NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Mack Brown understands people wondering about a college football coach making $5 million annually in the current economy.

He’s just not going to apologize for his recent raise.
“I don’t feel guilty at all because that’s not my decision,” Brown said at media day for the Citi BCS National Championship. “I didn’t ask for it, the university decided to pay it, and what they did is obviously made a business decision.”
Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds expanded upon that business decision, made before the Big 12 title game.
He noted that Brown had made $4 million in the 2008 season and $5 million this year because of bonuses. Without a change, Brown could have gone back to making $3 million after a potential championship season.
“In my mind, that’s not a good direction to go and not a feel-good sort of thing,” Dodds said.
Dodds understands the criticism, too. But Texas, recently ranked as the most profitable college football team by Forbes magazine, possesses a remarkably successful athletic department.
“I’ve done this both ways,” Dodds said. “I’ve been here when we’re losing and it’s a disaster. And I’ve been here when we’re winning. I much prefer this and the $5 million business decision. Our fans are happy and they’re giving more money to the university.”
Major connection:
Connections between the Alabama and Texas coaching staffs are numerous, but Major Applewhite, 31, may have the most distinctive tie-in.
Raised an Alabama fan, the Texas running backs coach and former quarterback was named after former Tide running back Major Ogilvie. That’s not all, of course, as Applewhite spent the 2007 season as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Nick Saban.
Monroe’s second chance:
Redshirt freshman D.J. Monroe was admittedly relieved after being reinstated by Brown.
Monroe had a DWI charge dismissed and pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of blocking a passageway. He had been suspended for three games.
“It was brutal,” said Monroe, who has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season. “I’ve learned from this in every aspect and way.”
He said his teammates helped him during what he called “a bonehead mistake.”