Saban denied these rumors earlier today at a press conference. As has every other media outlet. Seems as if Jimmy Sexton has something against Bama and leaked some misleading info.
Hopefully this will finally kill the rumors.... "Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban said Thursday he declined to meet with Alabama officials about their coaching vacancy." "I'm flattered that they may have been interested in me, but it never really progressed, because we just never let it progress," Saban said after practice in Davie, Fla. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690016
Well it was talked about on ATH also and all the reporters seemed to state that Saban did talk to Bama and was offered a huge salary but turned it down. Don't know if all these guys and others coming out with this have the actual story but I would think knowing Saban something did happen. I just think its him testing the waters for when he does decide to make a move in a year or so should he not be able to turn the Dolphins around. Hell wouldn't you love to be able to go to another big time school down the line and say "Hey Bama was willing to give me $5 mil a year plus huge bonus what are you gonna do for me" Just a thought. B
That would be tough to pass up.....it's alot of money for a college coach and would much rather coach college ball than the pro's. Not sure I believe it but DAMN!
It was told to me that that was the pecking order only because of the $2,000,000 buyout. At the end, half of the board of trustees were willing to wait on Nick's word that he would negotiate the contract. The other half went with Rodriguez. They are passing the hat for that buyout. The courtship began in earnest after the Mississippi State loss with Saban. There is no doubt in my mind that if Alabama had handled this different... Shula coaches thru Dec 29th and then they fire him after the game.. Saban would have been the coach of Alabama. Even so, it came very very close even to the point that he said no yesterday morning and came back and said yes that afternoon. By that time, they had offered the job to Rodriguez.
