Michigan vacancy creates buzz at college football meeting

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

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David Stern, Ahman Rashad, Football Hall of Fame

Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, right, talks to NBA Commissioner David Stern, center, and former Oregon running back and wide receiver Ahmad Rashad, left, during a photo session at the National Football Foundation's awards dinner in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Dec 5, 2007 at 8:48 AM EST

Story Updated: Dec 5, 2007 at 11:17 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Michigan's football coaching vacancy created quite a buzz Tuesday night at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, where well-known sports officials gathered for a National Football Foundation Hall of Fame banquet.

Athletic directors and college football coaches from around the country were busy networking and sharing information about job openings, like the one created by the resignation of the Wolverines' Lloyd Carr.

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin has said he has 20 candidates in mind, but he declined comment Tuesday night when asked if he was at the New York event to interview candidates.

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said he'd be happy to help Martin with his search.

"It's one of the great institutions and programs in the country, and it's an important hire for the school, department and our conference," Delany said in an elevator. "I am always available to our schools as a resource, if asked in these situations."

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez was enjoying the talk about what coaches might end up filling open spots.

"It is pretty interesting, isn't it?" asked Alvarez, a former Badgers football coach who named his own successor entering the 2005 season. "I had a unique situation where I was the coach and the athletic director, but it's not like that at many places."

Carr announced Nov. 19 that he was resigning after 13 seasons. His final game comes New Year's Day, when Michigan (8-4) faces No. 9 Florida (9-3) in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Carr is 121-40 for a .752 winning percentage, seventh among active coaches.

Martin had been given permission by LSU officials to talk to coach Les Miles — but not until after last Saturday's SEC Championship game.

Following No. 5 LSU's 21-14 victory over No. 14 Tennessee, Miles said that he planned to remain coach of the Tigers, who will play Ohio State in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7 at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Others coaches whose names have been mentioned for the Michigan job include Wake Forest's Jim Grobe, California's Jeff Tedford, Missouri's Gary Pinkel and NC State's Tom O'Brien.

Widely rumored Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said he is not talking to anyone.

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