Ha ha ha, ho ho ho, he he he. Mullen is happy at MSU, but, he has already talked to Miami.
His reasoning process below: "Let's see, $1 million or $3 million. Yes, I could be happier at Florida!" Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Randy Lyons Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 8:24 AM To: 'GatorNews' Subject: [gatornews] Football coach Dan Mullen: 'Happy' at Mississippi State Football coach Dan Mullen: 'Happy' at Mississippi State Mentioned as a top target for Florida job Brandon Marcello . [email protected] . December 9, 2010 STARKVILLE - Football coach Dan Mullen said Wednesday afternoon he remained "absolutely" committed to Mississippi State University, even as his name was connected to one of the top jobs in the nation. "No one has contacted me," Mullen said by phone later. "My wife and I are happy at Mississippi State." When Urban Meyer announced he was quitting as the coach at the University of Florida, Mullen, who helped the Gators win two national championships as a key Meyer assistant, immediately became the most mentioned replacement candidate on websites and talk radio shows across the nation. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley wasn't ready to discuss candidates and Mullen, on a recruiting trip in Florida, played coy with reporters seeking comment. Told via text message that Meyer was expected to resign Wednesday afternoon, Mullen responded via text at 1:10 p.m: "1st I've heard of it." He responded to another text message at 5:37 p.m., writing he was he "absolutely" happy and committed at MSU. Mullen said he had not spoken to Meyer since his resignation. Mullen also released a statement through MSU's media relations department, but there was no mention of the Florida job. "Urban has been a tremendous ambassador for college football and the sport will certainly miss him," Mullen said in the statement. "He has been a great mentor and friend to me throughout my career and I hope he's able to enjoy time with his family." Later, MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin addressed the Mullen-to-Florida rumors via Twitter. "Everyone calm down," Stricklin tweeted. "Take a deep breath and book hotel rooms in Jacksonville. Speculation of this nature is the price of success." Mississippi State is scheduled to face Michigan in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla. Mullen is expected to face the media this afternoon in Jacksonville at a pre-scheduled bowl game news conference. Mullen's name has been a hot topic in Florida. He was reportedly a top target for the Miami job and the Miami Herald reported late Tuesday that Mullen had spoken to Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt at the National Football Foundation's awards ceremony in New York City. Stricklin has remained mum on whether Florida or Miami has contacted MSU to request permission to speak to Mullen. He said Wednesday that speculation concerning his coach, who led MSU to an 8-4 record this season and its first January bowl game in 11 years, is flattering. "We want to have the kind of success that people look at our sports and say, 'I'd like to have a coach like Mississippi State has or have a program that's run like Mississippi State,'" Stricklin said. "That's a by-product of success in this day and age." Stricklin maintained Wednesday in a phone interview from New York City that he has been "smart and aggressive" in shaping a new four-year contract for Mullen. Mullen's base salary of $1.2 million a year is the lowest among active coaches in the Southeastern Conference. Meyer, who will coach the Gators in the Outback Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 1, was scheduled to make at least $4 million in 2010. Mullen's current contract runs through 2013. Mississippi law does not allow contracts longer than four years. Stricklin said he speaks to Mullen "on a daily basis" and contract discussions began the week before MSU's 10-7 win over Florida on Oct. 16. "We're making sure he's a part of our program moving forward and it's something that's really important. We're going to do everything we can to make him feel good about that," Stricklin said. Florida's Foley said he hopes to hire a coach within "two-and-a-half weeks." -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
