Price Tells Gophers He’ll Stay WSU Coach’s Deadline A Poor Fit With Minnesota’s Timetable

The University of Minnesota appears closer to getting its man and it isn’t going to be Mike Price.

Washington State’s head football coach announced Sunday that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for the job opening at University of Minnesota.

In the meantime, the Gophers were zeroing in on their top candidate - Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops, who was reportedly flying to the Twin Cities and “has all but been offered the Gophers job,” according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Price interviewed with Minnesota athletic director Mark Dienhart last Tuesday. But with the demands of recruiting at WSU, Price pushed for a resolution.

“I told Minnesota I needed to know their decision by (Sunday night), and they haven’t made a decision, so I am withdrawing,” Price said in a statement released by the WSU sports information office. “They asked me to wait another week and I told them, ‘No, I can’t wait any longer.”

“I’ve talked with (WSU athletic director) Rick Dickson and told him I am not waiting any longer. We have a lot of recruiting to do and I need to get on with that part of the job. We have a darn good football team coming back at Washington State next year and if we have a good recruiting year, it will be even better. Now is the time to concentrate on recruiting.”

Stoops’ candidacy has been complicated by Florida coach Steve Spurrier’s refusal to grant any school permission to speak to Stoops until after Saturday night’s SEC championship game. According to the Minneapolis newspaper, Stoops came close to withdrawing from consideration because publicity regarding the opening upset Spurrier.

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