Brown has support of Powers

UT president’s message leaves no doubt about Longhorns football coach’s job security.

SAN ANTONIO — Mack Brown’s annual trip to New York for the College Football Hall of Fame ceremony included the chance to renew acquaintances with some of his Pac-12 coaching buddies. They all, he said, offered the Texas coach their condolences.

The sympathy wasn’t for Texas’ four losses. It was for Texas’ 13th opponent looming on the schedule — Oregon State, in the Alamo Bowl.

“Every Pac-12 coach I saw said, ‘Sorry, you guys got the wrong pick,’” Brown said Thursday, as he and Beavers coach Mike Riley participated in an introductory bowl press conference. “I’d say, ‘Well, that’s great. That’s exciting.’”

The audience at The Club at Sonterra chuckled. Brown, however, wasn’t entirely joking.

To his way of thinking, the 9-3 Beavers, 13th in the final BCS rankings, could be the tonic his Longhorns need after they faltered at the end of what could have been a promising regular season with losses to TCU and Kansas State to finish with a pedestrian 8-4