Football
Associated Press 19y

Press conference planned after team meeting

MIAMI (AP) -- LSU coach Nick Saban has made a decision regarding
the Miami Dolphins' job offer, and the school said he would
announce it when the team lands in Orlando for its bowl game. The
Dolphins said they had no idea what he would say.

Saban scheduled a team meeting in Orlando, with a news
conference to follow Saturday night.

"The decision will be announced," LSU athletic director Skip
Bertman said shortly before the team left Baton Rouge, La.

Bertman said Saban did not tell him whether he was accepting the
offer Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga made Wednesday.

"Speaking to him, I don't know," Bertman said. "I do know
this: We hope he stays."

Dolphins president Eddie Jones said he was unaware Saban had
made a decision.

"I'll hear it just like you'll hear it," Jones said.

When asked if he were surprised the Dolphins hadn't been
contacted, Jones said, "Nick is a very private guy. We'll just
have to wait and see."

Jones and Huizenga flew to Baton Rouge on Friday and met for the
second time with Saban, who then said he needed at least another
day to make a decision. Even if Saban joins the pros, he's expected
to coach the Tigers in their Jan. 1 bowl game against Iowa.

His hesitancy in making the leap to the NFL is nothing new. He
previously turned down overtures from at least five NFL teams,
including Atlanta and Chicago a year ago.

Huizenga, a billionaire businessman renowned for his ability to
close a deal, arrived in Baton Rouge by private plane Friday
morning to make another pitch. He and Jones met with Saban at the
coach's house. Saban then went to the athletic department offices
to confer for more than two hours with his agent and Bertman.

It was unclear whether money was part of the negotiations. Saban
is the highest-paid coach in college football and in the first year
of an $18.45 million, seven-year deal, while the Dolphins' offer is
believed to exceed $4 million a year.

The job description is not believed to be an issue: Huizenga has
offered Saban full authority over the football operation. Because
of Huizenga's reputation as a hands-off owner, the Dolphins' job
has special appeal even though they're 3-11 -- their first losing
season since 1988.

But the owner found himself stymied yet again, at least
temporarily, in his attempts to upgrade the Dolphins. Last January
he hired as senior vice president Dan Marino, who had a change of
heart and resigned 22 days later.

Many Miami players lobbied for Huizenga to keep Jim Bates, who
is 2-3 since taking over as interim coach. The Dolphins prepared
for the possibility that Saban will take over in early January.

"Obviously, he's the wanted man," tackle John St. Clair said.
"Nobody likes change, but that's part of the game. We have to move
on and adapt to change."

With all attention on the coaching search, the Dolphins will
play Cleveland on Sunday night -- a not-ready-for-prime-time game
between last-place teams.

"We're focused," Bates said, "and we're going to play lights
out."

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