re: Why is it taking Texas so long to make a hire?

Granted top-heavy, but, Big-12 has BCS Title winners in OU and Tex, with six BCSCG berths between them since 2000, Kansas Jayhawks clout in Hoops along with UT and OU and OSU and Baylor as occasional Final Four threat teams. Longhorn Baseball with two '00s crowns under Augie, albeit last now seven years ago, and rest of conference not real CWS threats.

Big-12 has at least one NCAA Top Five Alltimer Program in all three of the Mens Majors..and an NCAA crown in all three in last seven years..how many Top Five Conferences can claim such?

I think Big-12 losing ATM and Mizzou were huge losses, as both have some huge current and future upsides, and not necessarily all tied to gaining SEC memberships. Imho, Nebraska not as much so, of which I have great doubts Huskers may be headed down the same longterm path say Tennessee is in terms of in-state talent and longterm sustainability if trying to emulate former successes.