Neuheisel to Ole Miss...

[ponyinNC]

By Parrish Alford
Daily Journal

OXFORD – Ole Miss athletics director Pete Boone would not confirm his school’s interest in Rick Neuheisel on Sunday and would not say if it had tried to contact representatives of Neuheisel as was widely speculated.

Neuheisel is believed to be the top choice to replace Ed Orgeron, who was fired Saturday after three seasons and a 10-25 record.

"I just don’t want to get into that on a daily basis. Contact can take on a lot of strange forms," Boone said. "There are people calling me, and there are lots of e-mails. I have a list of 20 coaches that people have suggested ranging from Division II coaches to Rick Neuheisel."

Players gathered Sunday evening for the first time since Orgeron’s dismissal was announced at noon Saturday.

Boone said he spent the better part of Sunday trying to get organized and talking with Chuck Neinas of the search firm Neinas Sports Services. Based in Boulder, Colo., Neinas was the executive director of the College Football Association from 1980-1997.

The firm will not only present candidates but will also work with agents of candidates to determine buyout clauses, salary needs and overall interest.

"I talked with Chuck Neinas, and we really just discussed approach and procedure today. That’s about it," Boone said.

There was interest in Neuheisel in 2004 when Orgeron was hired, but Neuheisel, the former Washington coach, was not far removed from betting in an NCAA tournament office pool that cost him his job with the Huskies.

Neuheisel, who initially lied about his participation, was fired in June 2003 by then-Washington athletics director Barbara Hedges.

In October 2004 Neuheisel was cleared of possible wrongdoing by the NCAA. Orgeron was hired Dec. 15, 2004 after talks with then-San Francisco 49ers coach Dennis Erickson did not advance.

Neuheisel is 66-30 in eight seasons as a Division I head coach. He was 33-14 at Colorado and 33-16 at Washington. He led the Huskies to four bowl appearances in four seasons

[QuikSStang]

this is why i felt we needed to get someone right away. all the good jobs are wide open and being filled by the good coaches

[Dwan]

Rick N. will not take another job until he interviews for UCLA