Chicago Tribune- Terry Saban says "we aren't going anywhere this year".

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    http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...rsmain,1,1760517.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

    In the days after the school's first national football championship since 1958, Terry Saban, Nick's wife, drew a distinction between NFL overtures now and in the past. After turning down Indianapolis and the Giants several years ago, she told the Times-Picayune that Saban had the feeling he may never get another chance to coach in the NFL. Now, he doesn't have the same fear.

    "I'm not saying never, but we're not going anywhere this year," Terry Saban said.



    Field quickly narrowing
    As Bears wait on Saban, Mora takes Atlanta job

    By David Haugh
    Tribune staff reporter

    January 8, 2004, 11:30 PM CST


    While the Bears continue to give Nick Saban time to consider becoming their next coach, which was general manager Jerry Angelo's intention since the beginning of his search, Plan B risks becoming Plan C as their head-coaching options dwindle.

    Jim Mora, defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers who had been viewed as the backup choice, agreed Thursday night to coach the Atlanta Falcons, and Saban remains a definite maybe.

    While accepting the Eddie Robinson college coach of the year award at a banquet in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Thursday night, Saban told the the Times-Picayune in New Orleans he will take the weekend to "weigh some options" regarding the Bears job but that he has not met with Angelo.

    "Jerry Angelo and I are very good friends [and] he visits me in Baton Rouge on occasion," Saban said. "I'm very pleased and happy to be at LSU, and I know they are working hard to try and make things comfortable there for us."

    He did not, as some at LSU had hoped, remove himself from consideration. Nor did Saban say he and Angelo had plans to meet for an interview.

    "The decision is, would we even talk to any [NFL team], that's the decision, because of our loyalty to the people at LSU and what we have going on there," Saban said.

    But the Bears insist they aren't worried and won't panic, even if the uncertainty over Saban has clouded the process. Angelo and his staff privately have expressed delight with how the past 10 days have gone and firmly believe the Bears will find the right man for the job even if Saban ultimately decides to stay at LSU.

    With the Falcons out of the hunt for Saban, his choice is reduced to LSU or the Bears, the Bayou or the big city.

    If Saban chooses LSU after hearing the Bears' offer, they likely would turn their attention to Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel or Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, both of whom interviewed last week.

    The Bears haven't completely ruled out Jim Fassel, who remains available after Arizona hired Dennis Green and Washington scored a coup by bringing back Joe Gibbs.

    Fassel is still a candidate in Buffalo but is said to be trailing former Bears coach Dick Jauron, a favorite of Bills ownership.

    Fassel, the former Giants coach, understands the Bears' decision not to interview him Monday as they waited for better definition of Saban's status. The Bears' interest in Saban hasn't diminished Fassel's interest in the job.

    "When we started the process to determine what situations Jim thought would be right for him, the Bears were always close to, or at the top of the list," said Steve Rosner, one of Fassel's agents. "Hopefully, we'll get the opportunity to get in front of [Angelo and team President Ted Phillips]."

    A source said Angelo remains open to Fassel but privately hopes the Bears' search doesn't get to that point. If it does, the perception will be what it was when Jauron took the job five years ago: The Bears settled for a candidate from their second tier of choices.

    Angelo pushed back a scheduled interview with another coach on the first tier, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, from Thursday to sometime this weekend. Meanwhile, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen "dismissed inquiries" from the Bears and Falcons and plans to stay at his alma mater, the Washington Times reported.

    For Bears fans scoring at home, that means Angelo has formally interviewed three candidates in 10 days since firing Jauron.

    The deliberate pace of the process follows the plan Angelo knew he had to take, given his interest in Saban and the LSU coach's reluctance to entertain NFL offers immediately, league sources said.

    The Bears made contact again Thursday with Saban and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, to gauge interest and learn how to proceed next, sources in Louisiana confirmed. Privately, a league source said the Bears were encouraged.

    Still, several friends and coaching peers of Saban's, contacted Wednesday and Thursday, said they expect him to stay in college.

    LSU athletic director Skip Bertman acknowledged the school has offered Saban a renegotiated six-year contract worth up to $3 million a year with incentives and said reports that the deal was for 10 years with a base salary of $3 million were false. Sexton didn't return phone calls Thursday.

    In the days after the school's first national football championship since 1958, Terry Saban, Nick's wife, drew a distinction between NFL overtures now and in the past. After turning down Indianapolis and the Giants several years ago, she told the Times-Picayune that Saban had the feeling he may never get another chance to coach in the NFL. Now, he doesn't have the same fear.

    "I'm not saying never, but we're not going anywhere this year," Terry Saban said.

    At the proper time and place, the Bears want to have something to say about that.

    Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune
     

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