Two former Alabama players interview for football coaching position
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 7, 2003
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama interviewed two more former Crimson Tide players for its coaching vacancy -- NFL assistants Sylvester Croom and Richard Williamson.
University president Robert Witt and athletic director Mal Moore interviewed Croom of the Green Bay Packers and Williamson of the Carolina Panthers on Monday, according to newspaper reports. They also reportedly met with Miami Dolphins assistant Mike Shula on Sunday.
The Birmingham News and Mobile Register reported a decision could come as early as Tuesday, but university spokesman Larry White said no announcement was scheduled and the job hasn't been offered.
''I don't know where that's coming from,'' White said Wednesday. ''Those are inaccurate. We certainly are not in any negotiations.''
Witt fired Mike Price on Saturday after the 57-year-old coach, already warned about his behavior, spent hundreds of dollars at a Pensacola, Fla., topless bar. A woman reportedly ordered about $1,000 in food from room service sent to his hotel room the following morning.
The Birmingham News and WKRG-TV in Mobile also reported that assistant Kasey Dunn was with Price on April 16 at the bar.
Dunn was out of town recruiting Tuesday and did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
The 37-year-old Shula is a former Tide quarterback coaching the same position with the Dolphins.
Williamson, 62, is a former Tide receiver under Bear Bryant now coaching the Panthers' receivers. Croom, a 49-year-old former All-American center who also played for Bryant, coaches Green Bay's running backs.
Williamson is the only one of the three with head coaching experience. He coached at Memphis from 1975 to 1980 and replaced former Tide coach Ray Perkins as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the final three games of 1990.