The Southern Methodist University football program has not been anything to write home about since the days of Craig James and Eric Dickerson prior to the NCAA handing the program the “death penalty” back in 1987.
In fact, the program has been to a total of four bowl games since the 1984 season.
SMU has hit a new low this year, losing its first six games by an average of 41.5 points. This led to the firing of June Jones after two games.
So why in the world would a high-profile head coach like Mack Brown, formerly of the Texas Longhorns, show interest in leading this program? Apparently the Tennessee native has had preliminary conversations with officials at SMU about a contract worth a reported $4 million per season (via The Dallas Morning News).
Thus, it’s not shocking that SMU officials have already had preliminary discussions with former Texas coach Mack Brown, floating $4 million annually over eight years, sources say. Brown, 63, fits the Larry Brown model — a national championship winner who can land star prospects on name alone.
While nothing is etched in stone here, it is telling that Brown would go as far as to discuss contract details with officials in Dallas.
Brown coached the Longhorns for 16 seasons, a tenure that ended following a disappointing final four years that saw the team go 30-21. He led the program to eight major bowls and a National Championship in 2005.
The idea behind SMU courting Brown is rather simple. As The Dallas Morning News points out, his name alone should lead to a boost in recruiting in one of the most talent-laden areas in the United States as it relates to high school talent.
Now 63 and with 26 years of high-level college football head coaching experience, Brown would be a major coup for the program.
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