Mack Brown Tarheel Football: The Orange Slice Boogaloo

[NBHorn7 89]

2 hours ago, Horn80 said:

As I recall, Switzer really got under DKR’s skin and the frustration probably got to much for him.  Texas won the last game of his final season against Arkansas which kept him from going out with losing season and considering he was on top of CFB in 1969-70 to almost having losing season six years later was sad ending.

I will never understand why Mack wanted to blow everything up after the NC Bama loss considering Texas very likely would have won but for Colt’s injury.   However, I do think he probably brought much of the loss on himself by refusing to give Gilbert practically zero playing time during the season.  Guess he wanted to pad Colt’s stats as much as possible to increase his chances to win the Heisman.  

It was the cheating that got under DKR"s skin, OU would just cheat their way to championship and didn't care if anybody knew it. They would trade probations for titles gladly. Too bad DKR didn't stick around one more year for the 1977 season. Earl was finally healthy, and the defense was pretty loaded. Akers got the benefit of this season. Nobody thought Texas would be any good that year, but after some surprising big early wins it set up a showdown with highly ranked OU in the Cotton Bowl. After two quarterbacks go down for Texas a surprising third stringer came in and Texas won on Earl's big legs and that strong defense. It was a magic season, but I believe it was starting middle linebacker Lance Taylor went down in a big season ending win over the Aggies at College station as Earl shined. Texas had to start a freshman at middle linebacker against Notre Dame and they ran the ball up the middle all day, with I think his name was Vegas Fergason, in the Irish win. Earl got over a hundred yards on the ground, but it wasn't nearly enough. 

Unlikely Hero: The career of Randy McEachern | Brenham 360 | brenhambanner.com

Then the SWC went wild with nearly all teams getting in on the cheating bandwagon. Akers couldn't cope with that in the 80's along with his no offense minded strategy and Texas started to slide. With a couple of exceptions like in 1990, it was dark times till Mack showed up. You know what happened after that both good and bad.

[billfromlaketravis 11543]

After Cigs Unfiltered got a $72 million deal, the basketball school excuse doesn’t fly anymore. I’m sure the UNC admins are straining rotator cuffs patting themselves on the back for “taking football seriously.” But they had to do it to try and move forward.

I think they’re hopeless. Sumrall is the absolute best they can, and I’m not sure he can do better than 8&4 every year.  
 

On Mack, I think the UNC redux stirred up a lot of bad feelings from afar. I think the forgive and forget segment of the Texas fanbase is down to 10 posters on Orangebloods. 
 

But he’s a greedy motherfucker with fuck up step kids to take care of, so he gladly got paid again. He left UNC in shambles. Their 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked 78th.

[Horn80 6135]

56 minutes ago, NBHorn7 said:

It was the cheating that got under DKR"s skin, OU would just cheat their way to championship and didn't care if anybody knew it. They would trade probations for titles gladly. Too bad DKR didn't stick around one more year for the 1977 season. Earl was finally healthy, and the defense was pretty loaded. Akers got the benefit of this season. Nobody thought Texas would be any good that year, but after some surprising big early wins it set up a showdown with highly ranked OU in the Cotton Bowl. After two quarterbacks go down for Texas a surprising third stringer came in and Texas won on Earl's big legs and that strong defense. It was a magic season, but I believe it was starting middle linebacker Lance Taylor went down in a big season ending win over the Aggies at College station as Earl shined. Texas had to start a freshman at middle linebacker against Notre Dame and they ran the ball up the middle all day, with I think his name was Vegas Fergason, in the Irish win. Earl got over a hundred yards on the ground, but it wasn't nearly enough. 

Unlikely Hero: The career of Randy McEachern | Brenham 360 | brenhambanner.com

Then the SWC went wild with nearly all teams getting in on the cheating bandwagon. Akers couldn't cope with that in the 80's along with his no offense minded strategy and Texas started to slide. With a couple of exceptions like in 1990, it was dark times till Mack showed up. You know what happened after that both good and bad.

Yes the cheating is what got under DKR’s skin and Switzer’s comments about Royal should spend less time listening to guitar pickers.  I went to the 1978 Cotton Bowl game, and most games that season, and it was a long, cold day and ND QB Joe Montana turned out to be pretty good too.

Edited 18 hours ago by Horn80

[Funk Doctor Spock 12526]

14 hours ago, 52-80 said:

Every year I was on campus and years afterward as a fresh alum, "my team" was one of the best in the country and could beat any team in any given week.

Very few UT cohorts, or any other program's cohort, have the luxury of that feeling.

For that, I'll be forever grateful to ole Mack.

We must have been there at the same time. However, unlike you, I will not like Mack just because he's such a slimy glad handing used car salesman who wanted talent that could have won so many more CC's and trips to the MNC. 

The more I learn about him, the more I hate him. The fact that when he was fired and told the recruits to looks around will for always make me loath that fucking bastard. 

[SamMan 1380]

Guys, I am a Mack Brown defender. Why? If you are interested, see below:

Spoiler

In the early morning hours of January 5, 2006, somewhere around Pasadena, CA, I made a drunken pledge to name the next dog I owned after the man who brought a national championship back to Austin for the first time in 35 years (the sorority girl I was seeing at the time had made me watch Sweet Home Alabama like four times and the guy had dogs named “Bear” and “Bryant”). I kept that promise. When little Mack was a pup, I used to joke that he was just like his namesake—never met a stranger, good with the mommas, and occasionally shit the bed. He was the best, and, in my mind, both Mack’s are inextricably linked. So, hating Mack Brown would be like disowning my best bud…never gonna happen.

Did shit get fucked up in the end? Sure. But the highs were really fucking high, and I appreciate the fact that I can confidently say that the collective sports experience I got during my time on campus was about as great as anybody could have…Mack was a big part of that. It afforded me the opportunity to see the greatest CFB player ever, on one of the greatest CFB teams ever, play one of the greatest CFB games ever, and win a national championship. Selfishly, everything that happened toward the end takes a backseat, because I wouldn’t trade that night, that entire year, for anything.

My Mack got old and sick. I spent a minor fortune trying to prolong our time together as long as possible, and I would have spent 2x as much if need be. Schedules and long term plans were altered. I slept on the floor next to his kennel for twelve weeks so that I could tend to his needs. He shit the bed a lot toward the end, but I never resented him for any of it. We had a ton of great times together over the years. Those are the things I choose to remember, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything, either.

I know that is some sentimental bullshit, but that’s why I spoilered it. I do feel like Mack deserved to lose his job in Chapel Hill, and I have always been somewhat ambivalent toward his exit in Austin. I just can’t bring myself to hate the man. That may not be the most popular position here, but I’ve given my reasons. FWIW, I also agree with what Mike Gundy said about Mack or Saban being good candidates for a CFB Commissioner role.

*And, yes, in case you were wondering, I did have another dog…named Vince. Also a very good boy. I know who was largely responsible for that win in Pasadena…both, really.

[Not a cat 5720]

I was fortunate enough to have some beers with DKR and the only person he ever said anything remotely negative about was Switzer.  He hated him and mentioned that the only reason he wasn't in the CFB hall of fame yet was because DKR did all he could to block him.

[NBHorn7 89]

3 minutes ago, Not a cat said:

I was fortunate enough to have some beers with DKR and the only person he ever said anything remotely negative about was Switzer.  He hated him and mentioned that the only reason he wasn't in the CFB hall of fame yet was because DKR did all he could to block him.

I got to talk to DKR some too. I remember one night at the Broken Spoke he was there, and I pointed him out to some friends of mine. One of them had a book in his car for some reason that DKR had written about his life, and he went and got it. He said you know him some and asked me to go with him to where Coach Royal was sitting. I took him over there and introduced him and he asked DKR to sign his book. He said he didn't like signing things in public because it drew a crowd to him. He took out a pen and wrote down his phone number and address on two cards and gave us each one. He said if we called him and told him we were coming to his house, he would sign things. My friend was kind of shocked and we walked away. I told him that's how Coach was. I never called him, didn't really want to bother him and neither did my friend. As time goes by, I sort of wish I had, but I got to see him more times after that and talk to him. I still think about going to DKR's house and having some things signed and he would probably say to set down. I think about maybe meeting his wife and asking some things and having him tell some Longhorn football stories. I had a good opening thing to say because of one of his top assistant coaches Charlie Shira. He went to Mississippi State with Emory Bellard, who was named head coach there. I met Shira's daughter Lorette, at the 1981 College World Series when Mississippi State was there. She told me about her dad and a great story. She was born the week of the 1963 OU game, and the Texas team dedicated the game to her. They won and presented the game ball to Coach Shira to give to her and she still had that ball. I kept in contact with her. She called me after Texas won the SWC and asked if I would like to go the 1982 Cotton Bowl with her and her family, they had tickets. Of course, I went, and we sat dead on the fifty-yard line and watched Texas beat Alabama 14-12 on Brewer's quarterback draw.

Coach Royal was good friends with Joe Paterno, and he died without knowing about the sex scandal at Penn State. He always thought Paterno was just like him about not cheating and doing things the right way. Paterno also before the child abuse scandal came to light used to say that he wouldn't retire from coaching, as long as someone like Switzer was still around. That didn't age well, and I always wonder what DKR would have said about Paterno if he had lived to know about what ole Joe had done. I think we all know.

DKR was hired to beat OU, and he did. He went from being a star quarterback at OU und Bud Wilkenson to hating OU and of course Switzer. He couldn't believe OU would let Switzer do whatever he wanted as long as he won titles. At least Switzer did admit to spying on Texas practices with an OU coach. That incident and the denial of it ever happening really enraged DKR and with the continued cheating might have been the last straw that led to his retirement.

[Deej 76968]

22 hours ago, Steamboat1874 said:

People ?

You mean morons ?

Go ahead and bitch about him if you like but you might want to check his record.

Give it a rest, Sally.

[texasdago 7587]

20 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

no ‘oddness’ about this legacy …

 

So average of 7 wins a year at North Carolina. Impressive 

[Nueces River Rat 5550]

15 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

he made winning look easy 

 

i don’t thing the bigger programs have the patience anymore for a coach to hit 150 wins  

I contend Vince Young saved Mack Brown’s  and Greg Davis job.   

 

[MirrOlure 14870]

I contend Vince Young saved Mack Brown’s  and Greg Davis job.   
 

Recruiting good players is a pretty important part of the job.

The Mack Brown hate around here is more than a just a little bit of bitchassedness. Yes, he was imperfect and yes, too many OU skullfuckings and too few conference championships. But he’s far and away the 2nd best coach in program history and we only hope Sark can challenge that.

I was in school from 1985-1989. Y’all look that shit up and think about Texas being a small time nothing on the national scene. I think it was 1985 and Aggy was on probation and we played Baylor Thanksgiving weekend. I swear there weren’t 50,000 at that game. We’d engage in a circle jerk if a player from Dallas Carter or (gasp!) Florida listed us in his top 5 and “considered” a visit. We had a recruiting class in which Duane Duncum (or maybe it was his brother Bobby) was the sole rated recruit. Bubba fucking Moffet played meaningful (such as they were) downs at safety.

And no, he’s never been a “football genius” but he’s not an idiot either. You don’t accidentally win 250+ games. I swear to God I never heard the term “explosive play” until Mack started using it. Now “explosive” is a noun and it’s used 100 times every Saturday.

In the spirit of the day, and despite how it all ended…I’m thankful for Mack Brown rebuilding and re-establishing Texas Football and wish him the best in his golden years

[tbone_ 14191]

Recruiting good players is a pretty important part of the job.

The Mack Brown hate around here is more than a just a little bit of bitchassedness. Yes, he was imperfect and yes, too many OU skullfuckings and too few conference championships. But he’s far and away the 2nd best coach in program history and we only hope Sark can challenge that.

I was in school from 1985-1989. Y’all look that shit up and think about Texas being a small time nothing on the national scene. I think it was 1985 and Aggy was on probation and we played Baylor Thanksgiving weekend. I swear there weren’t 50,000 at that game. We’d engage in a circle jerk if a player from Dallas Carter or (gasp!) Florida listed us in his top 5 and “considered” a visit. We had a recruiting class in which Duane Duncum (or maybe it was his brother Bobby) was the sole rated recruit. Bubba fucking Moffet played meaningful (such as they were) downs at safety.

And no, he’s never been a “football genius” but he’s not an idiot either. You don’t accidentally win 250+ games. I swear to God I never heard the term “explosive play” until Mack started using it. Now “explosive” is a noun and it’s used 100 times every Saturday.

In the spirit of the day, and despite how it all ended…I’m thankful for Mack Brown rebuilding and re-establishing Texas Football and wish him the best in his golden years

I don’t have to look those years up, I lived them too. 86-90. Remember sitting in the rain and losing 50-7 to fucking Baylor? I know, too soon.

Your post is spot on. I can both love Mack for the awesome things he did and be annoyed af at some of the total bitch things he did. Both are true. That’s why it’s an odd legacy.

[texasdago 7587]

8 minutes ago, tbone_ said:

I don’t have to look those years up, I lived them too. 86-90. Remember sitting in the rain and losing 50-7 to fucking Baylor? I know, too soon.

Your post is spot on. I can both love Mack for the awesome things he did and be annoyed af at some of the total bitch things he did. Both are true. That’s why it’s an odd legacy.

This.  Agreed.  50-7 was absolutely brutal.  Offff...

[closetohumping 17482]

5 minutes ago, texasdago said:

This.  Agreed.  50-7 was absolutely brutal.  Offff...

65-13 when runnels hurdled our db was rock bottom.  Actually that first year when we got Harsin and Diaz was the worst.  Hope died that day

[RC Horn 157]

I agree that Mack left an odd legacy here. He did restore the UT program back to prominence. on the other hand, there were those embarrassing losses to OU. Real seal clubbings i you ask me.  He may have won a lot of games  but the lack of conference titles will always be a stain on his record. IMHO, comparing Mack to DKR is rediculous.  Coach Royal won 11 SWC titles as well as 3 MNSs. He also projected confidence and absolutely hated losing. You just know any problems with Royal coached teams were going to get fixed.  I never got that vibe with Mack Brown/

[RC Horn 157]

Mack Brown is great in restoring programs just don't ask him to win championships.  He doesn't know how. Nor is he willing to make the changes necessary to win them. It was flat out depressing that Mack appeared be satisfied in having  OU take over the Big XII.

[DFW Horn 6239]

52 minutes ago, tbone_ said:

I don’t have to look those years up, I lived them too. 86-90. 

87 - 91 here

Shock the Nation season was both surprising and euphoric. Beatdown of #5 UH at home was the most fun I've had at DKR. I believe that's the last time fans have rushed the field, right?

[Armybrat 40930]

4 minutes ago, DFW Horn said:

87 - 91 here

Shock the Nation season was both surprising and euphoric. Beatdown of #5 UH at home was the most fun I've had at DKR. I believe that's the last time fans have rushed the field, right?

Were you that idiot who wouldn’t get off the goal post?

[DFW Horn 6239]

1 minute ago, Armybrat said:

Were you that idiot who wouldn’t get off the goal post?

Nope 😆

[TreatyOak 16429]

59 minutes ago, RC Horn said:

I agree that Mack left an odd legacy here. He did restore the UT program back to prominence. on the other hand, there were those embarrassing losses to OU. Real seal clubbings i you ask me.  He may have won a lot of games  but the lack of conference titles will always be a stain on his record. IMHO, comparing Mack to DKR is rediculous.  Coach Royal won 11 SWC titles as well as 3 MNSs. He also projected confidence and absolutely hated losing. You just know any problems with Royal coached teams were going to get fixed.  I never got that vibe with Mack Brown/

Nothing invigorates someone’s reputation like dying. When Mack Brown passes away, there will be an outpouring of love that will amaze us all. Happens all the time. 

[Deej 76968]

8 minutes ago, TreatyOak said:

Nothing invigorates someone’s reputation like dying. When Mack Brown passes away, there will be an outpouring of love that will amaze us all. Happens all the time. 

He'll be too busy killing himself recruiting in Florida to die.

[Nueces River Rat 5550]

2 hours ago, MirrOlure said:

Recruiting good players is a pretty important part of the job.

The Mack Brown hate around here is more than a just a little bit of bitchassedness. Yes, he was imperfect and yes, too many OU skullfuckings and too few conference championships. But he’s far and away the 2nd best coach in program history and we only hope Sark can challenge that.

I was in school from 1985-1989. Y’all look that shit up and think about Texas being a small time nothing on the national scene. I think it was 1985 and Aggy was on probation and we played Baylor Thanksgiving weekend. I swear there weren’t 50,000 at that game. We’d engage in a circle jerk if a player from Dallas Carter or (gasp!) Florida listed us in his top 5 and “considered” a visit. We had a recruiting class in which Duane Duncum (or maybe it was his brother Bobby) was the sole rated recruit. Bubba fucking Moffet played meaningful (such as they were) downs at safety.

And no, he’s never been a “football genius” but he’s not an idiot either. You don’t accidentally win 250+ games. I swear to God I never heard the term “explosive play” until Mack started using it. Now “explosive” is a noun and it’s used 100 times every Saturday.

In the spirit of the day, and despite how it all ended…I’m thankful for Mack Brown rebuilding and re-establishing Texas Football and wish him the best in his golden years

I don’t disagree much at all.   In 2003 we were 10-3 suffering one of our worst ass whoopingsfrom OU which the previous happened in 2000 under Mack’s watch.  On top of that we lost to Arkansas and the Holiday Bowl against Washigton Fricken State.   We lost to OU in 2004, but ended the year with Vince doing his thing against Michigan at the Rose Bowl.  I might be wrong, but I seem to recall the chatter was on the sports talk shows and message boards of the day that Mack was on the hot seat going into the 2004 season.   

I never hated Mack like some on here and the fan base, but I do believe he voluntarily overstayed his tenure.  The writing was on the wall with five star recruits who were a bust along with staff changes that busted too (see Manny Diaz).   Had he left even on a low note without being forced out,  the University, Alums and fan base would’ve been forgiving.   Or at least much more than some are now.

And yes I recall the late 80’s.  I was in high school then and was the only kid in my school that seemed to not drink the maroon kool aid.   And aggy likes to call our fan base T-shirt fans.   They were the pioneers of T Shirt fans and this is before Academy or fill in your favorite mass merchandise store got involved in promoting College teams with a large selection of merchandise like they do now. It was insufferable along with the condition of our program during that era.  

[Nueces River Rat 5550]

1 hour ago, TreatyOak said:

Nothing invigorates someone’s reputation like dying. When Mack Brown passes away, there will be an outpouring of love that will amaze us all. Happens all the time. 

Fred Akers got his due although he was inducted into the Hall of Honor several years before he passed.   I always thought the Akers hate was overboard considering the era he coached in was pretty intense and topped off with SMU, aggy, and OU cheating  their asses off.  It’s a shame only SMU got the death penalty because aggy and OU were certainly eligible for the same.  

[BevoAbyss 2089]

2 hours ago, RC Horn said:

Coach Royal won 11 SWC titles as well as 3 MNSs. He also projected confidence

This is spot on true.

My dad (RIP, UT alum, at UT in late 1950s) traveled a fair amount during DKR heyday and met alums/fans from different universities. He said they often seemed in "awe" of Royal. I recall my dad saying Royal exuded a quiet confidence ... not in-your-face swagger performances ... but a strong confidence because he knew what the fuck he was doing and was damn good at it.

-- I recall reading (long before internet existed) that when Royal walked in a room full of coaches, all eyes turned to him because he was respected as not as mere innovator and winner -- but a confident man who knew how to win BIG GAMES! 

That reminds me something told to me back in the 1990s. I was in LA working and visiting friends. They had a pool (of course) and we were hanging out and their neighbor and her dad came over. He was mid-70s and an old PR man from Hollywood glory days. Chatting around the pool, the old man said he had been to 1000s of movie openings and cocktail parties -- where there were all kinds of big movie stars.

He told us there one dude -- AND ONE DUDE ONLY -- who, by merely walking into the room full of big stars, had everyone gazing in awe at him. Female and Male. No posing or preening, just quietly walking into the room and managing to exude more confidence and masculinity than anyone there -- in a room of big-time stars! That dude was Sean Connery. Take it for what it is worth ....

Edited 1 hour ago by BevoAbyss

[Scuba Saba 27]

Horn80 summary is one of the best I have read. The comment about Gilbert is especially insightful. As I recall Mack once said he was able to select players and did not have to recruit much. After the Colt injury and lost NC Mack just mailed it in and let Jamal run interference for him until even that support could not save him.   

[Scuba Saba 27]

The comparison to Jimbo is apt but aggy had the once in eternity display of sense to get rid of him quickly.  

[Scuba Saba 27]

Davis offense was dangerous, that is if you were on the sideline and behind the line of scrimmage. You were sure to get hit with the ball.