West Virginia Eyes Rich Rodriguez

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CLEMSON - Is Tommy Bowden going to Alabama? Will he sign a new contract that

allows him to stay at Clemson?

Now that dreams of a national title have gone by the wayside, these are the

two most frequently asked questions regarding the CU football program these

days. But lost in all that speculative shuffle is the very real possibility

that offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez will no longer be part of the

Tiger coaching staff by November's end.

Ever since word trickled down to Tallahassee, Fla. last Saturday that West

Virginia University football coach Don Nehlen had announced he would retire

at the end of the current season, Rodriguez' name has been at the top of the

list of possible replacements.

Rodriguez was asked after the Florida State game if he would be interested

in the job.

"Right now, the only job I'm concerned with is the Clemson offensive

coordinator," he said, obviously frustrated with his team's performance

against the Seminoles. "I won't comment on any job regarding myself until

after the South Carolina game."

Despite the noncommittal statement, Rodriguez is the top candidate to

replace Nehlen as of right now, according to published reports in West

Virginia. Joining him on WVU's short list is current Mountaineers' defensive

coordinator Steve Dunlap, N.C. State assistant coach Doc Holliday and East

Carolina head coach Steve Logan. Both Dunlap and Holliday will be

interviewed in the near future, with Rodriguez to do the same after the

season, according to sources close the WVU program.

What makes Rodriguez such a viable candidate is his strong ties to WVU. The

Grant Town, W.Va. native lettered as a defensive back while attending the

school. He then began his coaching career in the state, first at Division II

Salem-Teikyo University - where he was the country's youngest head coach at

the age of 24 - and then at Glenville State College, where he won four

straight West Virginia Conference (then NAIA) titles.

Rodriguez turned down an opportunity to take the head coaching job at Texas

Tech after the 1999 season, and told the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette last

December that "most college coaches look to their alma maters and I'm no

different."

Confronted with the possibility of losing his offensive coordinator, Bowden

isn't pushing the panic button - yet.

"I don't address (the situation), because until (Rodriguez leaves) it's

wasted energy," Bowden said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday. "I'm

not calling guys to replace him, because if he doesn't leave I've wasted a

bunch of calls... I really haven't put any input in it. I'm not going to

waste time on something that may not happen."

West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong couldn't be reached for comment

on Tuesday to confirm Rodriguez' status as the school's prime candidate.

Clemson AD Bobby Robinson also was unable to be reached. When asked if WVU

had contacted Robinson to ask for permission to speak with Rodriguez

concerning the job, WVU sports information director Shelly Poe said "Rich

said in our papers (Monday) that he is not going to talk to anyone until

after the South Carolina game."

West Virginia is expected to name Nehlen's successor by the end of the

month.

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