Vegas gives Strong odds for next UT coach

Published 10:01 pm Tuesday, December 17, 2013

In America, you can bet on almost anything, whether it be the lottery or the coin toss at the Super Bowl — even the country’s highest-profile coaching search.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for those 21 and older, you can place a bet on who will be the next football coach at the University of Texas. Legally, that is, only in Las Vegas.

The job officially opened up on Saturday when Mack Brown decided to step down.

Brown returned the Longhorns to the past glory that the program saw under legendary coach Darrell Royal.

He was the perfect fit with his southern accent, folksy charm, the ability to recruit, plus he won games.

Now, just as it was difficult to follow Royal, who won three national championships — just ask Fred Akers — it will be difficult to follow Brown.

When Brown came to Austin he reached out to former players and embraced Royal and Longhorn lore.

The new coach should do the same and look to Brown as a mentor just as Brown did to Royal.

The new coach will be well-paid as well as his assistants, but with the $$$ comes expectations — HIGH expectations. Plus, there are the added duties of the Longhorn Network (not sure why since no one gets to watch).

There are so many names being bounded about, including several NFL head coaches.

But back to the odds.

The favorite today to be the new UT coach is Charlie Strong of Louisville. He’s the former defensive coordinator at Florida. He may be waiting to see if Will Muschamp turns things around in Gatorland or not.

Right behind Strong is Baylor coach Art Briles. He would seem like a good choice with his ties to Texas High School football coaches. But Briles just got a new contract for more than $4 million per year. He has the Bears program going and a new stadium on the Brazos. If he heads south on I-35, many Baptists will be a bit upset.

Following Strong and Briles are Vanderbilt’s James Franklin, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn, Philadelphia Eagles’ Chip Kelly (cool offense, but why would he leave the NFL after just one season?), Penn State’s Bill O’Brien (seems more suited for NFL), Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, UCLA’s Jim Mora Jr., Stanford’s David Shaw, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher (he has a loaded squad in Tallahassee), San Francisco 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy (would he leave his alma mater and risk the wrath of T. Boone Pickens?), Florida’s Will Muschamp, Monday Night Football’s Jon Gruden, LSU’s Les Miles and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin.

Of course, there could be someone who becomes the coach that is not listed.

School president Bill Powers said the decision is up to new athletic director Steve Patterson. But Powers, Brown and a host of big money donors will have a say.

If Powers did not have a say, then Nick Saban would already be at the Forty Acres.