Horns247 Board

I think he has a national reputation as a good guy and recruiter. I think thats where it ends. Coaches come to Texas because its Texas and is seen as a place that if you have success will lead to a better gig. Mack will help a coach do that apparently. However, I cant think of a single coach in his so called tree or pipeline that I would consider exemplary or kicking ass. Most aren't here long enough to learn much anyway and others came here with a reputation or after learning under other big time coaches. JMO.

unfortunately, people will look at mack's record - definitely a good guy but being good does not win championships and Texas is slipping

With respect to the original poster, let me at least try to explain just my view. A long, long time ago (star war music) another coach with an excellent record watched his team get beat. He decided as the story was told to change his whole team built for speed to one built for power. Soon he was losing regularly to his arch rival and the supporters of his team said " Be Gone!!"

Mack has in my opinion tried to reshape a winning formula (speed, passing, and defense that could deal with the spread offenses of the big 12) to an Alabama style offense. He simply did not have the personnel in the pipeline to do so. Offensive linemen who were taught how to run block in the years leading up to The Change, a fullback who could actually block like Hall, a tight end. Under the pressure of an under-performing offense our defense begin to lose ground. Boom, one of the best, got a great chance to improve his position and took it. In other words the 3 years was caused by the decision of our head coach.

I admire Mack for what he did over his tenure. I respect him for having the fortitude to change even if I question the wisdom therein. However, it appears to a lot of people that Mack does really care and realizes he is not getting it done. I truly do not think Mack believes in himself and that questioning is being conveyed to his players. Leadership is something that some have. Mack had it but perhaps he has lost it. If he can get that trait back next year he just might make the naysayers in here (and I honestly fall into that category) have crow to eat. I will gladly eat that crow!

The coach that I made reference to was Bud Wilkerson. His OU teams won 47 straight games with Notre Dame finally defeated them. Wilkerson said his team was beaten because the Irish was stronger and just physically beat them down and he was going to change to a more powerful football team.

He kept his system in place for another year as he recruited for the future as freshmen did not play back in 58. His only loss that year was to Texas 15-14 (perhaps the greatest game I ever saw in person). After that with the power football he was 31-19. (Remember that OU played in the big 2 and little 6 back then).

Certainly we here know that the great Darrell Royal was the coach that won that game and started beating his old coach on a regular basis. Wilkerson retired at 47! And many said that he looked 80. Stress is hard on people who have for years been successful and then they hit a rough patch. I believe it is taking a toll on Mack. God bless him and

Blonde if you you watched Will's introductory press conference at Florida ( I am sure you can probably find it on the web) you will see Will expressing his appreciation for of all his former bosses and mentors including Mack Brown. He went on to say he learned a lot of good things about how to run a program and then smiled and said he also learned some not so good things from them. He then stated without being coaxed that he viewed himself as a football coach not a CEO...a telling and pointed critique of MB in my opinion. I agre with you that it wasn't all bad but it wasn't all good between them at the end.

very well put JFW.

It is kind of sickening to think how one game or play is possibly responsible for the apparent downward (or at least stagnant) direction of this program. Frankly it's a shame.

That's good stuff right there! Very, very true.

Don't waste your breath on these Negative Nancie's. You will never change their minds.
I sure you expected alot of negativity towards your comments. For that I commend and respect you for that. By the way, I didn't agree with everything you said, but for the most part I believe you are spot on!

Truth hurts?

There are some really old and some really sheltered dudes on the boards. He doesn't even understand what you're conveying, as evidenced by the follow-on post. In any event, I enjoyed the Stuart Smalley reference. I've always had this image that a lot of these guys use the term "Mister!" in their day to day lives when they talk to the guys who mow their lawns, or serve them lunch at Luby's, or who still deliver them the newspaper, or pick up their trash, or whatever. I am sure the kids who run across their lawn for the reactions every day love these guys.

This whole conversation is ridiculous by the way. Mack Brown does not have a coaching tree. To argue that he does is absurd. You can credit Mack for things and get a pass from me, but suggesting that he is churning out talented coaches that are plucked by other programs is laughable. If anyone is trying to use revisionist history, it is those assigning people like Greg Robinson, Gene Chizik and Mushamp to Mack Brown's supposed coaching tree.

Coaching trees happen when you have a strong X and O coach and the assistants under him learn that system. Bill Walsh had a coaching tree. Hal Mumme has a coaching tree. His protege, Mike Leach has a coaching tree. Chris Petersen has a tree. Bob Stoops has a tree. Mack Brown is tree-less.

Mack imports the fruits of other people's trees. At best he has a rotting sapling.