Austin, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Mack Brown will resign as football coach at Texas after the Longhorns play their bowl game. Brown announced his resignation Saturday, calling his 16 seasons leading the Longhorns "a wonderful ride" but saying it was time for a change in what he called a football department "being pulled in different directions." The announcement ended weeks of speculation about Browns job security after an 8-4 regular season -- the fourth straight year the Longhorns lost that many games. It came one day after Brown met with Texas president Bill Powers and incoming athletic director Steve Patterson, and amid speculation he would resign or be fired. Brown, who won a national title with Texas after the 2005 season, will coach the unranked Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30 against No. 10 Oregon. He said he arrived at Texas in 1998 "to pull together a football program that was divided." "Now, the program is again being pulled in different directions, and I think the time is right for a change," Brown said in a statement "I love The University of Texas, all of its supporters, the great fans and everyone that played and coached here. "I cant thank (retiring athletic director) DeLoss Dodds enough for bringing our family here, and Bill Powers and the administration for supporting us at a place where I have made lifelong friendships. "It is the best coaching job and the premier football program in America. I sincerely want it to get back to the top and thats why I am stepping down after the bowl game. I hope with some new energy, we can get this thing rolling again." Browns announcement came after Alabama said Friday night it had reached a new long-term agreement with football coach Nick Saban. The two coaches had been linked by recent rumors and reports that had Saban, who won three national titles in the past four years with the Crimson Tide, taking over for Brown in Austin. Brown said at a media briefing Thursday for the Alamo Bowl, "My situation has not changed." He didnt address his future at Texas football banquet Friday night as news of the Saban extension broke, according to reports. "We appreciate everything Mack has done for The University of Texas. Hes been a tremendous coach, mentor, leader and ambassador for our university and our student-athletes," Patterson said in a statement. "He is truly a college football legend. Ive had a number of talks with him recently, and he has always said he wanted what was best for The University of Texas. I know this decision weighed heavily on him, and today he told us hes ready to move forward." Brown was in Florida on a recruiting trip this week when a website reported he would step down by the end of the week. Brown denied to another site that he had made a decision, but on Thursday said working for a new athletic director "changes things." Patterson was hired in November to replace Dodds, who has held the post for 32 years. Dodds brought Brown to Austin for the start of the 1998 season. "Weve hired what I think is a great athletic director, but I havent had time to sit down with him," Brown said Thursday. "Im looking forward to my meeting and well get on the same page and move forward." Browns contract with the university runs through 2020 under a deal he signed in January of 2012 and he will remain at the school in some capacity. He restored the Longhorns to national prominence and the team strung together nine straight seasons of double-digit wins from 2001-09. The highlight of his tenure, undoubtedly, came when the Longhorns beat USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl to win the national title and finish off a 13-0 season. "This is a very difficult day for everyone in The University of Texas family," Powers said in a statement calling Brown "one of the best football coaches in the country." "Mack is just the best and he will be missed," said Powers. "With that said, Im excited for the future and the opportunity to work with him in a new capacity for the years to come and am thrilled that he and (wife) Sally will remain part of our family. He is an unbelievable resource for us and will always be a valuable member of the Longhorn community." Brown also took the Longhorns to the national title game after the 2009 season but they lost to Saban and Alabama. The program has been in decline since with a record of just 30-20 over the past four seasons. Texas lost two of its first three games this season, then rebounded to go 7-1 in Big 12 play prior to last Saturdays 30-10 loss to Baylor in a de-factor conference title game. The Longhorns could have captured a BCS bowl bid with a victory over the Bears. Browns 158 wins at Texas are the second-most in school history behind Hall of Famer Darrell Royals 167. Ugg Canada Boxing Day Sale . Playing in her 12th Solheim Cup, the four-time major winner teamed up with Melissa Reid in the final fourball session to beat Americans Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie 4 and 3. Ugg Boots Boxing Day Sale . Perhaps the biggest news of the game; the Jets scored both goals on the power play, the first time this season they scored two in a game. The Jets were in a power play slump with one goal in the last 15 games. "The power play was a big plus," said Coach Claude Noel post-game. http://www.bootsinsnowsale.com/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have signed two free-agent forwards, Mark Mancari and Kevin Porter, and re-signed minor league goalie David Leggio each to one-year contracts. Uggs Canada Sale . Evans, a two-time Tour de France runner-up, has survived a crash-marred first week of racing which saw several contenders bow out of the race. He stands third in the overall standings, the best placing among the favourites. Ugg Canada Clearance . The Canadiens announced Thursday that the veteran defenceman has signed a US$17.25-million, three-year deal with the club that will see Markov in a Montreal uniform through the 2013-14 season. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Hideki Matsui would much rather have hit his first home run at home in the Coliseum weeks ago. Yet Oaklands new designated hitter could hardly complain about how the clout finally came -- even if an announced crowd of 9,193 was all that saw him do it during a rare Monday matinee. Matsui clobbered the first pitch of the 10th inning from Darren Oliver and sent it deep into the right-field seats for a game-winning homer, lifting the Oakland Athletics to a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers. "Hopefully after todays game there will be 100 more people," Matsui quipped. Grant Balfour (2-1) walked three batters in the top of the 10th to load the bases for pinch-hitter Yorvit Torrealba, who struck out swinging on the right-handers 30th pitch. Josh Willingham hit a tying home run leading off the eighth against Texas reliever Arthur Rhodes, and the As took three of four from the reigning AL champions. Matsuis clout against Oliver (1-3) was the third of the season for the slugger and Oaklands first walkoff homer of 2011. He added an RBI groundout in the fifth. "If you saw it or heard it, you knew it was way back there," As teammate Andy LaRoche said of the winning drive. Texas has lost six of eight and 12 of 19 following a 9-1 start. Michael Young hit a two-run double and a sacrifice fly but the bullpen couldnt hold a one-run lead for Texas starter Derek Holland, who allowed eight hits and three runs in seven innings. The Rangers were hoping to gain some momentum from the series finale heading into a three-game series at Seattle in which Texas will miss Mariners ace and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez. "Were not where we want to be but were not going to panic either," manager Ron Washington said. "It was real tough. I thought we played hard, things just didnt fall into place." Oaklands Kurt Suzuki homered for the second time in three games and went 6 for 16 with two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored during the series. The first-time father was activated from the paternity leave list before Fridays opener with the Rangers following the birth of daughter, Malia, on Thursday. Matsui is batting .242 in his first season with the As and still finding himself at the plate. "The adjustments are ongoing on a daily basis," he said. "Thats what I have been doing and its what I will keep doing." Youung and Adrian Beltre had back-to-back sacrifice flies in the fifth but Texas couldnt bounce back from a 7-2 loss Sunday.dddddddddddd Washington sat second baseman Ian Kinsler and used third baseman Beltre as the designated hitter to give him a day off his legs. Brandon McCarthy, facing Texas for the first time since 2006, allowed four runs and six hits in six innings, struck out four and walked two. The As overcame two more errors -- both by McCarthy -- that gave them an AL-leading 27, one more than the Rangers after Texas also had one Monday. Oakland is also tied with Houston for most errors in the majors. "Weve been up and down through April," McCarthy said. "To start May like this is something we needed. The bullpen was outstanding. They stood up and got my back." David DeJesus put the As ahead when he scored on a safety squeeze bunt by Cliff Pennington in the second. Suzuki hit his third home run leading off the fourth. Oakland third baseman LaRoche did his part to keep himself in the lineup with a pair of base hits. He batted 6 for 11 during the four games with Texas. As centre-fielder Coco Crisp had the day off as a precaution after he returned Sunday from a three-game absence with tightness in his left hamstring. Lee Greenwoods "Proud to Be An American" blared between the first and second innings a day after U.S. President Barack Obama announced the death of terrorist Osama bin Laden. As public address announcer Dick Callahan asked fans to "Raise their Budweisers" in appreciation for those who serve our country. One female fan sported a short-sleeved flag shirt. Notes: Rangers RHPs Tommy Hunter and Neftali Feliz will be sent on rehab assignment to double-A Frisco on Wednesday. Hunter, on the 15-day disabled list all season with a right groin strain sustained in spring training, got through a bullpen session Monday at extended spring training in Arizona with no issues. He will start for the RoughRiders on Wednesday and go three or four innings. Feliz threw a bullpen in Oakland. Sidelined since April 23 with right shoulder inflammation, he will pitch an inning of relief Wednesday for Frisco. ... Injured As closer Andrew Bailey (strained forearm) will throw to hitters on the field Wednesday. ... Oakland LHP starter Dallas Braden played catch for the first time since being placed on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury April 18. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '