Mack Brown Contract Extension: Why the Longhorns' Faith Is Wholly Misplaced

Mack Brown has been a great head coach over the years and has helped the Texas Longhorns achieve quite a bit. In the 14 years he's been the head coach, he has piled up a 141-39 record and nine bowl victories. He's recruited well and every season he seems to land some of the most talented players and put together one of the most impressive classes in the country. This year has been no different.

But why Texas is planning on extending Brown's contract is beyond me.

Sure, he has done a ton for the university and has won oodles of games. But in the last two seasons he has a combined record of 13-12. In 2010 this team went 5-7 and missed a bowl game. It was the first time the Longhorns suffered a losing season since 1997 and was the first losing season Brown had as a head coach since 1989.

He's getting older, as he'll turn 61 this year in August. He's been a head coach since 1985 and is entering his 15th season with the Longhorns. There's really no excuse for the lack of success the last two seasons. Every Saturday they are by far one of the most talented teams in the country and Brown is one of the highest-paid coaches, making over a cool $5 million a season.

Maybe he'll be able to turn things around and judging by the talent of the team returning, the recruiting class and his track record, I wouldn't bet against it. But shouldn't we wait and see what the results are before Texas just hands him a contract extension? Brown's contract currently runs through 2016; a four-year extension would mean he'll remain the head coach till 2020. Even the most passionate Longhorn and Brown fans can't possibly think this is a good decision. 

Just recently the talk of the town was why Brown should be fired or that he may possibly step down. An extension is the last thing this team needs. Leave his contract alone and see what happens.

Brown should be given every opportunity to succeed and turn things around and he has four years left on his contract to do so. If he can't make things right by 2016, he doesn't need another four years on top of that.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]