Spurned again, Alabama is resuming its latest search for a football coach.
This time it was West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez saying no thanks yesterday to the program still yearning for a leader to steer it back to the powerhouse days of Bear Bryant.
Rodriguez opted to remain at his alma mater instead of taking the reported 6-year, $12 million offer from Alabama that would have nearly doubled his previous deal.
Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore tried to reassure the 'Bama faithful.
"I remain determined to bring to our program a proven head coach with impressive credentials," Moore said in a written statement.
Rodriguez had such credentials, leading the Mountaineers to a Sugar Bowl victory two seasons ago and going 10-2 this season.
But he also had lifelong ties to West Virginia, growing up about 30 minutes from campus. Rodriguez said he plans "on being here a long time."
"There weren't many reasons not to go. It's all about the reasons for staying," Rodriguez said. "I'm biased; this is my school."
Rodriguez will receive a 2-year contract extension through the 2014 season from West Virginia. Other details of the deal were not immediately released.
Now, Alabama must renew its search for a replacement to Mike Shula, fired on Nov. 26 after going 6-6 in his fourth season.
The Tide is seeking its fifth coach since Gene Stallings stepped down in 1996.
Noteworthy
* Tom O'Brien, named head coach at North Carolina State, will not coach Boston College in the Meineke Bowl. Frank Spaziani, the Eagles' defensive coordinator under O'Brien the past eight seasons, will serve as interim head coach against Navy on Dec. 30 in Charlotte, N.C. O'Brien was at BC for 10 seasons.
* Brian Kelly will make a guaranteed $800,000 a year as Cincinnati's new football coach, about 61 percent more than his predecessor, documents released by the school show. Mark Dantonio, who left last month to take the coaching job at Michigan State, was guaranteed $495,000 a year at Cincinnati. Kelly spent 3 years as head coach at Central Michigan.
* Former Miami Hurricanes linebacker Randy Shannon, who had been the team's defensive coordinator since 2001, was introduced as the head coach, replacing the fired Larry Coker.
* Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith is such a heavy favorite to take the Heisman Trophy tonight that the competition could be one of the biggest landslides in the award's history. Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden are the other finalists.
* Florida State fullback Joe Surratt had surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the Dec. 27 Emerald Bowl against UCLA. *
