Fourteen years ago, Alabama AD Mal Moore famously tried to hire Rich Rodriguez to replace Mike Shula as the Tide’s head coach. For whatever reason, wife Rita not wanting to live in Tuscaloosa, the news leaking before Rich had a chance to speak with his team in Morgantown, cold feet or West Virginia simply ponying up to keep him around, that moment became one of the most important in college football history.
Nearly a month after Rodriguez said no, Moore finally convinced Saban to leave the Miami Dolphins for Alabama. Moore famously told Saban if didn’t say yes; he couldn’t go back to Alabama.