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UPDATE: Price bids farewell to Tuscaloosa
By Gilbert Cruz Staff Writer November 07, 2003
TUSCALOOSA | After selling his home here, former University of Alabama head football coach Mike Price prepared to leave Tuscaloosa this morning, headed toward his lake house in Coeur dAlene, Idaho.
Joyce and I sold our house today and upon departure we want to thank those of you who have supported us, Price wrote in a letter to the editor that he brought by the office of The Tuscaloosa News.
Price said that he is exploring other coaching opportunities and has officially applied for the head coaching position at the University of Arizona, where Athletic Director Jim Livengood-who hired Price at Washington State-currently heads the athletics department.
We havent had any conversations yet, but that should be coming to a head soon, Price said.
Prices departure from Tuscaloosa follows almost six months to the day his dismissal by UA President Robert Witt amid allegations of drunken behavior at a pro-am golf tournament in Pensacola, Fla.
Price, who replaced former head coach Dennis Franchione, admitted being intoxicated at a topless bar, but said his actions did not warrant his removal.
The former coach said he will miss Alabama and those who have stood by him.
People have been real nice here to us and I appreciate all the good words they have given me, he said Friday.
In the months since the incident, Price has not forgotten his former players or his former team. He has videotaped every Alabama game, watching them two or three times each, he said.
Im going to miss these Alabama football players, he said. Theyre a tremendous bunch of young men and great players. They just ran out of time in a couple of games.
Price and his wife will head back to the Pacific Northwest to be near their daughter, who lives in Spokane. The former coach was hired from Washington State in December 2002. Coeur d'Alene is near Pullman, the home of Washington State.
His sons, Eric Price, formerly offensive coordinator, and Aaron Price, formerly kickers coach, remain in Tuscaloosa, although they are currently looking for employment.
The two of them have been traveling all over in an RV, going to practices and watching games all over Florida and the Midwest.
Ive been doing pretty much the same thing too, but not as hard as them, Price said.
Reach Gilbert Cruz at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 722-0211
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