Money
Former LSU coach and, as of today, former Miami Dolphins' head coach, Nick Saban, has accepted an offer to become the coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
What is interesting is that Saban, as recently as two weeks ago, emphatically stated he was not interested in the Alabama job. Since that time, Alabama has increased its monetary offer and Saban has had a change of heart.
Hmm ... could money by the motivating factor in Saban's decision. Judge for yourselves after reading the quotes below (found on espn.com):
Sayeth Saban
A chronology of comments about Nick Saban taking the head coaching job at Alabama:
Nov. 27:
Saban: "When I was in college it was always about coming to the pros. This is the challenge I wanted. I had a good college job. Why would I have left that if I was going to be interested in other college jobs?
"I took this as a challenge. We certainly haven't seen this through and gotten where we want to go and finished the job here, so why would I be interested in something else?"
Dec. 5:
Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga (after giving Saban a vote of confidence): "I am completely sold on Nick Saban. I would admit we made a mistake if we did make a mistake, but I firmly believe in Nick Saban."
Dec. 7:
Saban: "I'm flattered that they may have been interested in me, but it never really progressed, because we just never let it progress."
Dec. 21:
Saban: "I guess I have to say it. I'm not going to be the Alabama coach. ... I don't control what people say. I don't control what people put on dot-com or anything else. So I'm just telling you there's no significance, in my opinion, about this, about me, about any interest that I have in anything other than being the coach here."
Dec. 27:
Saban: "I'm just making a rule to never comment on something like that again because every time you comment on it, it just makes for another story. So I'm not going to comment on it five years from now, and I'm not going to comment on it next week."
Nah, it's not about the money.

1 Comments:
I am sure you are right, but I am not convinced that Alabama just threw this money at him. I suspect that Saban was making those comments as a bargaining tool (to draw the money out). How do you negotiate with someone, with hopes of more money, if you tell them that you have dreamed of working for them? He may have really wanted to stay at Miami, but chose to sit back and watch Alabama to see if they would "make him an offer he couldn't refuse."
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