OU President David Boren: Stoops' contract not being renegotiated

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ University of Oklahoma President David Boren said Thursday he has not met with Bob Stoops to renegotiate the football coach's contract, despite rumors that Stoops would receive

Thursday, December 2nd 2004, 2:04 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ University of Oklahoma President David Boren said Thursday he has not met with Bob Stoops to renegotiate the football coach's contract, despite rumors that Stoops would receive a raise to dissuade any interest he might have in an open coaching position at Florida.

``I'm confident that the rumor that coach Stoops is giving consideration to the Florida coaching job or any other coaching job is completely unfounded,'' Boren said in a statement. ``He and (wife) Carol are valued members of the university family, and every indication I have received indicates that they are as happy to be at the University of Oklahoma as we are happy to have them with us.''

``Coach Stoops is not only a colleague, he is a personal friend, and I have frequent visits with him as I do with other members of the university's leadership team, but I have not had any meeting with him for the purpose of negotiating about his contract.''

Stoops, who has also been mentioned as a candidate for openings with Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns, has repeatedly denied any interest in any other job. Stoops was the defensive coordinator at Florida from 1996 to 1998 and is originally from Ohio.

``Because of rumors and speculation, for the third and hopefully final time, I want to say that I have no interest in other jobs,'' Stoops said. ``I can't control other people or other programs who show interest in me, and that includes Florida and the numerous other jobs that might open every year.

``I feel very fortunate to have a job that I think most everyone would agree is among the top five in the country. It is my intention to be here at Oklahoma next year and for a long time.''

Stoops received a $100,000 raise in June to push his salary to $2.3 million per year. At the time, it made him the highest paid college football coach in the country. The contract runs through Jan. 1, 2010, and calls for a $100,000 increase each year.