By Moses Leos III.
By the time the clock hits midnight Wednesday morning, Longhorn and Aggie fans will have something in common – Both will be saying goodbye to figures influential to their football programs.
Let’s start with the departure of Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel. Yes, he still has one more game left to play – the Chick-Fil-A bowl on New Year’s Eve.
But there is no doubt A&M’s prodigal son, dubbed “Johnny Football,” is headed for the bright lights and big paychecks of the NFL.
Can’t blame him, though. He’s got nothing left to prove in college.
A&M fans will be saying goodbye to a transcendent player that’s rejuvenated the Aggie fan base. More so, he helped the football program climb back to glories not seen since the days of R.C. Slocum. Heck, maybe even before that.
Sure, Manziel brought and created his own brand of drama. But I dare to find anyone who seriously doubts his athletic abilities.
The Aggies will miss his leadership and his moxie. But one has to believe he’s paved the way for greater things to come.
Longhorn fans hope greater things come from the departure of Mack Brown, who will coach his final game on Monday in the Alamo Bowl.
It is sad to see him leave – especially when it seems it was not entirely on his own terms.
But it is time for Mack to go. The football program needs a younger coach that better identifies with recruits.
While he may not get the storybook ending many envision – Oregon is a 14.5-point favorite in the Alamo Bowl – Longhorn fans must be grateful of what Brown brought to the program.
It is because of Brown that Texas’ next coaching hire will be faced with so much scrutiny. That person is going to have to live up to the consistency Brown had during his tenure.
Hence why new Athletic Director Steve Patterson has hired an eight-person search committee to help in the process.
Whomever Texas hires, many hope that person has the same class, grace and humility Brown displayed during his tenure on the Forty Aces.
