Saban, who signs contract with Dolphins, focuses on LSU BY ALEX MARVEZ South Florida Sun-Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. - (KRT) - Louisiana State coach Nick Saban didn't want to talk Monday about the Dolphins, but that didn't prevent him from securing his future with the franchise. Saban signed a five-year contract Monday after Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga and President Eddie Jones flew to Orlando to seal the deal 13 days after he was interviewed for the coach's position. Saban, who made himself off limits to the media after Monday's LSU practice outside the Citrus Bowl, grew testy when swarmed by television crews asking him about the Dolphins. Saban apologized, explaining that he wants to keep focus on LSU's Capital One Bowl game against Iowa on Saturday. The situation is just as awkward with the Dolphins, as Jim Bates is coaching the final two games knowing he had no shot at keeping the position. Bates declined to answer when asked Monday whether his ability to become an NFL coach has been enhanced by leading the Dolphins to a 3-3 record since replacing Dave Wannstedt. "I know you'd be interested," Bates said, "in some of the things that I'd do different. . . . But let's talk about the team, and next week I'll answer some of those questions." Bates was willing to speak about the overwhelming support he received from players to remain defensive coordinator. "To have their support, that's as rewarding as anything I can have," Bates said. "I mean, you can get all the kudos and everything from the outside, but when you get it from within, that's the most satisfying thing. "When I leave this position, that will be something I'll always carry with me because this has been a very rewarding time in my life, in my career. And (for owner) Wayne Huizenga to give me the opportunity, and then these players to follow and do something special as far as where everybody thought we would be at this time. . . . We've won two in a row and we've won three games." Huizenga has given Saban final say over football decisions and said he controls the fate of Bates and General Manager Rick Spielman. An NFL source said Monday that it's believed Spielman will have the chance to remain in the front office and work with Saban. Spielman declined comment Monday through the Dolphins media relations staff. Spielman's talent evaluations in his first season as general manager are proving better as the season has unfolded, with the most significant the development of A.J. Feeley. The quarterback Spielman championed when acquiring him from Philadelphia for a 2005 second-round draft choice, Feeley has played considerably better in the past three weeks and has thrown 95 consecutive passes without an interception. Huizenga isn't oblivious to the stress the Saban hiring has placed on employees, some who will be replaced shortly after Sunday's finale at Baltimore. It was Saban who dictated when he would be interviewed for the coaching job and the timetable for accepting it. "There's no question it has to be tough," Huizenga said Sunday night. "The problem is you're not always in control of the timing you'd like to have." Although says he has liked playing for Bates, cornerback Sam Madison said he felt a sense of relief that a coaching decision was made so early. "It's over with, so everybody can be at ease," Madison said. "It's been a hectic year for us. Ever since last January, all the talk about is another coach, another coach, another coach. "We got it out of the way now. This organization can move forward and hopefully get back to that winning tradition this community is known for." LSU players are now the ones facing uncertainty about a future coach. But that Saban insisted on telling Tigers players of his decision before the Dolphins executives has helped soften the blow from losing a coach who revitalized the program and led LSU to a share of the 2003 national championship. "I was surprised. I think a lot of the players would be affected a little more than they were," junior tackle Andrew Whitworth said. "I think guys understand that he did it with a businesslike approach. . . . He always let us know first before he let anybody else know anything. I think all of us were happy that he treated us that way and with enough respect to always let us know what was going on." --- Staff writer Michael Russo contributed to this report.
Consider the argument over him saying bye bye and letting you guys tear and mist up and the aunts and uncles weep one last boo-hoo closed...The playerse are the ones who are affected most directly...and you can see what they thought of his approach... Case closed, FightinTIGER...and the other Peter (Pan) Finney's of the world!
dude, just get a grip! ever since you came back from your little vacation all you've done is bashed people. call sabanfan and ask if you can borrow a chill pill.
I had some catching up to do, LOL! It just rubs me the wrong way that LSU fans would down Saban on the way out, that's all...and to suggest he doesn't coach the bowl game is purely silly, in my book... If you want LSU to win, you want Saban to coach. If the bowl game doesn't matter, let someone else coach it...and the coordinators call it... Bottom line...The players RESPECTED and ADMIRED and APPRECIATED Saban for the way he handled the situation... G'night, guys!
i agree. i also thought it should have been the players decision if he were to coach even though its their best chance of winning. the biggest problem i had with what happened is he could have told the dolphins he wouldn't discuss it until after the bowl game.
its too much for some to consider that actually some LSU fans looked upon Nick Saban as more than someone who simply won LSU football games, right or wrong. And that loyalty is what makes TS the best place to play in the country regardless the spin some try to put on it.
