Saban going to Texas?

Not. You boys are a bunch of fools.


Sports
Posted: 4:05 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013
Bohl Games
Powers debunks Saban rumors
photo
Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Mack Brown and Nick Saban the week of the 2009 BCS Championship Game between Texas and Alabama. UT President Bill Powers debunked rumors of Saban replacing Brown on Thursday.
By Kirk Bohls

University of Texas president Bill Powers on Thursday debunked the widespread rumors that the school is pursuing Nick Saban or has agreed to a contract with the hugely successful Alabama coach and said there has been no decision on Mack Brown's future as the Longhorns head coach.

"I've never met Nick Saban. I've never talked to Nick Saban. We have not hired Nick Saban," Powers told the American-Statesman on Thursday afternoon. "Mack's our coach, and I can say flatly that the rumors we have hired or come to an agreement with Nick Saban or even talked to him are false."

Powers acknowledged that a current Texas regent and a former regent had met with Saban's agent, Jimmy Sexton, last January about the possibility that Saban could replace Brown, and Powers said he "exempts" that meeting from Powers' current views. After that meeting, former regent Tom Hicks spoke to Brown about the possibility. Brown told Hicks he did not want to resign, and the flirtation with Saban went no further at the time. Saban has won four national championships, including three of the last four.

"There was an outreach to his agent, and I exempt that from this discussion," Powers said. "Whatever happened then happened. We don't have any plans one way or the other (to replace Brown). And we don't have an opening."

Powers declined to speculate on Brown's future at Texas and said there are no plans to sit down and discuss it. Both men as well as new athletic director Steve Patterson will be in New York City, starting Sunday, for the National Football Foundation banquet as well as meetings with Texas alumni. Brown's contract pays him $5.4 million a year and runs through 2020.

Asked if Brown has told Powers that he wants to stay at Texas beyond this his 16th season, the president said, "That's for Mack to decide. I think he would (tell me)."

Powers also said Patterson would "absolutely" be involved in any decision-making progress concerning Brown's job status "and anything involving men's athletics."

He stressed that Patterson did not come to Texas "with an agenda" but is taking his time to familiarize himself with everything. Patterson officially replaced outgoing athletic director DeLoss Dodds last week.

"I know this (Brown's status) is on a lot of people's minds," Powers said, "but people are focused on the Baylor game."

Texas (8-3) faces Baylor (10-1) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Waco in the final game ever played at Floyd Casey Stadium with an outright or share of the Big 12 football championship on the line.