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.�