Report: Gruden would consider Texas head-coaching job

C OULD JON GRUDEN be the next head football coach at the University of Texas?

Orangebloods.com, citing a source, reported yesterday that Gruden would consider the job if asked.

The position opened when Mack Brown stepped down on Sunday after 16 years with the Longhorns.

"It's no secret that every major position that comes open stirs Gruden rumors," the source told the website. "The reason why the talks never go anywhere is because there are definitely two, maybe three situations he's always said he would have to listen to. When Texas calls, you gotta listen.

"It's Austin, it's not like any other city in Texas or anywhere, really. It's a destination, but with the state capitol, the university, the politics and the media, it's the eye of a hurricane."

Gruden, now an analyst for ESPN, has been out of coaching since 2008. But he was the head coach of the Raiders (1998-2001) and the Buccaneers (2002-2008), winning Super Bowl XXXVII with Tampa Bay in January 2003. He was the Eagles' offensive coordinator from 1995–97.

Simply put, the Longhorns could do a lot worse.

Interestingly, Gruden is not among the betting favorites for the job as compiled by Bovada.com. The odds:

Charlie Strong . . . 2-1

James Franklin. . . 4-1

Art Briles. . . 5-1

Mike Gundy. . . 6-1

Jimbo Fisher. . . 9-1

Jim Harbaugh. . . 10-1

Jim Mora. . . 10-1

Bill O'Brien. . . 12-1

David Shaw. . . 12-1

Chip Kelly. . . 16-1

Mike Tomlin. . . 33-1

When Washington and Brigham Young meet Dec. 27 in the Fight Hunger Bowl, it will mark the first time in history that two female officials will work an FBS game.

Maia Chaka will be the head linesman (woman?) and Sarah Thomas will be the line judge.

The late, great Reggie White would have been 52 today.