Image: Tuscaloosa News
The Tuscaloosa News is reporting that Rodriguez has been offered the Bama job. Alabama's Scout.com site is reporting that Rich Rodriguez will not coach the Gator Bowl. That fact will be clarified one way or the other by morning.
The Miami Herald is reporting that Alabama offered Nick Saban a $10 year 57 million contract with a $7 million signing bonus. To me, that sounded like a gigantic pile of bullshit put forth by a sports agent looking to escalate pay scales across the profession.
Cecil Hurt, sports editor of the Tuscaloosa News, didn't buy it either. He appeared on Paul Finebaum today. He spoke with John McMahon (Alabama Trustee) who said that the report was a "complete and total fabrication." He added:
McMahon, who spoke to The Tuscaloosa News in a telephone interview, added that the report was “harmful to the University of Alabama and harmful to college athletics." "It is stunning to me that a responsible newspaper would report that,” McMahon said. “They obviously did not contact anyone at the University of Alabama because that report is totally and completely false."Hurt said the offer to Saban -- if it had been true -- would have "blown the roof" off the pay scale for college coaches. Hurt wanted to know "Is Bama willing to reset the pay scale?" The Bama trustee said no way. In fairness to Bama, the Miami Herald didn't really have a source of any validity. They quoted hearsay from players on the Dolphins.
Bama's rapid pace in working with Rodriguez is forcing Miami's hand. They have to decide how bad they want to get involved..
UA fans who want to get REALLY excited about RichRod should listen to Kirk Herbstreit's interview with Finebaum on the topic. You'll go nuts with glee.
PWD
