Earl Campbell, an iconic figure in the University of Texas (UT) athletic community has called for the end of another Longhorn icon's tenure, head football coach Mack Brown, ESPN reported.

Speaking with Fox News' Houston affiliate KRIV-TV, Campbell, a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, said Brown should either resign or the university should let him go.

"Nobody likes to get fired or leave a job, but things happen," Campbell said. "I'd go on record and say yes, I think it's time."

Campbell was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1977 and went on to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft that spring. He played an illustrious ten-year career in the NFL for the Houston Oilers and the New Orleans Saints. Now he is a successful businessman in Austin, Texas, not far from his hometown of Tyler, and remains involved with the UT Longhorns football team.

Brown has been the head football coach at UT since 1998 and lead the Longhorns to a BCS National Championship in 2005, winning the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (NCAA football coach of the year award) the same year.

Brown has long supported Campbell's involvement with the team, which includes his participation in some recruiting events.

"Earl has done so much for Texas," Brown said Monday at his regularly scheduled news conference in Austin. "He will always be welcomed at our school. I'm disappointed in his comments, but he's entitled to his opinion."

The Longhorns are 2-2 this year, having lost to BYU and Ole Miss. Further, the UT football team appears to be headed towards another mediocre season similar to their last three. Brown led the Longhorns an undefeated season in 2009 and to the National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, but lost. Since, UT has endured seasons with seven, five and four losses, respectively.

While that may show signs of improvement, fans and other UT community members have expressed their unrest with the team's slow start this year.

"Some people get too old," said Campbell. "If players get too old to play a game, why can't a coach get too old to coach it?"

Campbell retired after ten seasons' worth of hits became too much to recover from. At the age of 58, Campbell suffers from severe arthritis in his knees, sometimes requiring use of a wheelchair, and debilitating back pain.

While a head coach does not take hits, their strategies and techniques can become ineffective. Campbell said he did not arrive at his conclusion easily.

"Very hard because Coach Brown is a very good man," Campbell said. "I just hope he doesn't stay... He's done some great things. The program, he brought it back, and we don't need it to get run down where somebody has to start all over again."