SEC INSIDER

Saban denies Texas interest

The Sports Xchange

November 06, 2013 at 3:20 pm.

Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban. Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Saban responded to a report that surfaced Tuesday night of his interest in leaving his job as Alabama football coach for a potential opening at Texas.

“Well, I don’t know where these reports come from,” Saban told ESPN. “I’ve sort of addressed the situation before. I’m totally committed to the University of Alabama, looking forward to the game we have this week and all my focus has been on LSU and what our team needs to do to play their best.”

The No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide face No. 10 LSU in an Southeastern Conference showdown on Saturday night.

According to reports, a former Texas regent was told earlier this year by Saban’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, that the Longhorns’ job was the only one that the coach would “consider leaving Alabama for.”

Two Texas regents contacted Sexton in January to inquire about Saban’s availability, according th the reports. Saban said then that he was “too damn old” to move to another program.

Mack Brown remains the Texas coach and has not expressed a desire to step away. After the Longhorns struggled at the start of the season, they rebounded to win five straight games and put themselves in contention for a shot at the Big 12 championship game.

Texas named Steve Patterson as its new athletic director on Tuesday. He is leaving Arizona State to replace the retiring DeLoss Dodds.