or must have the conviction to cut ties and hire Texas’ Kevin Sumlin or Nick Saban. Do Texas fans/boosters/etc. want Mack Brown back actively refashioning their football program (and again trying to fix the mess he created)?
[USAT]