Reports: 'Bama looking at Watson
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
It’s being reported that Alabama is interested in Shawn Watson for its offensive coordinator position.
The Birmingham (Ala.) News published in Monday’s editions that Watson has been approached by Alabama head coach Nick Saban, “with an interview possibly scheduled this week.”
Watson told the Mobile Press-Register on Monday: “I can’t make any comments on that right now. I just can’t do that right now.”
He was on recruiting duty in Texas when contacted, and when asked if he had any plans to interview in Alabama this week, said, “No, nothing like that’s been talked about.”
Husker head coach Bo Pelini said Sunday night that Watson hadn’t informed him of any contact with Alabama or of a possible interview. Pelini said he spoke with Watson on Sunday, but never did the name Nick Saban enter the conversation.
On Monday morning, Pelini said no one from Alabama had contacted him asking for permission to interview Watson.
The 48-year-old Watson has been on the Husker staff the past three seasons, serving last year as the offensive coordinator under Bill Callahan, who called most of the plays.
The Husker offense was ranked 11th in the country at season’s end, good enough for Watson to be one of only two coaches from Callahan’s staff retained by Pelini when he became the head coach.
“We share some of the same visions about where we see the offense going in the future,” Pelini said of Watson after announcing him as his offensive coordinator. “And I didn’t feel like a wholesale change was necessary. That’s not what I was looking for. It all adds up to Shawn being the best guy for the job.”
Watson seemingly has a good thing going at Nebraska, where he’ll probably have more chance this year to put his stamp on the offense. He also has a son, Adam, who is on the team. Adam Watson served as a redshirt freshman defensive back on the scout team last year.
The Tide’s offensive coordinator position became available Wednesday when Major Applewhite left to become the University of Texas running backs coach.
Watson is currently making $225,000, which is also what he made last season. It’s the highest salary of any Husker assistant, but still less than what was made by five Alabama assistants last season.
Applewhite, just 29, was one of those five, making $250,000 last season as an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
Two people close to Alabama’s program said it wouldn’t be shocking if the new Tide offensive coordinator made $400,000 or more.
Saban has already interviewed former Michigan quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler, but Loeffler on Monday took a job with the Detroit Lions. It’s believed Saban also had an interest Louisville offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm, and Chris Hatcher, head coach of Georgia Southern. But both of those coaches are apparently not interested.
Other names surfacing are LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton and Green Bay quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, who would have time for an interview now that the Packers’ season is over.
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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