MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama was still without a football coach Thursday night, though Crimson Tide officials were gearing up efforts to fill the vacancy.

Alabama reportedly offered West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez the job. There was no agreement in place, but the two sides were still talking, a person with knowledge of the search told The Associated Press on Thursday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official decision had been made.

Alabama spokesman Doug Walker said the university did not have an announcement scheduled.

The Birmingham News reported on its Web site late Thursday that Rodriguez was offered more than $2 million a year with incentives and would have one of the highest-paid coaching staffs in the Southeastern Conference.

The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said Alabama officials expected him to sign the deal on Friday. Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore did not immediately return a call to his home.

A call to Rodriguez’s cell phone was not answered.

Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban said earlier Thursday that Alabama had contacted his agent regarding the coaching vacancy, but he wasn’t interested.

“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.

The Press-Register of Mobile, citing unidentified sources, first reported the offer to Rodriguez from Moore on its Web site.

Rodriguez made a previously scheduled appearance in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday afternoon promoting West Virginia’s appearance in the Gator Bowl. He declined to respond to questions about the Alabama job, but said he planned to meet with West Virginia recruits Friday morning and preside over practice later in the day.

Rodriguez, also mentioned as a candidate for the Miami Hurricanes vacancy, said all the attention on him lately has been a mixed bag.

“It’s been tough on me, but I’ve not let it distract from my day-to-day duties,” he said. “When other people have come to talk to my staff or myself personally, it’s very flattering. I’d rather have it that way than the other way. I coached a long time and nobody ever called.

“Now some people have expressed an interest in my staff and myself and while it’s flattering, it’s not changed who we are.”

Rodriguez and his wife, Rita, met with Moore Tuesday night in New York City before the College Football Hall of Fame induction banquet.

Rodriguez has built West Virginia into a Big East power, winning the Sugar Bowl after the 2005 season and a share of three straight league titles. The Mountaineers are 10-2 and will play Georgia Tech on Jan. 1.

In June, Rodriguez signed a seven-year contract that pays him $1 million this year with $50,000 annual raises after that. He’ll also collect $600,000 in deferred compensation in December 2011 if he remains as coach.

Alabama fired Mike Shula on Nov. 26 after the Tide went 6-6 in his fourth season and lost its fifth consecutive meeting with rival Auburn.

Rodriguez grew up 30 minutes from West Virginia’s campus and played for the Mountaineers in the 1980s.

Rodriguez would bring an impressive offensive resume to program that struggled offensively this season.

West Virginia ranked second nationally in rushing offense and fourth in total offense last season; Alabama was 75th and 60th, respectively.

Speculation tying Saban to the Crimson Tide job surfaced soon after Shula was let go. Saban publicly denied interest several times, but on Thursday, he acknowledged that the school had contacted his agent, Jimmy Sexton.

“They called Jimmy and said, “Is Nick interested?’ And Jimmy said no,” Saban said. “Jimmy asked me on several occasions, and I said no.

“I’m interested in staying here. We’re in the middle of the season. I’m committed to our team. It’s not a very good time to even think about that, to be honest with you.”

Saban is in the second-year of a five-year deal with Miami.



AP Sports Writer Steven Wine in Miami, Fla., contributed to this report.

AP-ES-12-07-06 2217EST


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