(Miami Herald) Decision Could Come Wednesday

Sorry if it's a repost, but I searched for the title and found nothing.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/10464740.htm

Looks like we're all in agreement--in Baton Rouge and in Miami-- that something will happen tomorrow.

 

How about a copy & paste? I'm too lazy to register.

 

Here you go

Posted on Tue, Dec. 21, 2004

NICK SABAN
Decision could come Wednesday

Nick Saban will tell Miami this week if he will be the coach. Indications point to him accepting the job.
By JASON COLE
[email protected]


LSU coach Nick Saban is expected to inform the Dolphins one way or another by the end of this week about whether he will become the team's next head coach.

All signs point to him accepting the job, perhaps as early as Wednesday. The Dolphins have already discussed hiring a public relations firm to capitalize on the publicity they are expecting to generate from hiring Saban.

Those signs came as the Dolphins said they met with former Raiders coach Art Shell on Monday for more than three hours. Interim coach Jim Bates is expected to meet with owner Wayne Huizenga today.

''We acknowledge meeting with Art Shell this afternoon,'' Dolphins President Eddie Jones said.

Shell, whose interview should fulfill the Dolphins'obligation to speak with a minority candidate under the NFL's Rooney Rule, did not return calls to his hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

All of that appears to be only window dressing as the Dolphins prepare to unveil the big new wedding dress they've been working on since last Tuesday night. The only thing left before the marriage is done is the prenuptial agreement.

''The contract should take about five minutes to negotiate,'' a source said.

Several people indicated Saban has a self-imposed deadline of the end of this week to make a decision. The LSU team is scheduled to fly to Orlando on Saturday to prepare for the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day.

LSU will have practice today, followed by a Christmas Party at Saban's house tonight. There will be another practice Wednesday morning before the team takes Thursday and Friday off.

On Monday, Saban told reporters in Louisiana that the decision was not his to make. At least not yet.

''I don't think it's really up to me,'' said Saban, who was interviewed in Baton Rouge by only Huizenga and Jones. ``I think it's up to me at some point in time in terms of what kind of decision we make. But when the decisions are kind of sorted out, I don't control that.''

That is a strange stance considering Saban was the person who determined the timetable on the interview with Chicago last season and has generally dictated the other interviews he has had with NFL teams.

Meanwhile, Saban strongly denied that LSU assistant coach Derek Dooley called Dolphins assistant coach Bill Lewis last week. Two Dolphins sources confirmed the call was made as Dooley was trying to get information on the Miami roster.

However, Lewis also denied being contacted by Dooley, according to Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene.

''I know [Dooley] didn't [call] because he said he didn't, and I believe him,'' Saban said.

``Derek Dooley's been here for five years, and I would put all of my honesty and integrity on whatever he told me, because I really and truly do believe him and don't ever have any reason in those five years since I've known him to ever think that he would be dishonest, disloyal or tell me something that wasn't exactly right.''

Saban also said he has not told any members of his coaching staff about whether they would come with him if he takes another job.

``I don't know if it's lack of professionalism on somebody's part for reporting something that can't verify sources or whatever. . . . I have never told anybody on our staff that anybody's going anyplace, including me. So it's not even smart speculation to think that anybody would do any investigating like that.''

Saban also said he has a strong relationship with Bates, who could be kept as the Dolphins defensive coordinator under Saban or another coach.

''We coached together with the Cleveland Browns,'' Saban said.

``He was the defensive coordinator at Florida for Steve Spurrier, and we hired him as a linebacker coach and we coached together for three years. We visit. I've always liked Jim and have a lot of respect for him as a coach and what he has done in this profession.''

 

http://www.bugmenot.com

 

This guy contributed to a story that said Dooley talked to Lewis (he stole that info from that a$$clown Florio). Now he has this story after the forums light up with news of a Wed. press conference. My opinion is this Cole guy is just recycling the most coherent opinions/sources from the forums/rumor sites he is finding on the internet. He has no solid source as far as I can tell.

 

Speaking of Florio, here's the latest from his site:

LSU, FINS SCRAMBLE TO DENY DOOLEY STORY



LSU coach Nick Saban and the Miami Dolphins are in full-blown denial mode regarding the report that LSU assistant coach Derek Dooley called Dolphins assistant coach Bill Lewis last week to inquire about personnel, since -- as Dooley explained -- he'll be the special teams coach in Miami next season.



The report regarding Dooley originated right here three days ago and was parroted without attribution by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald on Monday.



(Editor's Note to All "Real" Journalists: We no longer buy the "We've Never Heard of Your Website" routine. Any NFL beat writer/columnist who tries to use that line is either lying or he/she doesn't really spend much time talking with folks who genuinely are connected to pro football. In Salguero's case, we've spoken on multiple occasions with one of his Herald colleagues, Jason Cole, with whom Salguero often collaborates on Dolphins stories. Indeed, Salguero's story specifically states at the bottom that Cole "contributed to" this report.)



Salguero's version adds a few new details, to be sure. We didn't know that Lewis is the guy Dooley called. And Salguero's piece also illustrates more of the rancor within the building, citing specifically the fact that the assistant coaches haven't received any information about their fates.



Regarding the report that Dooley made the call, Saban said on Monday, "I know he didn't because he said he didn't, and I believe him." (Editor's Note: Kudos to Glenn Gilbeau of the Shreveport Times for acknowledging that the story originated here on Saturday.)



C'mon, Nick. You know better than to assume folks who are accused of doing something will confess when there's no "hand in the cookie jar" proof. Dooley sees this as his shot at the big time, and the last thing he's gonna do is screw it up by admitting that, well, he screwed it up.



And portions of Saban's attempt to 'splain the matter away defy common sense. "[P]eople do that in recruiting," Saban said. "They say, 'Here's Jack Lambert on the phone.' And it's really not Jack Lambert. It's just somebody from down the street who's acting like they're Jack Lambert trying to impress this kid who they're calling."



So is Saban saying that someone called Lewis and pretended to be Dooley? Since Dooley and Lewis know each other, the fact that Saban would even float that one really makes us wonder how this guy won a national championship.



Or is Saban saying that Salguero was duped by someone who fed him a phony story (and that, coincidentally, the same person fed the phony story to us two days earlier)?



More comments from Saban: "I don't know if it's lack of professionalism on somebody's part for reporting something without verifying sources or whatever. I have never told anybody on our staff that anybody's going any place, including me. So it's not even smart speculation to think that anybody would do any investigating like that."


Of course, Lewis also denies (now) that the conversation occurred. On the surface, Lewis's denial would seem to put the matter to bed, right?



Wrong.



Lewis has no reason to 'fess up to this one, either, especially if the powers that be in South Florida have told him how embarrassing (and potentially costly) it could be if folks were to believe that Saban and the Dolphins secretly have worked out an agreement -- and that they're not making anything official until after the organization complies with the requirement that one or more minority candidates be interviewed for the job.



Lewis, after all, might be interested in staying with the Dolphins next season. By being a good solider now, Lewis will engender a healthy chunk of good will later.



Of course, Lewis's denial came through team spokesman Harvey Greene -- after Saban's effort to fan the flames arguably fell short of the mark.



LSU also issued a press release on Monday regarding the issue, and the release smartly omits the whole Jack Lambert scenario:



---------------------------------

LSU SPORTS INFORMATION

For Immediate Release December 20, 2004

The following are comments from LSU coach Nick Saban and Miami Dolphins spokesperson Harvey Greene regarding a story in today's Miami-Herald that falsely claimed LSU assistant coach Derek Dooley contacted Dolphins assistant coach Bill Lewis regarding personnel and other issues with the Dolphins:

LSU coach Nick Saban…

"I know he (Derek Dooley) didn't, because he said he didn't and I believe him. Derek Dooley has been here for five years and I would put all my honesty and integrity on what he told me because I really do believe him. I have never had any reason in those five years since I've known him to ever think he would be dishonest, disloyal or tell me something that wasn't exactly right. I don't know what that is but it certainly didn't happen in this building and it didn't come from our coaches."

Miami Dolphins spokesperson Harvey Greene…

"He (Bill Lewis) told me that he hasn't talked to anybody on the LSU coaching staff."

--30--

---------------------------------



Bottom line, we believe the following: (1) Dooley made the call; (2) Salguero saw our story; (3) Salguero confirmed our report; (4) Dooley lied to Saban; (5) Saban doesn't believe Dooley but can't afford to publicly say so; (6) Lewis caved in to pressure from the team to corroborate the denial; and (7) all of them should get coal and reindeer poop from Santa.

 

Pay attention Coach Saban. This is just the tip of the iceberg of media crap you will have to put up with as coach of the Dolphins. Stay here where you are royalty and can do no wrong.

 

What a piece of $hit!!!!!!!!! All speculation and rumor accusing people of lying and being unprofessional with absolutely ZERO proof. A friend of a friend of mine that lives in Miami told me that Florio is a flamming fag but I can't name my source and it must be true because i believe it.
:dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss:

 

Think about it for a minute, Saban seems to dislike the media quite a bit. Do you think he is going to let a group of talking heads that don't have a clue influence one of the most important decisions in his life? If so he is not nearly as smart as many of us here thinks he is.