Posted on 12/08/2006 6:38:24 PM PST by indcons
Spurned again, Alabama is resuming its latest search for a football coach.
This time it was West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez saying no thanks Friday to the program still yearning for a leader to steer it back to the powerhouse days of Bear Bryant.
And worried Alabama fans like student Jennifer Winton were left to wonder: "Who are we going to get now?"
It's the $12 million question. Rodriguez opted to remain at his alma mater instead of taking the reported six-year, $12 million offer from Alabama that would have nearly doubled his previous deal.
Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore tried to reassure the 'Bama faithful.
"I want to remind everyone of what I said at the outset of this process: My only objective is to get the best person available to lead the Alabama football program," Moore said in a written statement. "I remain determined to bring to our program a proven head coach with impressive credentials."
Rodriguez had such credentials, leading the Mountaineers to a Sugar Bowl victory two seasons ago and going 10-2 this season.
But he also had lifelong ties to West Virginia, growing up about 30 minutes from campus. Rodriguez said he plans "on being here a long time."
"There weren't many reasons not to go. It's all about the reasons for staying," Rodriguez said. "I'm biased, this is my school. I think it's a great place to raise a family. We've always had a great athletic tradition."
Rodriguez will receive a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season from West Virginia. Other details of the deal were not immediately released.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
1. Nick Saban 2. Steve Spurrier 3. Rich Rodriguez
Question: Why is coaching at the Univ. of Alabama such a tough job? Inquirng minds would like to know.
Ping to the "Official" Bama Coach Watch Thread.
Thought you might be interested in this thread, Mike.
actually replace Saban with Bobby Petrino....but yeah...
I've already pinged this out once here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1750619/posts
Alabama fired their national championship coach Stallings.
Alabama also fired Shula this year after a 10-2 season last year (and giving him a raise).
This is not the behavior of adults, and it will be a negative in the eyes of the very coaches that Alabama wishes to hire.
In fact, Alabama fires coaches at the drop of a hat...or more accurately, if they don't please Paul Bryant, Jr.
Yeah..I saw that thread too. Good one and it was breaking news then. This one here is just an update.
I'll add Petrino to that list with pleasure ;) but didn't Saban turn Bama down quite harshly? Check this out: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/16191249.htm [Miami Herald]
Mark Price has officially stated that he is not interested in this job.
Intelligent coaches don't want to report to Mal de Moore?
LOL...nice one.
He did yeah but I don't think he was in their top 3....
To get him now would mean that he would have to quit the NFL, which wasn't going to happen....
Spurrier was a pipe dream. I think everyone but Alabama fan saw it.
Petrino sees that the easier way to the BCS is through Louisville in the Big East, but the way to a National championship is probably through Alabama first.
Rich Rodriguez is a WVU guy and always has been. I was frankly surprised that he had accepted the deal in principle.
Can blame him for staying WVU is a young team and next year could be a real serious national championship type season for them.
I would submit that the fact that such acceptance was reported in the media does not make it true.
No I'm pretty sure he had accepted it in principle.
I'm also pretty sure that he gave WVU and it's boosters a chance to match the offer, which they ended up doing.
IIRC, Stallings resigned the night of the Auburn game - we didn't fire him.
...So goes the official story, anyway.
War Eagle
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