http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/breaking/index.ssf?/mtlogs/bama_bhamnews_extra/archives/2006_12.html#213303 Rodriguez agrees to become Alabama's next football coach TUSCALOOSA — University of Alabama officials and West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez have reached an agreement in principle for Rodriguez to become the Crimson Tide’s next head football coach, two sources close to the search told The Birmingham News tonight. After Rodriguez’s representatives negotiated with Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore for most of today, Rodriguez has told Alabama officials he is ready to take the job offer he received this morning. Sources close to the search said Rodriguez will make over $2 million per year with incentives and will have one of the highest-paid coaching staffs in the Southeastern Conference. After two weeks of searching for a replacement for coach Mike Shula, who was fired Nov. 26, the only aspect of the process left is for Rodriguez to tell his team he is leaving his home state and alma mater. Alabama officials are confident Rodriguez will sign his deal Friday morning, sources said, because the two sides have agreed on all economic and non economic issues. Rodriguez followed his scheduled plans for today, even attending a news conference to publicize the Gator Bowl, which features the Mountaineers (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (9-4) on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville. A source has told The News that Gator Bowl officials have been warned not to expect Rodriguez to coach in the game. During today’s Gator Bowl news conference, he limited questions to the bowl game and to West Virginia, but would not guarantee he would coach the Mountaineers in the bowl game. Ian R. Rapoport Posted at 8:09 p.m.
Did we try to hire Rich Rodriguez when we were looking for a new coach? I've forgotten. :lsup: LSU! :crystal:
I don't know if he was interested, interviewed or even called. But he and Dennis Erickson and a few others were darlings of Tiger chat rooms and message boards in 1999. Much moreso than Nick Saban was.
he wanted to come here but we werent looking to hire a coordinator at the time. he had just gotten through with the 12-0 season at tulane and followed tommy bowden to clemson for a year when we hired nick.
So, how long will it take before the rumor's start flying about Saban interviewing at WV? I give it about a day. :hihi:
Am I remembering correctly that immediately following the win over Rutgers he was talking about "finishing his career at WVU"???
