It’s hard for elite programs to realize the moment when they become regular like everyone else, and it seems the same process is very difficult for Texas and especially it’s head coach, Mack Brown, who keeps insisting that things will be OK, and the fans pressure is nothing but a response to a trend, which can be fixed by simply winning games.
The problem for Texas is that these wins don’t come as often as before. During Brown’s first 12 seasons in Austin, Texas won at least nine games, including 10 or more for nine straight seasons between 2001 and 2009. Those year also saw the team win a national title (2005) and reach the BCS championship game after the 2009 season.
But things have changed in Texas and the Big 12, which has obviously been downgraded in terms of its national importance, and its ability to compete with the SEC for talent. Texas have won only 22 games over the last three seasons, including going 5-7 in 2010. Last year did end with a 9-4 record and beating Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, but the problems that plagued the team last year, which included showcasing some terrible defense and a huge drop in performance when facing quality teams, are still here, obvious by the 1-2 start.
According to Brown, patience is what’s needed, even if things look bad.
The way fans are, you go back and get on a run, win the rest of the games and you go win a BCS game and all of a sudden we’re playing a for a national championship next year. I’ve been on both ends of this, many times. Sixteen years is a long time. I don’t need to be sitting down telling them about anything except beating Kansas State. As a coach, you’re challenged, you’re competitive. I don’t like where we are but I love the fight to get it fixed, I love the fight to get it back, that’s who, that’s what I am. If you start thinking about the end instead of tonight, it’s not fair to you, it’s not fair to your staff, it’s not fair to your team.
Brown is trying to make this about the team, not him. But in College Football, especially in the case of Brown and other long tenured coaches on the same program, it’s hard to tell the difference sometimes. Brown hasn’t been able to fix the same problems for the last three seasons, and he doesn’t look like the guy who can do it anymore.