Nick Saban has put together a dynasty at Alabama and seems to be happy there, but if one job could make him leave Tuscaloosa, it might be Texas. According to a report, at least one side has interest in that happening.
The Associated Press reported on Thursday that Saban’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, spoke with University of Texas regents shortly after the BCS National Championship Game in January.
Regent Wallace Hall and former regent Tom Hicks, who is the former Texas Rangers owner, spoke with Sexton. Hicks was instrumental in bringing Mack Brown from North Carolina to Texas in 1997. Hicks later met with Brown for lunch and asked whether the coach was ready to step down and retire. Brown said no, so the matter was dropped. Based on that information, it seems like Saban’s camp was at least open to discussing the possibility of making a move to Texas.
Brown is under contract with Texas through 2020 and making $5.4 million this year. Saban, whose team has won the national championship three of the last four years, earns $5.6 million per season.
Texas was one of the best programs in the last decade. The Longhorns won at least 10 games per season every year from 2001-2009, including a 13-0 national championship season in 2005. They went 13-1 season in 2009 and lost to Bama in the title game. But Texas has gone 23-18 since then, including a 5-7 season in 2010.
Texas is off to a 1-2 start this season and got embarrassed in losses to BYU and Ole Miss. Could Brown be forced out somehow if the program doesn’t improve? And would Saban consider leaving Alabama for Texas if the job were available? I definitely think he would consider it. If not simply for the new challenge, then at least to get more money from Bama.
