Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach confirmed on Monday that he had talked with Miami University Director of Athletics Paul Dee about the vacant Miami Hurricanes job while both men were in New York for Tuesday nights College Football Hall of Fame induction banquet at the Waldorf Astoria.Leach acknowledged speaking with Dee, but said their conversation was nothing special. "Have they offered me anything? No,'' Leach said on Tuesday. "Are they going to? I don't have the faintest idea. I haven't been offered anything. If I am, what will I do? I don't know.''
The Miami Herald, citing an unnamed source, reported for its Wednesday editions that Miami would get back to Leach no earlier than Friday. The paper also reported that Hurricanes defensive coordinator Randy Shannon interviewed for the job Tuesday.
Miami is seeking a replacement for Larry Coker, who was fired after his team went 6-6. Coker will coach the Hurricanes through their Dec. 31 bowl game against Nevada in Boise, Idaho.
The Miami Herald reported that if the university decides to hire Leach, it would want him to retain Shannon, whose unit ranked fifth nationally in total defense this season. Retaining Shannon could be a sticking point for Leach if he was offered the Miami job because coaches generally are in charge of who they hire on their coaching staffs, especially a job as significant as defensive coordinator.
A Texas Tech insider told Point-Spreads on Tuesday that Miami was ready to offer Leach the job but decided to hold off after Dee was taken aback by Leach’s demeanor.
In other news the coaching search at Alabama has been overshadowed by the Miami vacancy in recent days but the big news out of Tuscaloosa is not who wants the job but who doesn’t want the job. The list of those not interest is much longer than those who are interested.
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Jim Rome, the nation's top sports-radio talker and host of ESPN's "Rome is Burning" television show, said: "Maybe Alabama wouldn't be so quick to have fired Mike Shula if they knew that nobody in America who mattered would be willing to step in and replace him. Look at who has already said no. Nick Saban: Pass. The Ol' Ball Coach: No thanks. Frank Beamer: Why should I? Bobby Petrino: Downgrade. Rich Rodriguez: Make me. Oh, and Jim Leavitt wants nothing to do with you. That has to hurt. Being Alabama and getting the Heisman from the coach at South Florida, at least the U. was turned down by Rutgers. At this point, you might as well dig up Bear Bryant. Or better yet, see if Mike Price is still interested. Trust me; you're not going to do any better. The front of the jersey may still say Alabama but in name only. That program is nowhere right now. It's become an SEC afterthought. Enjoy the glory days of Bryant, Namath, Stabler, Stallings, Alexander, Price because that's all you have and that is not going to change."
