EL PASO, Texas - Mike Price has been waiting seven months to try to rebuild his coaching career. Texas-El Paso is happy to give him a chance.
The Miners hired Price on Sunday despite a reputation tarnished by a night of partying at a strip club months after being hired at Alabama. The longtime Washington State coach never coached a game for the Crimson Tide and has been trying to clear his image.
"I feel reborn," Price said. "When something you love has been taken away it really hurts. It hurt me so much that now I know that coaching was my true calling."
Price, who maintains the events that led to his departure were reported inaccurately, vows to be on his best behavior. "I will continue to try to clear my name, but I can assure that such a mistake will never again happen to Mike Price."
UTEP athletic director Bob Stull cited a relationship with Price that dates more than 20 years as part of his reason for giving him this opportunity. The Miners were 14-34 in the past four seasons under Gary Nord, who was fired Dec. 1. Price turned Washington State into a Pac-10 title contender in his 14 seasons in Pullman, going 83-77 and leading the Cougars to five bowl games. Among his proteges were quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf.
"We know Mike Price is a man who has been humbled by a highly public mistake," school president Diana Natalicio said. "He paid dearly for that grievous error in judgment, and all of us believe he has earned the opportunity to restart his career."
Price has not signed his deal with UTEP, saying it wouldn't be finalized for several weeks.
NOTRE DAME: The Irish's new five-year TV contract with NBC will not play a significant role in the school's decision on whether to keep its football program independent, athletic director Kevin White told the Associated Press.
There has been speculation since Notre Dame and NBC announced the extension that it was a sign the school, a Big East member in basketball and other sports, would continue as an independent in football. The contract with NBC is worth a reported $9-million annually through 2010. White has avoided talking about Notre Dame's conference future except to issue a statement saying the school would "monitor the landscape." White said Sunday nothing has changed.
