The former attorney for Ruffin McNeill says the ex-East Carolina football coach never rejected a contract extension offer prior to last season, but instead walked away from negotiations with an understanding they would resume at a later time.
Instead of reports earlier this week suggesting McNeill might have been holding out for more money, Bob Lucas — who represented the recently-terminated ECU coach until last August — said his then-client was actually bargaining for better pay for his assistant coaches.
McNeill, who was fired by ECU director of athletics Jeff Compher last Friday following the coach’s sixth season in Greenville, gave consent to Lucas to speak on his behalf regarding the contract matter.