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Alabama returns to practice amid coaching rumors
Alabama returns to practice amid coaching rumors
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer
December 2, 2006
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's hopes of luring Steve Spurrier away from South Carolina ended Saturday when trustees approved a $500,000-a-year raise for the coveted coach.
Another top candidate, West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez, went on a radio show in that state Friday to deny he was going anywhere.
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The executive committee for South Carolina's board of trustees quickly approved a new deal that would raise Spurrier's pay to $1.75 million and extend his contract through 2012.
Spurrier said he wanted to end speculation about the Alabama job and prove to Gamecock recruits that "if you come to South Carolina, you're going to play for coach Spurrier and his coaches."
Alabama was expected to interview Rodriguez this weekend, The Birmingham News reported Saturday.
Rodriguez, however, went on a West Virginia radio show Friday night to deny rumors on the eve of his team's regular-season finale against Rutgers.
"I plan on being the coach at West Virginia for the rest of my career if they'll have me," he said on the Statewide Sportsline show based in Charleston, W. Va. "That's what I'm planning on doing. I don't plan on calling or talking to anybody this week. I don't plan on talking to anybody next week. I don't plan on doing anything but everything I can for West Virginia football. That's the end of the story."
The Crimson Tide players were able to take a breather from the rampant rumors Saturday morning, returning to the practice field for the first time in two weeks.
"When you're out here working, you don't think about it," said interim coach Joe Kines, the Tide's defensive coordinator. "It's just like a drowning man and you're fighting and fighting and all of a sudden you come up above water. You get to suck in some air.
"There's nobody rumoring out here."
The Tide learns its bowl destination Sunday, followed at some point by the announcement of a replacement for the fired Mike Shula.
Athletic director Mal Moore said in a statement Friday evening he had not contacted any college coach who hasn't completed his regular season. That would include Rodriguez, Navy's Paul Johnson, Louisville's Bobby Petrino and Wake Forest's Jim Grobe -- all high on Alabama's list, according to a university source.
Alabama (6-6) is expected to receive an invitation to the Independence Bowl on Sunday if two Southeastern Conference teams get Bowl Championship Series bids, as expected.
Kines wants the players worrying about spending this week getting ready for final exams. He said offensive coordinator Dave Rader would handle playcalling for a bowl game -- a role formerly held by Shula. Beyond that, he said the staff's responsibilities will not change.
"All we can do is take care of day to day," Kines said. "If we can just handle it one day at a time then it's going to pass. If we sit there and worry about it, then it may slide backwards. We're going to try hard not to go backwards. That's our focus."
Kines also declined to comment on speculation that he was a candidate for co-defensive coordinator at Texas.
AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report.
Alabama returns to practice amid coaching rumors
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer
December 2, 2006
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's hopes of luring Steve Spurrier away from South Carolina ended Saturday when trustees approved a $500,000-a-year raise for the coveted coach.
Another top candidate, West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez, went on a radio show in that state Friday to deny he was going anywhere.
ADVERTISEMENT
The executive committee for South Carolina's board of trustees quickly approved a new deal that would raise Spurrier's pay to $1.75 million and extend his contract through 2012.
Spurrier said he wanted to end speculation about the Alabama job and prove to Gamecock recruits that "if you come to South Carolina, you're going to play for coach Spurrier and his coaches."
Alabama was expected to interview Rodriguez this weekend, The Birmingham News reported Saturday.
Rodriguez, however, went on a West Virginia radio show Friday night to deny rumors on the eve of his team's regular-season finale against Rutgers.
"I plan on being the coach at West Virginia for the rest of my career if they'll have me," he said on the Statewide Sportsline show based in Charleston, W. Va. "That's what I'm planning on doing. I don't plan on calling or talking to anybody this week. I don't plan on talking to anybody next week. I don't plan on doing anything but everything I can for West Virginia football. That's the end of the story."
The Crimson Tide players were able to take a breather from the rampant rumors Saturday morning, returning to the practice field for the first time in two weeks.
"When you're out here working, you don't think about it," said interim coach Joe Kines, the Tide's defensive coordinator. "It's just like a drowning man and you're fighting and fighting and all of a sudden you come up above water. You get to suck in some air.
"There's nobody rumoring out here."
The Tide learns its bowl destination Sunday, followed at some point by the announcement of a replacement for the fired Mike Shula.
Athletic director Mal Moore said in a statement Friday evening he had not contacted any college coach who hasn't completed his regular season. That would include Rodriguez, Navy's Paul Johnson, Louisville's Bobby Petrino and Wake Forest's Jim Grobe -- all high on Alabama's list, according to a university source.
Alabama (6-6) is expected to receive an invitation to the Independence Bowl on Sunday if two Southeastern Conference teams get Bowl Championship Series bids, as expected.
Kines wants the players worrying about spending this week getting ready for final exams. He said offensive coordinator Dave Rader would handle playcalling for a bowl game -- a role formerly held by Shula. Beyond that, he said the staff's responsibilities will not change.
"All we can do is take care of day to day," Kines said. "If we can just handle it one day at a time then it's going to pass. If we sit there and worry about it, then it may slide backwards. We're going to try hard not to go backwards. That's our focus."
Kines also declined to comment on speculation that he was a candidate for co-defensive coordinator at Texas.
AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report.