By Moses Leos III.
Amid a week of rumors and speculation, Texas head coach Mack Brown put to bed the worst kept secret in all of collegiate sports on Saturday – his inevitable departure.
While Brown’s resignation may have been a foregone conclusion for some, the saga was a drama-filled ordeal for others. Hays High School junior offensive lineman Connor Lanfear fits into the latter category.
Verbally committed to Texas over the summer, Lanfear was particularly interested in what Brown would eventually decide. But through it all, Lanfear says he still committed to the University of Texas at Austin.
At top: On June 9, Hays junior offensive lineman Connor Lanfear verbally committed to the Texas Longhorns football program. While head coach Mack Brown announced this past weekend he will vacate his position following Texas’ bowl game on Dec. 28, Lanfear says he’ll keep his commitment to the school. (Photo by Moses Leos III) |
At the same time, he also knew Brown might leave.
In an exclusive interview with the Hays Free Press, Lanfear said he somewhat prepared himself for the moment. He just never fully believed it would come to fruition.
The week previous, Lanfear was contacted by staff at Texas, who told him Brown was not stepping down.
He did his best to ignore the media circus surrounding the issue, but his fears were realized on Saturday night. Lanfear was out on a date when the news broke. A text message from his sister brought home the disheartening news.
“I received a text from my sister that Coach Brown was resigning. I had to check to see if he really did,” Lanfear said. “It was kind of a shock [for me]. My date was about as shocked as I was. I was a little discombobulated.”
He said he “shrugged it off,” and continued on with his date. However, he slowly began to field questions regarding his future.
Contacted by Rivals.com, ESPN and 24/7 recruiting service, everyone wanted to know what the 2015 graduate was planning. Lanfear declined interviews. During that time, he sought information on what might happen next.
Texas told him the scholarship offered to him in the summer was still on the table. The Hays junior now waits anxiously to see who will be the 29th head coach of U.T. Texas football.
But the departure of Brown still left an impression on Lanfear, who said he never showed any signs of fatigue during his recruitment in the summer.
“During drills, he seemed to be getting after it all the way,” Lanfear said. “He did not look tired.”
But he still yearns for the chance to play under Brown at Texas; an opportunity he would have “loved” to have. While he will not get the chance, Lanfear said, “Everything happens for a reason.”
Lanfear now awaits Texas’ new head coaching hire. He hasn’t heard who, but has confidence Texas will find the right person for the job.
For now, Lanfear will reminisce about what might have been. He will forever remember being at Brown’s final home game against Texas Tech on Thanksgiving.
“It’s one of those moments you won’t forget for the rest of your life,” he said. “I look at that and cherish it.”
Most of all, he acknowledges the remarkable character of Mack Brown.
“Men like him are rare these days. He is a good coach, and a great man. I hate to see him go,” Lanfear said. “He has done such amazing things for the program, and has left a great legacy at Texas.”
