Saban: Im not going to be the Alabama coach Updated: December 21, 2006, 4:23 PM ET Associated Press • Recommend556 • Tweet187 • Comments9 • Email • Print DAVIE, Fla. -- Nick Saban says he doesnt browse the Internet, never sends e-mails or surfs from site to site. He might have to start soon, if only to follow the persistent rumors about him and his future. A story posted on NFL this week said Alabama keeps on making runs at Saban in an effort to persuade the Miami Dolphins coach to return to college and take over in Tuscaloosa for fired Mike Shula. The same story even said an unnamed NFL head coach said Saban is getting closer to joining the Crimson Tide. So on Thursday, Saban -- who has tried to denounce the story about him potentially going to Alabama numerous times in recent weeks -- again, and adamantly, denied that hes headed back to the college ranks. I guess I have to say it, Saban said. Im not going to be the Alabama coach. When the stories linking Alabama and Saban began circulating last month, almost immediately after Shula got fired following a 6-6 season, the former coach at Louisiana State said he was flattered but not interested. Hes bristled at nearly every suggestion about him leaving the Dolphins since. I dont know how many times Ive got to respond to rumor and innuendo, Saban said. I have no control over that. Ive stated what my intentions are and they really havent changed, so I dont know what the issue is. And I dont know why people keep asking about it. What they talk about over there is their business. But whats happening here is my business and our business, and thats what were focused on. Saban acknowledged this month that Alabama approached his agent about its coaching job, but he declined an invitation to talk to the Crimson Tide. Saban agreed to a five-year contract worth at least $22.5 million with Miami on Christmas Day 2004. Hell celebrate the second anniversary of that deal Monday night, when the Dolphins -- 6-8 this season and 15-15 in their two seasons under Saban -- host the New York Jets. Its the home finale for the season, but the players hardly expect it to be Sabans final game in Miami. He told us a couple weeks ago that hes proud to be a Dolphin and hes going to be sticking around, Dolphins quarterback Joey Harrington said. So I take him at his word. Ive taken him at his word ever since I came here. Hes one of the reasons why I decided to come to Miami. And so, if he tells us hes going to say, I trust him. But on the other hand, theres a lot of job offers out there and hes a tremendous coach. Saban went 48-16 in five seasons at LSU, won the 2003 BCS national championship and went 92-42-1 as a college head coach. He turned down several overtures from the NFL before coming to Miami. I dont control what people say, Saban said. I dont control what people put on dot-com or anything else. So Im just telling you theres no significance, in my opinion, about this, about me, about any interest that I have in anything other than being the coach here. The Saban-to-Alabama story isnt the only one on the Internet right now raising the ire of the Dolphins coach.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:34:55 +0000
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