COLLEGE FOOTBALL Coaching roundup

Michigan: Luring Greg Schiano away from Rutgers is proving to be very difficult, even for some of college football’s most powerful programs. The University of Miami couldn’t swing the deal last year with a potential $2 million contract and Michigan failed to entice Schiano to one of the nation’s most prestigious jobs after a two-day courtship this week. Schiano’s latest decision left the Wolverines 0-for-2 in their bid to find a successor to Lloyd Carr, who announced his retirement last month after 13 seasons. LSU’s Les Miles, a former Michigan player and assistant, rejected overtures to return to Ann Arbor last Saturday. “I was contacted earlier this week about the Michigan coaching vacancy, but I have decided to remove my name from consideration,” Schiano said Friday in a statement. “I look forward to our third straight bowl game and to bringing a national championship to Rutgers and the state of New Jersey. I will have no further comment.” An exhausted Schiano addressed his players at 7 a.m. Friday to inform them of his decision. “The University of Miami and the University of Michigan came calling, and he’s still our football coach,” quarterback Mike Teel said several hours later. “I don’t think we have much to worry about. If you don’t go to Michigan as a head football coach, with the tradition and everything that they have, the Big House in Ann Arbor — if you don’t take that as a football coach, you’re at the spot where you want to be. This is where he wants to be.” Schiano orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football during his seven seasons at the State University of New Jersey. He took over one of the worst major college programs and has led it to three straight bowl appearances. While this year’s 7-5 record was a disappointment after starting the season ranked No. 16, the Scarlet Knights have accepted a bid to play at the International Bowl against Ball State on Jan. 6. Gov. Jon Corzine and Rutgers athletic director Robert E. Mulcahy were thrilled Schiano once again decided he had unfinished business in his home state. “I think it’s a really good thing for Rutgers,” Corzine said during a Statehouse news conference in Trenton. For Michigan, the search for a coach goes on. Martin’s list of potential candidates includes California’s Jeff Tedford, Missouri’s Gary Pinkel, North Carolina State’s Tom O’Brien, Ball State’s Brady Hoke, Michigan offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and Wolverines defensive coordinator Ron English. The 62-year-Carr posted a 121-40 record, including an 8-4 mark this season. His .752 winning percentage is seventh among active coaches.

Georgia Tech: New Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is accustomed to winning the big rivalry games, something the Yellow Jackets haven’t done in a while. The former Navy coach, unbeaten in six games against Army, was hired Friday to replace Chan Gailey, who had six consecutive winning seasons at Georgia Tech but was 0-6 against Georgia. Overall, Georgia Tech has lost seven straight to Georgia, a streak that to many fans overshadows the fact that the Yellow Jackets (7-5) have received 11 straight bowl bids.

Texas A&M: Regents approved a contract buyout Friday for former football coach Dennis Franchione worth up to $4.4 million over three years. Athletic department spokesman Alan Cannon said Franchione, who resigned Nov. 23, would be paid up to $1.7 million for each of the next two years. He would receive another $1 million in the third and final year of the agreement with the Texas A&M System Board of Regents. Franchione’s pay during the first two years would depend on how much he makes at any other job. Any pay he earns in another job would be deducted from the $1.7 million total, Cannon said. Before he resigned, Franchione’s contract had five years remaining at $2 million per year.

Tennessee: Coach Phillip Fulmer will receive a raise and one-year contract extension through 2012. The amount of the raise most likely won’t be worked out until after the Vols play in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, the university said. Fulmer currently makes $2.05 million annually, with potential for bonuses for reaching or winning championship games and certain bowls. Through his career, Fulmer has received about $1 million in bonuses for remaining at Tennessee.

Associated Press