The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that West Virginia will name interim coach Bill Stewart as the permanent replacement for Rich Rodriguez. Here's that link.
Update: Stewart's hiring is now official. Link.
This is important for our purposes because it means we can put the "Nick Saban to West Virginia" rumors to bed. Thank goodness.
It's not like I or anyone in this state every really though Saban would leave, even given his strong ties to his home state. He would have had to take a 50 percent pay cut to take the West Virginia job, for one thing.
But now that the Mountaineers apparently have a coach, Alabama fans (not to mention sportswriters who cover the Crimson Tide) can stop looking over their shoulder and enjoy the offseason.
In other news, Alabama tight ends/special teams coach Ron Middleton is expected to be named to a similar position at Duke some time this week. Middleton previously coached under new Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe at Ole Miss.
The timing of Middleton's departure isn't exactly ideal, given that recruiting is about to really heat back up (the NCAA dead period ends Tuesday). Middleton was one of the stronger recruiters on the staff, instrumental in the recruitment of current verbal commitments Terrence Cody and Jermaine Preyear and current top target Alonzo Lawrence.
Don't look for any confirmation from Alabama anytime soon. In the past, Saban has waited until the new coach is in place before announcing anything official.
Alabama can probably make due without Middleton for a few days, but probably needs to have Middleton's replacement in the fold by next weekend at the latest.
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