Mack Brown has been one of college football’s most successful head coaches since he took over the Texas Longhorns program prior to the 1998 season.
But at age 62, and with the program no longer competing for conference or national championships, Brown’s job has been called into question as Texas has started the 2013 season 2-2.
On Monday, former Longhorns running back and 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell became the latest person to call for Brown’s firing.
“Nobody likes to get fired or leave a job, but things happen,” said Campbell per ESPN’s College Gameday. “I’d go on record and say yes, I think it’s time.”
Texas has a bowl game record of 10-4 during Brown’s tenure, which includes two BCS Bowl victories and the 2005 BCS national championship over an incredibly talented USC team led by Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. From 2001 through 2009, Texas never failed to win 10 or more games.
But the Longhorns have struggled to remain among the Big 12 conference’s elite teams since losing the 2009 BCS title game to Alabama. Over the last three seasons, Texas has finished third or worse in the Big 12 standings. In his first 12 years as head coach, Brown’s teams never finished worst than second in the conference’s South division.
Texas plays an unranked Iowa State team on Thursday before an important rivalry matchup against the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners on Oct. 12.
