Texas Inside Slant
by Sports Xchange
? Texas simply wanted to tie Muschamp, one of the rising young assistants in the profession, to a long-term deal. Apparently, Muschamp, 37, was agreeable to the unusual arrangement, in no small part because his salary will be bumped to $900,000 beginning next year.
? "We hope (Brown) stays a long time and he will be our coach as long as he wants," Dodds said, "but this assures us that when the time comes, we have the right guy to step up into that position and continue to build on the great things we're accomplishing."
? Perhaps the oddest part of the promotional plan, besides the lack of a timetable, is the relative inexperience of Muschamp as a Texas assistant. This is his first season on the staff after previously serving at Auburn, LSU and in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. He coordinated the defense for LSU's national championship run in 2004.
? This season the Texas defense has been solid, but not overwhelming, though the Big 12 is loaded with many of the nation's top offenses. The Longhorns rank second in the conference, but 58th nationally in total defense, allowing 348.5 yards on average.
? They're coming off their best defensive performance of the season in a 35-7 victory at Kansas on Nov. 15, and rank first in the Big 12 in rushing and scoring defense.
? At 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12, Texas has a week off before playing host to Texas A&M on Nov. 27. A shot at a national championship berth exists, but Texas Tech, which handed the Longhorns their only defeat, needs to fall from the unbeaten ranks.
? The decision to retain Muschamp for the long-term was prompted by the feelers he was receiving among other programs with head coaching vacancies.
? "I was really excited when they presented the opportunity to me," he said. "I'm not in any hurry to be a head coach and hope coach Brown's around for many more years. I'm just glad I'm going to be able to stay at Texas."
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