Latest Scandal Could be the End of Mack Brown in Texas

Mack Brown has been doing it a long time for the Texas Longhorns. In that time he has helped launch a number of pro careers, won two Big 12 titles, one national championship, and finished the season ranked in the top 25 or 12 consecutive seasons (seven of them in the top 10).

It goes without saying that the man is good. He has had a heck of a run in Austin, but all good things eventually come to an end. The Longhorns have not finished in the top 25 for the last two seasons. Should they lose to No. 13 Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl it will be three consecutive seasons.

Fans and alumni of the University of Texas are not accustomed to simply being a good team. There are lots of good teams in college football; good isn't special or unique. That is not acceptable to the Longhorns.

Tack on the recent scandal and we could be looking at the beginning of a new era for the Longhorns.

Two Longhorns have been sent home prior to the game against Oregon State. The official word is that they are suspended for violating team rules. The unofficial word is that they have been accused of sexual assault.

What makes this sting just a little bit more for Longhorns fans is that one of them is the brother of the most beloved players in recent history (I'm talking about Case McCoy, brother of former national champion Colt McCoy). The other is linebacker Jordan Hicks.

So far there has yet to be anything that does tie the duo directly to the sexual assault case as of yet. The allegations and the coincidental timing of the suspensions has give rise to the talk that the two men in the sexual assault case could be them.

Let's assume that it is for argument sake. Even if the Longhorns win there will still be several questions about personnel going into next season. No quarterback has yet to emerge. The defense is awful, and the offense will be losing its best wide receiver as well (Marquise Goodwin).

Ever since Colt McCoy pinched a nerve in his shoulder in the 2010 national title game the Longhorns have been treading water in the mediocre end of the pool. The only thing that fans like less than being mediocre is scandal; especially ones that involve sexual allegations.

All this could be taken as evidence that Mack Brown has lost his grip on the program, and before they become the next Arkansas (remember--those guys were supposed to be good last season) it might be time for new leadership.