Posted on 12/07/2006 11:06:26 AM PST by petitfour
UPDATED 12:45 p.m. TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama has extended an offer to West Virginia University’s Rich Rodriguez to become the new head football coach of the Crimson Tide, sources confirmed to The Tuscaloosa News on Thursday.
Deliberations continued late into the night, and this morning. A representative of UA made the offer to Rodriguez this morning.
The salary and other terms of the offer to Rodriquez were not immediately available. Speculation over the past week has centered on Rodriguez and Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban.
UA director of athletics Mal Moore, who is leading the search, arrived back in Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon after spending three days in New York and did not leave Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night.
According to the Charleston Daily Mail, Rodriguez met Wednesday for two hours with WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong.
Pastilong said the two discussed the upcoming Gator Bowl game against Georgia Tech on Jan. 1, 2007, among other matters.
Asked if the Alabama job was discussed, Pastilong said, “I cannot talk about that, because it is a personnel issue.”
Pastilong indicated to the Daily Mail that the school was not be inclined to offer Rodriguez another raise after signing an extension in the summer that also included a raise to close to $1.1 million annually and a possibility of more than $400,000 in additional performance bonuses.
Rodriguez’s contract includes a $2 million penalty if he leaves West Virginia before Aug. 31, 2007.
A source told the Daily Mail that, contrary to published reports earlier Wednesday, no Mountaineers assistant coaches had been pulled off the recruiting trail.
Moore’s return to Tuscaloosa was not his original plan for this week. The UA athletic director was scheduled to fly from New York — where he was attending College Football Hall of Fame ceremonies and talking with coaches and agents about the Alabama vacancy — to Chicago today to attend the Tide’s fourth-ranked men’s basketball team at Notre Dame.
Rodriguez and Moore talked informally Tuesday in New York.
Rodriguez, who is 49-24 in six seasons at West Virginia, said last week he planned on being at WVU the remainder of his career “if they’ll have me.”
According to a report from The Miami Herald, Saban has declined an offer from the university and Thursday morning told his players he is not leaving Miami. The coach also told owner Wayne Huizenga on Sunday he was not interested in Alabama.
After practice, he confirmed that Alabama had approached his agent, Jimmy Sexton, who said thanks but no thanks. Saban also said he never interviewed or spoke directly with Alabama officials.
The Miami Herald report indicated Saban was offered a salary of over $5 million per year, but sources told The Tuscaloosa News it was "extremely unlikely" that UA would offer such a salary.
Thursday a.m. story TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama officials continued to ponder their choices in the search to name a new head football coach on Wednesday night, but the evening passed with no candidate being offered the position, sources told The Tuscaloosa News.
Deliberations were expected to continue late into the night and perhaps into this morning with sources saying a decision about the direction of the search could come as soon as today.
There was widespread speculation concerning the Tide’s interest in West Virginia University head coach Rich Rodriguez.
However, Rodriguez did not indicate on Wednesday night that he had received an offer from UA.
“There’s no news today," Rodriguez told reporters on Wednesday night as he left the Charleston Civic Center after attending the West Virginia-North Carolina State men’s basketball game.
Numerous published reports, including one on ESPN’s web site, indicated that Rodriguez had “a window" of 72 hours in which he would consider an offer.
Sources who had indicated to The Tuscaloosa News on Tuesday that Miami Dolphin coach Nick Saban was “a prominent figure" in the UA coaching search reaffirmed that information on Wednesday. However, there was no confirmation of a Mobile television report that unspecified UA officials had flown to Miami to meet with Saban.
UA director of athletics Mal Moore, who is leading the search, arrived back in Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon after spending three days in New York and did not leave Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night.
Moore spoke briefly to reporters upon his arrival in Tuscaloosa.
“I don’t have anything for you guys yet," Moore said from the passenger side of a car before driving away from the Bama Air terminal at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport.
“I think things are going well. We are just following our planned course of action."
When asked whether he has offered Rodriguez the job to replace Mike Shula and become Alabama’s 27th head football coach, Moore said, “I don’t want to comment on any of that right now. Just give me some time, here.
“Both sides are working."
According to the Charleston Daily Mail, Rodriguez met for two hours with WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong.
Pastilong said the two discussed the upcoming Gator Bowl game against Georgia Tech on Jan. 1, 2007, among other matters.
Asked if the Alabama job was discussed, Pastilong said, “I cannot talk about that, because it is a personnel issue."
Pastilong indicated to the Daily Mail that the school may not be inclined to offer Rodriguez another raise after signing an extension in the summer that also included a raise to close to $1.1 million annually and a possibility of more than $400,000 in additional performance bonuses.
“We are like any organization or company," he said. “On June 30, we have to balance the checkbook, but we do realize we need to do everything possible to have a successful football program."
Rodriguez’s contract includes a $2 million penalty if he leaves West Virginia before Aug. 31, 2007.
A source told the Daily Mail that, contrary to published reports earlier Wednesday, no Mountaineers assistant coaches had been pulled off the recruiting trail. Also, the University of Miami has not contacted West Virginia for permission to talk to Rodriguez about its vacancy.
Moore traveled from Teterboro Airport in suburban New Jersey to Tuscaloosa via a chartered Canadair CL-600 Challenger 604 jet. He was the only one on the plane to disembark in Tuscaloosa at 1:20 p.m. before it traveled to Montgomery later Wednesday.
Moore’s return to Tuscaloosa was not his original plan for this week. The UA athletic director was scheduled to fly from New York -- where he was attending College Football Hall of Fame ceremonies and talking with coaches and agents about the Alabama vacancy -- to Chicago today to attend the Tide’s fourth-ranked men’s basketball team at Notre Dame.
Sports writer Tommy Deas contributed to this report.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0225,
Reach David Wasson at david.wasson@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.
I've heard comments about Paul Bryant Jr before.
Other than carrying the family name, does he have any experience or credibility in collegiate athletics?
Or is he a well-meaning meddler who causes more trouble than he's worth?
Paul Bryant Jr. Gives $10 Million to UA Crimson Tradition Fund
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Paul Bryant Jr., a native of Tuscaloosa, current trustee of The University of Alabama and graduate of the class of 1966, has given another $10 million gift to The University of Alabama, this time to the recently announced Crimson Tradition Fund Campaign for Athletics. The commitment was announced today by University officials.
Bryant, who chairs the Crimson Tradition Fund, made his gift at this time to offer leadership to the 27 members of the Crimson Tradition Fund Executive Committee who are also preparing their own gifts and beginning their soliciting of key supporters of the drive.
“This campaign will allow our fans, friends and alumni to support the Crimson Tide in a meaningful way,” said Bryant. “Our goal is to raise $50 million in commitments from the private sector.”
The other $50 million of the $100 million total will come from a public bond issue offered for the construction of the north end zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Bond monies would be repaid through ticket sales revenue.
Mal Moore, director of athletics, has continued meeting weekly with architects to expedite the construction process.
“This campaign is certainly a team effort, and with the forming of this committee, we have a special unit of people dedicated to the University,” said Moore. “We all have a responsibility in carrying our load whatever that level of contribution may be; and certainly, Paul Bryant has stepped up for this project like he has so many times for the University in past years.
“We appreciate our supporters and want each of them to recognize that every gift, no matter the amount, is vital in our efforts to reach our goal of providing our coaches and student-athletes with the facilities for them to excel not only on the athletic fields but in the classrooms as well.”
Dr. Andrew Sorensen, president of The University of Alabama, also expressed gratitude to Bryant for his gift.
“If you look across the entire nation there are just a few men and women who have exhibited this level of philanthropy,” said Sorensen. “Great universities all seem to have generous donors who have created centers of excellence through their gifts and Paul Bryant is certainly ours.
“He has made significant commitments to our academic scholarships, the newly created campus TV station, as well as numerous publications and our University library system.”
amen, amen! I've said all along that our biggest problem (other than Paul Bryant Jr) is Mal Moore....the guy's an idiot!!! I keep hoping they bring Ozzie Newsome in as the AD....he would be g-r-e-a-t!
Ah yes! A 10 million dollar gift (not including previous gifts) does help a person establish and maintain their credibility.
It seems to also help dull concerns about a person's credibility and experience too.
That would be good. But no one can even begin while Mal Moore is AD.
He'd be crazy if he took it. Hard core Tide fans have had 25 years to realize that the Bear is gone, and they still can't get over it.
For all you Bama fans, hope he's worth it. Not my money, I couldn't care less.
Bormingham TV/Mobile Press Register both reporting ROdriguez has accepted the Head Coaching Position at Alabama.
Local talk radio show out of Clarksburg area is wall to wall Rodriguez....will he go or will he stay.
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