Michigan State coach could bolt

EAST LANSING - Michigan State football coach Nick Saban will replace fired Gerry DiNardo at Louisiana State, two Louisiana television stations reported yesterday. A Michigan station reported that he has been offered the job but had not yet decided whether to accept.

WAFB television in Baton Rouge and WWL television in New Orleans both cited unidentified sources in their reports. Louisiana State sent an airplane to Lansing, Mich., to pick up Saban to bring him to campus Monday evening, WAFB reported.

Louisiana State's sports information office said they could not confirm the reports, but WAFB said Saban will have an announcement sometime today, and that LSU is "highly optimistic."

AP PHOTO After Michigan State's best season in years, the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 may be coach Nick Saban's last game with the Spartans

Saban met with Michigan State players late yesterday afternoon in a prescheduled meeting to discuss their upcoming Florida Citrus Bowl appearance and told them they might be hearing media reports that he was considering another job. He didn't specify the school, two players said.

"All he said was that he had been contacted by another school," Michigan State tight end Ivory McCoy said.

Defensive back DeMario Suggs said he supports whatever decision Saban makes.

"I'd be sorry to see him go, but it's his decision," Suggs said. "Whatever is best for him and his family."

Saban was not at his office last night and could not be reached for comment. Offensive coordinator Morris Watts said he believes Saban planned to talk with his family Monday night to try to make a decision.

WLNS-TV reported that Louisiana State is offering Saban about a million dollars a year. At Michigan State, he has a base salary of $203,530 and makes $493,000 from other sources, including his TV show, for a total of $697,330, The Detroit News reported Sunday.

"The going rate in that league is more than $1 million," said John Lewandowski, Michigan State sports information director.

Lewandowski said Louisiana State officials contacted Michigan State yesterday morning to say they wanted to speak with Saban about a job. Lewandowski said he expected to make a decision quickly.

"I just know this is something that coach would like to resolve quickly. We've got a bowl game to prepare for," Lewandowski said.

Saban has not been out of the state and any negotiations have been conducted by telephone, Lewandowski said.

Louisiana State officials have said they want a new coach in place by Dec. 10 to replace DiNardo, who was fired two weeks ago after going 2-8 this season, and 4-7 in 1998 - the year Louisiana State was expected to contend for an SEC championship after three winning seasons under DiNardo.

Louisiana State Chancellor Mark Emmert met with Louisiana State players yesterday and told them a new coach would be named "within 24-36 hours," WAFB reported.

Saban guided No. 10 Michigan State to a 9-2 record this season, a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a berth in the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Spartan first Jan. 1 bowl game since appearing in the Gator Bowl 1989.

Saban planned to talk with his family last night to try to make a decision.

WLNS-TV reported that Louisiana State is offering Saban about a million dollars a year. At Michigan State, he has a base salary of $203,530 and makes $493,000 from other sources, including his TV show, for a total of $697,330, The Detroit News said in an apparently unrelated report Sunday.

"The going rate in that league is more than $1 million," said John Lewandowski, Michigan State sports information director.

Lewandowski said Louisiana State officials contacted Michigan State yesterday morning to say they wanted to speak with Saban about a job. Lewandowski said he expected Saban to make a decision quickly.

"I just know this is something that coach would like to resolve quickly. We've got a bowl game to prepare for," Lewandowski said.

Saban has not been out of the state and any negotiations have been conducted by telephone, Lewandowski said.

Louisiana State officials have said they want a new coach in place by Dec. 10 to replace DiNardo, who was fired two weeks ago after going 2-8 this season, and 4-7 in 1998 - the year Louisiana State was expected to contend for an SEC championship after three winning seasons under DiNardo.

Louisiana State Chancellor Mark Emmert met with Louisiana State players yesterday and told them a new coach would be named "within 24-36 hours," WAFB reported.

Saban guided No. 10 Michigan State to a 9-2 record this season, a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a berth in the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Spartans' first Jan. 1 bowl game since appearing in the Gator Bowl 1989.

11-30-99