Saban To Texas?

[Tugg Speedman]

Agent: Nick Saban under 'pressure'


http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9933026/agent-says-nick-saban-alabama-crimson-tide-coach-facing-pressure

The agent for coach Nick Saban told Texas officials in January that Texas was the only school he would consider leaving Alabama for, and his success with the Crimson Tide had put him under "special pressure," The Associated Press has learned.

The agent, Jimmy Sexton, made the comments during a 45-minute call with former Texas Regent Tom Hicks and current Regent Wallace Hall. Hicks detailed the call in a Sept. 24 email that was obtained Tuesday by the AP through an open-records request.

"Sexton confirmed that UT is the only job Nick would possibly consider leaving Alabama for, and that his success there created special pressure for him," Hicks wrote.

Saban, for his part, said he was "too damn old" to leave Alabama and start over.

"I'm not really at the stage of my career where I'm looking for some other big sort of challenge," Saban told reporters following Alabama's 45-10 win over Tennessee two weeks ago. "We've got enough challenges right here to try to work with the players we recruited and try to continue to have a successful program for their personal, academic and athletic success."

The pressure was not further explained in the email and Sexton declined comment Tuesday. Saban was not available after practice.

Two days after the call, Hicks approached Texas coach Mack Brown about the possibility of retiring. Brown, who is under contract until 2020, said he wanted to stay.

Hicks sent the email to his brother and current Regent Steve Hicks five days after the AP first reported that the call took place.
Brown, who will be paid $5.4 million this year, won the 2005 national title and lost to Saban's Alabama team in the 2010 championship game. The Longhorns are 28-18 since that defeat.

Brown has said he plans to coach through his contract. But three sub-par seasons and two consecutive losses to start this one raised intense speculation about his future.

Some of that pressure has eased after a five-game winning streak that has Texas in first place in the Big 12, but Saban is often mentioned as a potential replacement.

Saban has won four national championships, one with LSU in 2003 and three with Alabama after the 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons. Saban earns $5.6 million per year, but Texas -- the nation's wealthiest athletic program -- certainly could afford him.

On Tuesday, Texas announced it had hired Steve Patterson to be the school's new athletic director. He replaces DeLoss Dodds, a staunch Brown ally who is leaving after 32 years.

It is still unclear who initiated the contact between Sexton and the Texas representatives, although Tom Hicks' email suggests it was Sexton. Hicks wrote that Steve Hicks had told him "an agent had made contact to say Saban could have interest in UT."

Tom Hicks also wrote that Wallace Hall had told him that a "very confidential friend (of Hall) had heard from Jimmy Sexton, Saban's agent, and that he was willing to have a call."

Hall told the AP in September that a person he would not identify called him, unsolicited, and proposed an introduction to Sexton. Hall, who is under impeachment investigation by state lawmakers, could be asked to detail the meeting and identify the go-between if questioned under oath next week.

Steve Hicks, who initially told the AP he had never "authorized anyone" to talk to Sexton but later acknowledged his involvement, traded several emails and texts with the brother about setting up the meeting, Tom Hicks wrote.

Tom Hicks and Hall spoke with Sexton by speakerphone at Hall's home.

"We told Sexton that Mack had leadership's support to stay and that I would go talk to him as a friend to see if Mack had any interest in retiring," Tom Hicks wrote.

"I told him it would have to be Mack's idea," he wrote.

Tom Hicks met Brown over lunch to tell Brown about Saban and "wanted him to know of Saban's interest if Mack wanted to make it his idea," Hicks wrote.

"Mack was adamant that he had no interest, and that he wanted to go out on top and leave UT in great place," Hicks wrote.

Hicks wrote that Brown was upset at Hall "for initiating the process" and called his lawyer Joe Jamail for legal advice. Jamail has threatened to sue anyone outside of the university system if they try to meddle with Brown's contract or job status.

Hicks said he assured Jamail he had gone to see Brown as a friend and not as a representative of the board of regents.

"I told Mack I was pleased to see his competitive instincts aroused and recommended he share his enthusiasm more with the fans," Hicks wrote.

[tower912]

I saw that.  Interesting in the comments that Drew from Baylor was the first basketball coach mentioned. 

[MU B2002]

Buzz to Alabama.

[Lennys Tap]

Buzz to Alabama.

More like Buzz to Baylor.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

More like Buzz to Baylor.

Not to be weird, but that actually might be very real.

Obviously Baylor isn't a premier job, but it fits in with what Buzz values and Buzz's preaches.

The alumni and fans would LOVE him in Waco.

I don't know how bad Buzz wants to be in TX.

[GGGG]

Obviously Baylor isn't a premier job, but it fits in with what Buzz values and Buzz's preaches.

Not sure about that.  Baylor has a reputation for being one of the dirtier recruiting programs in Texas.  (Along with SMU)

[LAZER]

I don't think we should be worried if the Baylor job opens up.

[Benny B]

Not to be weird, but that actually might be very real.

Obviously Baylor isn't a premier job, but it fits in with what Buzz values and Buzz's preaches.

The alumni and fans would LOVE him in Waco.

I don't know how bad Buzz wants to be in TX.

You talk sh!# about Texas to a native Texan, and they'll roast your hide.  You talk sh!# about Waco to a native Texan who isn't from Waco, and they'll pile on.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Not sure about that.  Baylor has a reputation for being one of the dirtier recruiting programs in Texas.  (Along with SMU)

Touche.

I don't mean to concern troll about Baylor. Obviously it's not a upper echelon job.

I just wonder if a job like UT would even fit Buzz. He's is a wildcard. Going to a public school and being told to "tone down the God stuff", might not work for Buzz.

At Baylor, they would eat that up.

With all of this said, UT has more money that God, so maybe they could be persuasive enough.

[brandx]

Not sure about that.  Baylor has a reputation for being one of the dirtier recruiting programs in Texas.  (Along with SMU)

There's actually someone else as dirty as Craig James? Didn't think it was possible.

[brewcity77]

Touche.

I don't mean to concern troll about Baylor. Obviously it's not a upper echelon job.

I just wonder if a job like UT would even fit Buzz. He's is a wildcard. Going to a public school and being told to "tone down the God stuff", might not work for Buzz.

At Baylor, they would eat that up.

With all of this said, UT has more money that God, so maybe they could be persuasive enough.

I'm sure it wouldn't. Which is why I wouldn't be worried if Bo retired. I'm not sure that they would have the same issues in Austin if Buzz spoke about God that you will find here in the North.

[wadesworld]

I'm sure it wouldn't. Which is why I wouldn't be worried if Bo retired. I'm not sure that they would have the same issues in Austin if Buzz spoke about God that you will find here in the North.

Would anybody be worried if Bo retired?  Wisconsin would never want Buzz, and Buzz would never want to be at Wisconsin.  Never even crossed my mind.

[jesmu84]

I'll just leave these outrageous rumors here...

http://www.barstoolsports.com/barstoolu/super-page/the-internet-confirmed-saban-to-texas-is-a-done-deal-last-night/

[GGGG]

Mack Brown could be coaching in a BCS bowl.  He hasn't done a poor job this year.