LSU prepares a deal to counter Dolphins'

COMBINED DISPATCHES
MIAMI -- Nick Saban's decision over whether to stay at LSU or become the sixth coach in the Dolphins history became more complicated when LSU upped the ante on what is already the highest paying contract in the college ranks.
According to sources, LSU is offering to raise Saban's contract to nearly $4 million a year. Currently, Saban makes $2.3 million in base pay and will receive approximately $400,000 in incentives for the team making a postseason bowl game.
Saban's base salary increases by $100,000 per year through the 2010 season, when it tops out at $3 million.
On Wednesday, President William Jenkins indicated there was a limit to how much the school would spend. On Thursday, LSU athletics director Skip Bertman denied that the school was upping Saban's deal, which was renegotiated after the 2003 season.
However, a source close to the school's board of supervisors indicated that the board had given Jenkins authority to renegotiate Saban's deal.
Timetable
Saban told Bertman he might need until today to decide whether to take over one of the NFL's worst teams.
"I know he wants to make as quick a decision as he can," Bertman said. "But there's no pressure on him to make a fast one, certainly none from the university. So he should think things through."
The Dolphins' offer came when owner Wayne Huizenga met in Fort Lauderdale with Saban's agent, Jimmy Sexton.
"The question is: Does he stay here and continue to build, or does he take on a new challenge?" Bertman said.
Saban previously has said he'd prefer to resolve the situation by Christmas Day, when LSU travels to Orlando for its Jan. 1 bowl game against Iowa.
Miami players expressed disappointment that the team's offer didn't go to popular interim coach Jim Bates.
"It hurts," cornerback Sam Madison said. "But he's going to continue to do his job, and we're going to continue to do our job for him."
Players like Bates
Bates, preparing for Sunday's game against Cleveland, declined to discuss the situation as the Dolphins took the practice field.
"When I started this job, the main focus was to prepare this team to win games, to improve this team, to give them a positive note going out in a tough year with everything that has taken place," Bates said. "That is still my objective."
Bates is 2-3 since taking over as interim coach, including Monday night's upset victory over Super Bowl champion New England.
Saban is 48-15 at LSU, which went 3-8 the season before Saban arrived; the Tigers then went 8-4 in his first season.
An SEC title followed in 2001, and he led LSU to last season's BCS national championship.