As far as Mack Brown goes, remember he's signed through 2020 and is making over 5 million a year. Last year he was bristled at the notion of leaving, and even got his lawyer involved. It seems to me that the only way to get him to step aside might actually be to bribe him, perhaps even pay him above what he was scheduled to make, and that issue is further complicated by the fact that he had strong support among some big boosters.
So, given the situation, it's extremely unlikely that he steps down prior to Texas having their other coach lined up. From what I gathered, when Sexton and Mack were contacted last year, the suggestion was for Mack to act like this whole thing was his idea. It's understandable that this made him really angry, because Nick Saban is the same age, Mack is the second most accomplished Texas coach in history, and I'd guess in his mind he's Saban's equal. Another report I read suggested that Mack was on board with Gus though, and that is a bit more understandable because he never faced Gus, and Gus is younger so it's not as insulting. In either case, it would appear that a plan has been put in place to get rid of Mack one way or the other.
I'm betting that the Mack Brown supporters simply won't budge until/unless a suitable replacement is found. They're not going to fire him, and then do a search like USC did, in which they just get the best available option. They're getting rid of a guy that went to the BCSCG twice, and nearly won the Big-12 this year, they want a clear upgrade. They can just throw money at this I guess, but I'd bet that we see Mack Brown and a new Texas head coach at the same press conference, and if that doesn't happen it means things didn't go as planned.
I also think this coaching search is also a power struggle, in a sense the Mack Brown supporters were defending the castle, and the invaders were trying to oust him. If they arrive with Nick Saban, they'll have won that war, so that's why they have such desperation, because if they don't land someone like that, they've lost. I'd wonder why Nick Saban would even consider a situation like that, but remember Miami lured him away with promises that didn't quit pan out.
Any timeframe on the decision? The suspense is getting to me.
From what's been publicly stated, the only decision is whether or not he's going to sign the extension. I don't know the exact details, but it's not like that means he can't leave (unless they finally included a buyout, and a massive one at that), it would just affirm his commitment to Alabama. It sounds like there's more to it than that, like he really is considering his options, and if there is any doubt, we'd want a quick resolution, but the truth is we don't know what's in his head. He might have no intention of leaving and might just be seeking more leverage...
