Watson mum on Alabama interest
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Apparently, seemingly, ostensibly, Alabama has some interest in Shawn Watson for its offensive coordinator position.
That’s what the reports from down south say, at least. And those reports sure got a lot of people talking — just not Watson.
The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported in Monday’s editions that the Husker offensive coordinator has been approached by Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, “with an interview possibly scheduled this week.”
In response to the speculation, Watson told the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register on Monday: “I can’t make any comments on that right now. I just can’t do that right now.”
He was recruiting when contacted, and when asked if he had any plans to interview in Alabama this week, said, “No, nothing like that’s been talked about.”
Watson was in Texas on Monday, at one point alongside Husker head coach Bo Pelini and defensive coordinator Carl Pelini. All three visited the school of Eddie Brown, a standout prep defensive tackle who rewarded their appearance with a commitment to play for Nebraska.
It was a bit of good news for Husker fans in a day that otherwise had them concerned and speculating.
If Alabama is truly interested in Watson, it was news to Bo Pelini. Late Sunday night, Pelini said he spoke with Watson during the day, but the Alabama job was never mentioned.
And Monday, Pelini said no one from Alabama had contacted him asking for permission to interview Watson, which is common practice for a school interested in an assistant from another school.
The 48-year-old Watson has been on the Husker staff the past three seasons, serving last year as the offensive coordinator under Bill Callahan, who called most of the plays.
The Husker offense was 11th in the country at season’s end, good enough for Watson to be one of only two coaches from Callahan’s staff retained by Pelini when he took over the NU program.
“We share some of the same visions about where we see the offense going in the future,” Pelini said of Watson after announcing him as offensive coordinator. “And I didn’t feel like a wholesale change was necessary. That’s not what I was looking for. It all adds up to Shawn being the best guy for the job.”
Watson seems to have a good thing going at Nebraska, where he’ll probably have more opportunity this year to put his stamp on the offense. He also has a son, Adam, who is on the team. Adam Watson was a redshirt freshman defensive back on the scout team last year.
Alabama’s offensive coordinator position opened Wednesday when Major Applewhite left to become the University of Texas running backs coach.
Watson is scheduled to make $225,000 this year, which is also what he made last season. It’s the highest salary of any Husker assistant, but still less than the money made by five Alabama assistants last year.
Two people close to Alabama’s program said it wouldn’t be shocking if the new offensive coordinator made $400,000 or more.
Saban has already interviewed former Michigan quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler, but Loeffler on Monday took a job with the Detroit Lions. It’s believed Saban also had an interest in Louisville offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm, and Chris Hatcher, head coach of Georgia Southern. But both of those coaches are apparently not interested.
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
Most Commented news