Top News: Fans Call for Texas Football to Bring Back Legendary Coach…

**Top News: Fans Call for Texas Football to Bring Back Legendary Coach**

In a world where sports fan loyalty often reaches near religious fervor, few things stir emotions like the potential return of a beloved coach. This is exactly what’s happening in the world of Texas Longhorns football as fans across the state and beyond have begun clamoring for the return of a legendary figure: former head coach **Mack Brown**.

### A Legacy of Excellence

Mack Brown, who served as head coach of the Texas Longhorns from 1998 to 2013, is remembered by many for his unparalleled success during his tenure. Under his leadership, the Texas football program achieved remarkable milestones, including a National Championship win in the 2005 Rose Bowl against USC. This victory, considered one of the greatest college football games in history, secured Brown’s place as a legendary coach in the annals of college football history.

Brown’s success wasn’t confined to just the 2005 national championship, though. He transformed the Texas football program into one of the premier powerhouses in college football during his 16 seasons in Austin. His teams were consistently ranked among the top in the nation, and his ability to recruit top-tier talent left a lasting impact on the program.

However, after a few seasons of underperformance following his national title, Brown’s tenure ended in 2013, and the Longhorns turned the page to a new era. Since his departure, the program has been through several head coaches, but none have been able to replicate the sustained success Brown enjoyed at the helm.

### The Current State of Texas Football

The Texas Longhorns have found themselves at a crossroads in recent years. While the program has maintained its national relevance, it has failed to consistently compete for championships. The hiring of **Charlie Strong** in 2014 and later **Tom Herman** in 2017 promised a new era for the Longhorns, but neither coach was able to deliver the success that many expected. Strong was dismissed after a 16-21 record, and Herman, despite flashes of brilliance, couldn’t get the team over the hump, culminating in his firing after the 2020 season.

The arrival of **Steve Sarkisian** in 2021 brought fresh hope, but the Longhorns have continued to struggle with inconsistency. Sarkisian has recruited well and shown flashes of brilliance, but the team has yet to take the next step into national championship contention. In a state where football is a religion and expectations are always high, fans have grown increasingly impatient with the lack of progress.

As the 2024 season approaches, the calls for Mack Brown to return have only intensified. Some fans believe that his experience and previous success make him the ideal candidate to turn the program back around. Others argue that Texas needs a fresh start, with younger coaching blood, but regardless of the differing opinions, the calls for Brown’s return are impossible to ignore.

### Why Mack Brown?

There are several reasons why fans have begun to rally behind the idea of bringing Mack Brown back to Texas.

#### 1. **His Success at Texas**

It’s hard to argue with the track record that Brown has. Under his leadership, Texas won two Big 12 Championships (2001, 2005), appeared in 15 bowl games, and had nine 10-win seasons. Brown’s recruiting classes were consistently among the best in the country, and his ability to develop both quarterbacks and offensive schemes helped him maintain a level of dominance that few college coaches can boast.

Perhaps the pinnacle of Brown’s career at Texas came in 2005, when his Longhorns defeated the USC Trojans in one of the most thrilling national title games ever played. The game featured two of the greatest college football teams of all time, and Texas, led by quarterback **Vince Young**, came out on top. Brown’s leadership and game planning in that contest remain etched in the memories of Longhorns fans everywhere.

#### 2. **Texas Football Needs Stability**

Since Brown’s departure, the Texas football program has been in a state of flux. Each new coaching hire has been met with a degree of optimism, only to be followed by frustration and disappointment as the program failed to live up to expectations. Fans and alumni alike are craving a return to stability and consistency, qualities that Mack Brown provided during his 16 years as head coach.

Brown is known for his ability to manage a large and complex program with finesse. He understood the importance of building relationships with both his players and his staff, which allowed him to create a family-like culture within the team. With the current climate of uncertainty surrounding Texas football, many fans believe that bringing back Brown would restore some of the stability that has been sorely lacking in recent years.

#### 3. **His Success at North Carolina**

It’s not just his Texas resume that has fans talking about Mack Brown’s potential return. After his time in Austin, Brown took a break from college football before returning to coaching at **North Carolina** in 2019. Since his return, Brown has led the Tar Heels back to prominence, revitalizing the program and showing that he still has the coaching acumen to compete at a high level.

Under his leadership, North Carolina has become a consistent contender in the **ACC**, and his ability to recruit top talent has been on full display. The success he’s had at North Carolina has convinced many Texas fans that Brown still has the coaching chops to turn the Longhorns back into a national power.

#### 4. **The Texas High School Football Talent Pool**

One of Mack Brown’s greatest strengths during his tenure at Texas was his ability to tap into the state’s deep pool of high school football talent. Texas produces some of the best football players in the country, and Brown was able to secure commitments from the best of the best, ensuring that the Longhorns always had an abundance of talent at their disposal.

In recent years, the Longhorns have struggled to hold on to in-state recruits, with rival programs like **Alabama**, **Oklahoma**, and **LSU** frequently poaching the top Texas talent. Brown’s reputation and relationships within the Texas high school football community made him a master at keeping the state’s best players home. Fans believe that bringing him back to Austin could help restore Texas’s dominance on the recruiting trail and, by extension, on the field.

### The Case Against Mack Brown

While the argument for Mack Brown’s return is compelling to many fans, there are also a number of reasons why such a move may not be the best decision for the Texas Longhorns moving forward.

#### 1. **The Need for a New Vision**

Texas football, in many ways, has evolved since Mack Brown’s heyday. The landscape of college football is significantly different today, with more emphasis on high-powered offenses, player mobility, and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals. Some critics argue that bringing Brown back would be a step backward, as he may not be able to adapt to the changing dynamics of the game.

The modern college football coaching landscape is filled with younger, more innovative minds. Coaches like **Lincoln Riley** at USC, **Ryan Day** at Ohio State, and **Nick Saban** at Alabama have reshaped their programs through aggressive recruiting, innovative offenses, and the ability to manage the new realities of NIL and the transfer portal. Some believe that Texas needs a fresh, younger voice to lead them into the future.

#### 2. **Mack Brown’s Age**

At the time of writing, Mack Brown is 73 years old. While age is just a number for some, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Brown is no longer in the prime of his coaching career. The demands of running a major college football program are significant, and some believe that a coach of Brown’s age may not be able to keep up with the rigorous schedule and high-pressure environment of a program like Texas.

#### 3. **A Competitive Coaching Market**

The world of college football coaching is fiercely competitive, and Texas is not the only program looking for a top-tier coach. There are several other major programs that will be on the hunt for new leadership in the coming years, and the Longhorns may not have the luxury of waiting for Brown to become available. Additionally, Texas is now in the **SEC**, where the competition is tougher than ever, and the program needs a coach who can handle the heightened challenges of that conference.

### Conclusion: The Texas Dream

The calls for Mack Brown’s return are loud and passionate, but it remains to be seen whether the legendary coach will answer the call. For Texas fans, the dream of returning to national championship glory is very much alive, and they believe that Brown is the man who can lead them back to the promised land. Whether or not Brown is the right choice for the program’s future is a matter of ongoing debate, but one thing is clear: the Longhorns faithful are yearning for the days of consistent excellence that Mack Brown brought to the program.

As Texas continues to search for the right leader to guide the program through a new era, one can only hope that they find someone who can restore the pride, passion, and success that marked the height of Mack Brown’s tenure. Whether that means bringing him back or finding someone new remains to be seen, but for now, the calls for the return of a legend continue to echo across the state of Texas.