During a conference call with Browns media, Saban said he almost quit the coaching profession in 1987 after he failed to land the vacant head coaching position at Kent State University. The job instead went to Dick Crum, who held it for two years, while Saban left his post as Michigan State's defensive coordinator to become the Houston Oilers' secondary coach.
"I was so down and out," said Saban, who was a Kent State defensive back from 1970 to 1972 and an assistant for four years afterward. "I said I'll never get a head coaching job [or] go anywhere in this business if I can't get the Kent State job.
"I would certainly like to have the opportunity to be the coach of Kent State because it's my alma mater. I did then and I would now because I have a place in my heart for that school and what that school did to help me be successful. I hope they are successful some day."
Despite his affinity for the Golden Flashes, Saban later clarified his remarks through Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene.
"Coach Saban wanted to reiterate his pride in his alma mater and the honor it would be to coach there, but he certainly has no plans of leaving the franchise," Greene said....
