Good article from the Alexandria paper on the behind the scenes action surrounding Nick's hiring: http://www.thetowntalk.com/html/0AE478E0-9EB0-4FB2-8387-08598A08F5B8.shtml Oops. Wrong link: http://www.thetowntalk.com/html/4FABD24A-47F1-4878-933F-FA3598DF2B6A.shtml
I told you guys two weeks ago that it was about the non-talk on the extension at MSU and the bad relationship Nick had with the MSU president. The bad relationship with the MSU president was partly due to "open checkbook" talk and the NFL offers from the colts by the way. Anyways a good article, but not really news. The issues on why he left MSU were known back in 1999. Now, the extension talk at MSU was over when it was going to happen. Nick wanted extension talk after the 99 Michigan game, the MSU president wanted extentions talk after the season, but unfortunately, he waited too long after the season. Did you guys ever wonder why none of Nick's assistants got on the plane to Baton Rouge from East Lansing. Supposedly Nick had second thoughts and gave MSU an opportunity to match the offer or come close to it. Supposedly Nick really didn't want to leave MSU and wanted to use the LSU offer to get a contract at MSU. You won't read that in any Louisiana newspapers But, thihgs turned out well in the end for Nick and LSU.
I think a large part of the reasons that Sabans assistants stayed at MSU was that they had a pretty good thing going at the time at MSU, or so they thought, and that LSU had had a recent history of firing coaches, 4 out of the last 5. Also going to a program that had just come off of 2 losing seasons in a row wasn't as enticing as staying where they had just had a 10 win season. Just a thought. Of course they were all wrong.
