Red McCombs believes Mack Brown will return

After the rumors early this week about the possibility major boosters are now less than pleased, Red McCombs told the Statesman that he believes Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown will be back next season.

Here's what the auto group and Clear Channel tycoon had to say about Brown:

I talk to Mack every day, and he has not given any indication to me at all that he’s stepping down. I don’t think that thought has even entered his mind. I’ve told Mack, ‘You’ve delivered for us. As for as I’m concerned, you’ll make that decision.' Hopefully he’ll get to feeling better about what he’s doing.

It seems that, for now, if there are those who pull the strings of power through their financial contributions to the university no longer in Brown's corner, McCombs is not one of them.

Or he could just be keeping his actual feelings private -- it would shocking for such a prominent figure to throw Brown underneath the bus publicly at this time.

However, Brown hasn't always looked particularly chippy this season, especially on Monday, even though he tried to lighten the mood at the beginning of his press conference by counting down the seconds until he started. It all seemed rather forced.

McCombs believes that the season has been trying for Brown, as was last season. And the year before:

I think he is tired without a doubt. He is drained. I think he does (sense it). I don't see any sign of him thinking about anything except this game.

A loss to Kansas State this weekend would hardly energize Brown, who was described by McCombs as "putting everything into this game."

If that doesn't turn out to be enough, if Brown puts everything he has into winning and can't do it, isn't that rather a symptom of his inability to affect change with this team? Maybe there isn't really anything he can do.

That fact, if it is indeed the truth, would be about as damning as any other argument against Brown staying.

After the 2010 season, Brown re-energized himself by surrounding himself with young assistant coaches. How will he manage that feat this time if he does decide to stay?