A Texas school official confirmed today that football coach Mack Brown remains in the evaluation process about possible changes within the football program in response to the team’s 5-7 record.
But Brown has yet to make any changes and no decisions have been made, the official said. The school’s response came in the wake of an internet report on the Twitter account of Orangebloods.com that Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis will be replaced.
After the Longhorns concluded their season with a 24-17 loss to Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night in Austin, Brown said the lack of success during a disappointing season “goes back on coaches” and that he would begin a post-season review of potential changes on Monday, Nov. 29.
Brown said he had “no timetable” for how quickly he would conclude his review, which a school official described today as ongoing. From all indications, Davis spent today recruiting for the school.
Based on Brown’s body language since mid-season, it is clear that staff changes are imminent. Offensive staffers figure to be involved, perhaps several of them, with offensive line coach Mac McWhorter a potential starting point based on the performance of his unit.
But how far will the changes go? Only Brown knows. And he’s not talking.
Davis, who has been Brown’s offensive coordinator for the past 13 seasons, oversaw an oversaw an offense that averaged 23.8 points per game this season _ well below last year’s mark (39.3) and the lowest average by any Texas team since 1991 (17.7).
The Longhorns also lost 30 turnovers in 12 games. Among the nation’s 120 FBS schools, only six teams had more turnovers: Ball State (31), New Mexico (31), Bowling Green (32), Miami, Fla. (32), Middle Tennessee (32) and Buffalo (33).
But Davis, along with Brown, talked openly about possible changes in the off-season during the post-game interview session following the A&M game. During the week leading into the A&M contest, Davis was asked if he planned to retire after the 2010 season and responded, “No.”
In the wake of the A&M loss, Brown said the problems of 2010 rested more with coaching and schemes than with available talent.
“It was obvious tonight our players were as good as theirs,” Brown said after the A&M contest. “I think it goes back on coaches. It’s not talent … There’s a lot of evaluation that has to be done with players, coaches and staff.”
Below are other thoughts Brown shared about a post-season evaluation process that figures to trigger staff and scheme changes for 2011:
On his evaluation process of the coaches: “I’ll meet with each one of them ... Then, whatever decisions will be made, I’ll make them. I’m very lucky that (school administrators) trust me to do the things that I need to do to fix things.”
On how quickly changes may be announced: “There’s no timeframe on it … What I will do is take my time and evaluate the coaches and the staff and each player and everything that we’re doing. At that time, I’ll be able to make the conscious decision on what’s best for the program.”
On his reaction to the season: “There were some things that were flawed. That’s what I’ve got to figure out _ what we missed. That’s my job … You can head two ways with a negative year: you can lay down and feel sorry for yourself or you can go back to work and learn from it and make everything better. Hopefully, that’s what will happen. We’ll tighten everything up.”
_ Jimmy Burch
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