ESPN analyst Jon Gruden confirmed that he met with the University of Miami on Wednesday. But he says the meeting didn’t go like you think.
“My brother went to the U of M medical school. I’m a big fan. I want the Hurricanes to do well,” Gruden said on a conference call (to preview Jets/Patriots) via multiple reporters. “If I can help [A.D.] Kirby [Holcutt] and the Hurricanes find the right guy, I’m here to help him do that. It was an exploratory meeting . . . We never got into specifics of the coaching job.’”
Gruden says he won’t be coaching at Miami. “That was not something I wanted to do. I’m excited with where I am and that’s the bottom line,” Gruden said.
Gruden says there was “nothing serious” to the meeting. So why have it?
Miami gets a lot of free publicity and Gruden’s involvement helps make it look like a better gig than it actually is. As Florio mentioned, it gets Gruden’s name out there for NFL decision makers to see.
Still, ESPN and Gruden say that he’s not going anywhere -- through next season.
“He has made a commitment to us, and won’t be having any conversations to entertain a college or pro offer through the 2011 season,” ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson said via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
And if you believe that, we hope you enjoy watching Nick Saban lead his Miami Dolphins into battle this weekend.