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Get this widget! Welcome Coach Saban!Highest paid college coachesNick Saban - ALABAMA - $3.75 million Bob Stoops .. Oklahoma - $3.4 million Charlie Weis .. Notre Dame - $3.3. million Kirk Ferentz .. Iowa - $2.84 Pete Carroll .. Southern California - $2.78 Mack Brown .. Texas - $2.66Tide Tradition Breaking News January 05, 2007New coach focuses on the process, not the goal TUSCALOOSA | When Nick Saban took the podium after being introduced as the University of Alabama..s 27th head football coach Thursday morning, he sent a clear and deliberate message to the fans, players and boosters, with what could become the Crimson Tide..s newest mantra...Be a champion in everything that we do," Saban said. ..Every choice, every decision, everything that we do every day, we want to be a champion."With that, UA began the celebration of not only Saban..s return to college football but what it hopes will be his run at becoming the first coach ever to win national championships at two different schools. Speaking confidently to an audience that included his family and applauding members of the board of trustees, Saban outlined both a mission statement and goals for the program, although neither targeted winning specific championships. Rather, they focused on doing all the things necessary to get to that point...I can tell you that however you feel about it, I have even higher expectations for what we want to accomplish," he said. ..I want to win every game we play." Saban also fired a preliminary shot at Auburn, saying that Alabama would seek to dominate the rivalry, not only on the field Thanksgiving weekend, but every day of the year. ..We want to be a big, physical, aggressive football team that is relentless in the competitive spirit that we go out and play with, week in and week out," Saban said. ..What I would like is for every football team that we play to sit there and say, 'I hate playing against these guys. I hate playing them, their effort, their toughness, their relentless resiliency on every play, focus on the next play and competing for 60 minutes. I can..t handle it... ..That..s the kind of football team we want. It takes a lot of conditioning, it takes a lot of preparation and it takes the mindset that you..re going to play hard for 60 minutes regardless of what the scoreboard says."Saban..s hiring, for an eight-year, $30 million contract with incentives, ended a tumultuous five weeks that began after former head coach Mike Shula was fired Nov. 26. While director of athletics Mal Moore conducted the high-profile search with the aid of consultant Chuck Neinas, interim coach Joe Kines guided the Crimson Tide to a 34-31 loss against Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl, resulting in a 6-7 finish for the season. ..I realize I was out on the gangplank, so to speak, or out on thin ice, but I felt like I had to do this," Moore said. ..I recognized that this was such a crucial hire for the university."Saban was essentially Moore..s top choice throughout the process, though Alabama did briefly turn to West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez with an offer for roughly half the money Saban will receive. With Rodriguez..s rejection of the offer in early December, Moore immediately went back to Saban, and decided to wait for the Miami Dolphins.. season to finish on Dec. 31. Only then did he fly to Florida to make a formal pitch. ..I waited forever to talk with him," Moore said. ..Once I talked with his wife, I thought I really had a chance." When did Moore know he had a new coach? ..About three hours before I picked him up at his home to come to the airport," he said.After arriving in Tuscaloosa, Saban spent most of Wednesday evening on the phone with potential assistant coaches, then watched the second half of LSU..s victory against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. By Thursday, his staff started coming together. Lance Thompson, Alabama..s defensive line coach from 1999-2000, was the first new assistant named -- although his role has yet to be defined.Florida State assistant head coach Kevin Steele was added as defensive coordinator. He will implement Saban..s aggressive scheme, which features a lot of blitzing and man coverage. Next on Saban..s ..to do" list will be to finish this year..s recruiting class while simultaneously evaluating players already on the team. Consequently, spring practice and the A-Day scrimmage will likely be as late as possible...I can..t tell you how pleased and honored I am to be your coach at the University of Alabama," Saban said. ..The spirit and enthusiasm that have been demonstrated to myself and my family has been phenomenal since we arrived." Saban..s hire has drawn sharp criticism from many, especially in national circles, on everything from the price of his contract, which will make him the highest-paid college coach in the country, to being called a mercenary who hasn..t stayed anywhere more than five years. In response, the 55-year-old said he planned to make Alabama his final coaching joband then retiring to the family home in Lake Burton, Ga. (..They don..t have a football team there. They do have a pontoon boat, though.")*Jimbo Fisher may be candidate for Saban..s staff TUSCALOOSA | Nick Saban is on board. Could Jimbo Fisher be next? Now that Saban has left the Miami Dolphins to take over as head coach at the University of Alabama, one of his top priorities will be assembling a coaching staff. And one of the most prominent assistant coaches associated with Saban is Fisher, LSU..s offensive coordinator, who was on Saban..s staff when he coached the Tigers to the 2003 national championship.Since Fisher and Saban share the same agent, Jimmy Sexton, it..s possible Alabama may have landed a package deal when it hired Saban as head coach Wednesday. Fisher, who has been at LSU since 2000 and previously coached in Alabama at both Auburn and Samford, currently makes $450,000 a year. While Saban has a reputation for being a difficult coach to work for, Fisher said the two had a good relationship. ..I never had any problem with Coach Saban," Fisher said at a weekend Sugar Bowl press conference.Fisher has also been reported to be a top candidate to replace head coach Bobby Bowden..s son, Jeff, as Florida State..s offensive coordinator. Fisher said he had not been contacted about either opening. ..As far as my situation with Florida State or anyone else, right now I..ve told everyone if there..s an opportunity please talk to me after the bowl game," he said. ..Then we..ll evaluate what the opportunities are when bowl practice is over and the bowl game is over and make a decision, just like you do every year."Fisher was a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at UAB and spoke with UAB officials about the job. Conspiracy theorists who support UAB believe members of the Alabama board of trustees blocked Fisher..s candidacy for that job to keep him available for Saban to bring to Alabama. ..I heard that, but I don..t know if that..s true," Fisher said. Fisher..s offense at LSU is ranked 18th nationally in total offense, gaining more than 404 yards per game and nearly 6.5 yards per play. LSU is also ranked ninth in scoring offense at better than 33 points per game.*Tide coach missed college football TUSCALOOSA | In the end, Nick Saban..s heart was in college football. That factor, more than any other, led the Miami Dolphins coach to the University of Alabama. Saban accepted the Crimson Tide coaching position on Wednesday and flew to Tuscaloosa, where he met a frenzied reception from hundreds of fans eager for the new coach to restore Alabama to championship contention in the Southeastern Conference...I am pleased and proud to announce that Nick Saban is the new head football coach at the University of Alabama," UA director of athletics Mal Moore said in a news release. ..When I set out on this search, I noted that I was seeking a coach who has a proven record of championship success and achievement. Coach Saban brings that proven record of accomplishment and leadership to our program."Saban and his family accompanied Moore on a private jet from the Opa-locka Executive Airport in South Florida to Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, where they landed shortly before 4 p.m. Greeting the traveling party were several hundred Crimson Tide fans, who had been creating a party-like atmosphere at the Bama Air terminal while waiting for the school..s new coach to arrive. Instead of ducking into a waiting crimson-colored SUV for a police escort to the university, Saban -- clad in a sport coat and a light purple dress shirt -- wanted a more up-close experience...I am so glad to be here," Saban said seconds after stepping off the plane and while wading through hundreds of fans and media who greeted him. ..I am happy to be here." When approached by reporters, Saban declined further comment, preferring instead to meet some fans, shake hands and sign a few autographs.However, his wife Terry stopped and talked to reporters. ..Football has been my life, and I love the game," Terry Saban said. ..There..s no greater place than a school like Alabama that has tradition and I can..t wait to get in that stadium that has 92,000 screaming red fans. We..re very excited." She also briefly commented on the decision to leave Miami and Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. ..There were a lot of reasons," Terry Saban said. ..First of all, Mr. Huizenga is the finest man that you..ll ever know. We went to the Dolphins in the first place mostly because of him. He..s a fair, honest, hard-working man, and they have a great tradition as well. ..But in the end, our hearts craved the college tradition and we..re very fortunate to have this opportunity. At the same time, Mr. Huizenga didn..t want to let us go. It took us a long time to get out of there, but we..re happy to be here."Saban, who will address the media at a 10 a.m. news conference today, went from the airport to campus, where he toured the Paul W. Bryant Academic Center, then moved to what will be his headquarters at the Mal Moore Football Complex. The Saban family was scheduled to meet with UA President Robert Witt later in the evening. After today..s news conference -- and perhaps even in the early morning hours preceding it -- Saban is expected to get down to the serious business of recruiting and assembling a coaching staff. The arrival in Tuscaloosa capped an emotional Wednesday for Saban, who ended weeks of speculation about his potential interest in Alabama..s job opening when he informed Huizenga that he was leaving the Dolphins after just two seasons...As you know, Nick Saban has decided not to return to the Dolphins. It is what it is," Huizenga said in a news conference at Dolphins headquarters in Davie, Fla. ..I met with Nick at his home this morning, with his wife Terry. There are a lot of reasons why decisions get made in life, but the net is that he is not coming back and is going to Alabama. We have to move forward." The Miami Herald, citing sources close to Huizenga, said that Saban had indicated that he wanted to take the Alabama job, but would remain in Miami if Huizenga, a close personal friend, insisted. Huizenga then indicated that Saban should take the Alabama job if his heart was no longer in his work at Miami. Huizenga reiterated that Saban..s decision to leave Miami after two seasons and a 15-17 record had nothing to do with a financial squabble between the billionaire Dolphins owner and Saban -- who was offered an eight-year deal by Alabama worth over $30 million plus incentives. That offer will make Saban the highest-paid coach in college football, although it is far less than early estimates that appeared in Miami-area media. ..First of all, this was never about money. This is not a money decision," Huizenga said. ..I wasn..t going to bring this up, but the numbers I hear on radio talk shows, it is nowhere near that number. It has never been about money, and Nick never talked to me about money or an extension. I honestly believe it was never about that. That is why I still feel strongly about Nick, where he could have asked for this or asked for that."Saban..s decision vindicated Alabama..s lengthy and often-criticized 38-day search for Mike Shula..s replacement. ..We are extremely pleased to welcome coach Nick Saban and his family to the University of Alabama," said Witt. ..We are confident that Coach Saban..s proven record as a head coach and his commitment to the success of our student-athletes, on and off the field, combined with the best facilities in America and the passion of tens of thousands of Crimson Tide fans across the nation will lead to many years of success at the championship level. ..I..d also like to commend our athletics director, Mal Moore, for the way he conducted this search, and for its ultimate outcome. From the beginning, Coach Moore has acted with appropriate patience, integrity and respect for the individuals and organizations involved. Our announcement today underscores the quality of the process he followed and his dedication to finding the right coach for this university."Shula was fired in the late-night hours of Nov. 25, a little more than a week after the Tide had completed a 6-6 regular season with a 22-15 loss to Auburn -- UA..s fifth straight defeat to the Tigers. Under interim head coach/defensive coordinator Joe Kines, the Crimson Tide completed the 2006 season on Dec. 28 with a loss to Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl. Even though Saban has fared well at the pro level -- he also was Bill Belichick..s defensive coordinator in Cleveland (1991-94), during which the Browns went from allowing the most points (462) in the NFL to the fewest (204) -- he..s had his greatest success in college.Saban..s career has included stops with Michigan State (1983-87), U.S. Naval Academy (1982), Ohio State (1980-81), West Virginia (1978-79), Syracuse (1977), and Kent State (1975-76). His first head coaching job was with Toledo in 1990 (9-2), and in 1995 he returned to the Spartans, who were coming off NCAA sanctions. Michigan State made four postseason appearances in Saban..s five years (34-24-1), and though they didn..t win a Big 10 title during the 10-2 season of 1999 notched wins against Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State all in the same year for the first time since 1965. Saban then went on to LSU, where he was 48-16 with two SEC championships and a BCS title from 2000 through 2004. His .750 winning percentage at LSU was the highest of any coach in that school..s modern-day football history. Bill Arnsparger also had a .750 winning percentage (26-8-2) in his three years at LSU.*Saban headed to Alabama TUSCALOOSA | Nick Saban is on his way to Tuscaloosa.Saban is en route to a private airport to fly to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday morning, where he is expected to formally accept the job to become the Crimson Tide's 27th head football coach, ending a month-long wait by Tide fans and nationwide media frenzy to see who would replace Mike Shula. Saban will fly to Tuscaloosa today with University of Alabama athletics director Mal Moore via private jet, and would be formally introduced at a news conference either later today or Thursday.A formal announcement from the Miami Dolphins and owner H. Wayne Huizenga is expected this morning. Huizenga agreed to give Saban a 10 a.m. ET deadline to meet with him about staying with the Dolphins or heading to the Tide. As reported by The Tuscaloosa News, Alabama's offer to Saban is for eight years and about $30 million plus incentives -- a total that would make him the highest-paid coach in college football history. Saban walks away from a deal with the Dolphins that paid him over $4 million per year.Shula was fired in the late-night hours of Nov. 25, a little more than a week after the Tide had completed a 6-6 season with a 22-15 loss to Auburn -- UA's fifth straight defeat to the Tigers. Under interim head coach/defensive coordinator Joe Kines, the Crimson Tide completed the 2006 season on Dec. 28 with a loss to Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl.Saban made his college legacy at LSU, where he led the Tigers to the 2003 BCS National Championship.*Money for coaching salaries comes from UA..s athletic budget The University of Alabama is reportedly prepared to make Nick Saban the highest-paid college coach after firing Mike Shula, who was not even the best paid in the Southeastern Conference.So, where does the money come from? The short answer: UA..s athletic budget, one of the more robust ledgers in collegiate sports. None of the reportedly $30 million Saban would earn over eight years coaching the Crimson Tide would come from the academic side of the university or from state tax dollars, an athletic department official said Tuesday. Nor would other UA sports be hurt, the official said.Shula signed a six-year deal in May that would have paid $1.55 million annually, the fifth highest salary in the Souheastern Conference. Saban..s offer is reported to be $3.75 million a year, the most in college football. Saban, 55, has three years remaining on his Miami contract at $4.5 million per year.The more than $2 million bump in pay for the head coach of the Crimson Tide football team would come from reserve accounts and other revenue to pay the contract, and there is no worry about not being able to pay, the official said. If Saban..s contract is like other coaches, some money will come from endorsements. Of Shula..s annual salary, $1.35 million came from talent fees, money paid to the athletics department by companies Shula endorses in advertisements. With a salary of more than $3.4 million, Oklahoma..s Bob Stoops is the highest paid coach. He led the Sooners to a national championship in 2000 and lost in the title game in 2003 and 2004. After Saban..s LSU team beat Stoops to win the 2003 BCS championship, a clause was put in Saban..s contract to pay him $1 more than the highest paid coach. He left LSU at the end of the 2004 season making about $2.6 million. And though Alabama hasn..t had the recent success as Oklahoma, it..s in a sound financial position.Oklahoma athletics pulled in $64.5 million between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006, and the program cost $64.3 million, according to information athletic departments file with the federal government. The Sooner football team brought in almost $34 million. During the same period, Alabama..s athletic department generated $68.6 million and spent $61.5 million. The football team made more than $44 million, according to federal data. The UA athletics official said Crimson Tide donors have not been specifically asked to pay for Saban..s contract. It will be paid, like Shula..s salary, from the athletics budget.Of the $74 million UA athletics projects to bring in this year, $21 million comes from contributions, making donations the second-highest income source. Ticket sales are projected to produce about $23 million.*Former Alabama LB Ryans Wins AP Defensive Rookie of Year New York.. Former Alabama All-American DeMeco Ryans was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Ryans won by a landslide, 31 votes ahead of former Alabama teammate and current Chicago Bears defensive lineman Mark Anderson who finished in second place with five votes.Ryans was the Houston Texans.. second round draft pick after his All-American season in 2005 with the Tide. The Texans.. rookie led the NFL in solo tackles with 126. He recorded 156 total tackles, leading all NFL rookies, the next closest was Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims with 123. Ryans tallied more tackles this season than any rookie in the last 20 years...I played in a big game atmosphere in college at Alabama.. Ryans said. ..I was comfortable from the time I began in the NFL. Nothing really shocked me going through the year because I was used to that...Ryans joins an impressive list of past winners including former Alabama star Derrick Thomas (1989), Julius Peppers (2002), Brian Urlacher (2000), Jevon Kearse (1999), Simeon Rice (1996), Lawrence Taylor (1981), and Joe Green (1969) just to name a few . He also becomes the first Texans player to win an individual award since the team..s inception in 2002...It..s always nice to be touted as one of the best and have a big-time stat, but I credit that to the other 10 guys around me on defense.. Ryans said. ..We would not be talking about me without those other 10 guys out there...Ryans received 36 of the 50 votes submitted by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters that cover the NFL.* .. ..tide.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" .. src="http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/koolme1000/1461 1196_l.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"
