Fenves to be inaugurated as UT-Austin’s 29th president

O.J. Simpson, right, of USC, is grabbed by Mike Perrin of Texas U, left, but pulls away to go for a gain of 8 yards in the third-quarter of their game at Los Angeles Coliseum, Sept. 23, 1967.

On the other end was University of Texas President Greg Fenves with a question, or perhaps a plea: Would he be interested in taking over the Longhorns athletics department as interim director, a job that wasn’t even open yet? As a four-year letterman in football with UT degrees in mathematics and law, Perrin is clearly invested in the university and its student-athletes. Perrin, a former Texas linebacker, put down his tongs to listen and accept the offer. I wish him the best in his future endeavors…. Perrin played linebacker for coach Darrell Royal in the 1960s.

The university released a statement from Perrin that said, “I’m honored to be asked by President Fenves to serve as interim men’s athletic director”.

Perrin said he plans to reach out to the entire Longhorn nation in order to improve attendance at UT football and basketball games in Austin. “I’m not walking into this as a stranger to the UT community”, Perrin said. No longer – with proof positive that Nike is willing to set the market in a major way, the odds are now much higher that Perrin can cash in and stick with the industry leader.

Perrin has a $750,000 contract through August 2016. Perrin said that he wants to be as active as possible in decision-making in athletics, and that he hopes to still be around to affect real change in the department, including being around to transition to Patterson’s permanent replacement. Perrin called Strong a “personal friend” who has his “full support”. He was the athletic director at Arizona State before being hired by Texas.

“He’ll do great”, Dodds said.

The coaches of major sports at Texas report to associate athletic director Arthur Johnson, who relays concerns or problems to Patterson.

Perrin wanted to protect Smokey when the Longhorns moved from the SWC to the Big 12 Conference.

In the past few months Fenves has been in the president position he has been busy.

The astounding numbers represent good news for Texas as negotations continue with the apparel giant, which has never before been willing to match competitors like Adidas and Under Armour to create massive paydays for the top programs nationally – before Michigan’s deal, Nike’s biggest contract sat outside the top five nationally.