Golden's notes and nuggets: On Mack, Gray and Muschamp
Cedric Golden, Commentary
Johnathan Gray is still one year away from strapping on a Texas football helmet, but his recent announcement has breathed some life into a mummified Longhorns run game that didn't scare anybody last year. Nor the year before. Nor the year before that.
Assuming Gray's nonbinding commitment holds up, I'm interested to see how the Aledo running back will co-exist with current prized recruit Malcolm Brown, who will have a season of experience under his belt by then — assuming he doesn't redshirt this fall — and Traylon Shead.
You never know if these high-profile players will reach greatness or end up as busts — the whole recruiting process is a crapshoot — but this Gray kid passes the eye test. In a blur.
I hesitate to label him a can't-miss prospect, but it's difficult to take your eyes off the screen when you're watching him sprint past tacklers.
If Gray and Brown both pan out and become the All-Americans that their five-star recruiting statuses demand, then new Texas offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin will become a legend in a very short time, assuming he can find someone to hand those studs the ball.
Pick up the phone
What's up with Mack Brown not appearing on last week's Big 12 coaches teleconference call? First he closes most of his practices to the public and his adoring media. Then he doesn't make quarterback Garrett Gilbert available for interviews — GG hasn't spoken publicly since the Longhorns lost their 2010 season finale to Texas A&M, five months ago — and now he's blowing off teleconferences?
The official reason given for Mack's absence was a scheduling conflict. Apparently, he had a Monday flight rescheduled, forcing him to miss the call. What's next? Will the Horns not even bother to show up for the 2011 campaign?
Oh wait ... didn't that just happen?
Bring Your Playbook
Don't forget to Bring Your Playbook for Wednesday's weekly online sports chat featuring Kirk Bohls and yours truly. Check us out at statesman.com/bevobeat at 11 a.m.
We get all types, including plenty of Aggies pretending to be Longhorns fans. I believe the term is "trolls" in the online world. The highlight of last week's chat was our online poll which posed the question: "Are you happy that Mack Brown is still the head coach, or do you wish Will Muschamp had taken over?"
A whopping 83 percent of our respondents came out in support of Brown.
You see, Mack? They still believe.
Coach Boom speaks
Speaking of Muschamp, I always wondered how he would do in the area of media relations once he became a head coach. Well, it seems those three years working with Mack have helped. Florida's new head coach was in New England on Thursday for an ESPN media blitz that included appearances on ESPN First Take, a pair of national radio shows, a podcast, College Football Live, SportsNation, and SportsCenter.
During one of his stops, Coach Boom revealed that moving trucks were at his Austin residence the same day to complete his family's move to Gainesville. Of particular interest was his response to First Take host Jay Crawford, who asked him about accepting the Florida job, ending his tenure as a Texas head coach in waiting.
"Texas is a great place, but Florida is Florida,'' Muschamp said. "I (spent) nine years in Gainesville. I'm from the Southeast and my wife is from the Southeast as well. It was an opportunity for us to come home. I really enjoyed my time at Texas, but when Florida calls, it's Florida."
NFL's arrest parade
I guess an idle NFL mind is the local police department's playground. Since the lockout started March 12, 10 players have been arrested, including Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib, who allegedly fired a gun at his sister's boyfriend last month. Talib's mom, who doesn't play in the NFL, is also alleged to have taken a shot at the boyfriend.
Somehow, the list of detainees doesn't include Miami's Brandon Marshall, though the oft-arrested receiver did earn an honorable mention after his wife allegedly stabbed him over the weekend in what she told officers was an act of self-defense.
I wonder if commissioner Roger Goodell will find a way to swoop down from his perch and issue a suspension after Marshall's latest incident? Here's a better idea: How about just sending him home this time?
cgolden@statesman.com; 912-5944