Miami ? Everybody from Steve Spurrier to Rich Rodriguez to Butch Davis was rumored to be taking the University of Miami coaching job the past month. But who actually was considered before defensive coordinator Randy Shannon was promoted last week?

Miami athletic director Paul Dee offered some insight:

¢ Let’s start with Spurrier. When CSTV reported Nov.19 that Spurrier likely would become Miami’s next coach, he was not being considered, according to Dee.

Dee said Miami officials “thought about him” later in the process, but never asked for an interview because it was clear he would be getting a substantial raise to stay at South Carolina.

For the first time since Spurrier was linked to the Miami job, Dee saw him last week at the College Football Hall of Fame banquet. Dee said he turned to him and joked: “If we go out in the hallway, I’ll get you another raise.”

¢ Contrary to two reports, Dee said Wisconsin athletic director and former coach Barry Alvarez was never offered the job. However, others said president Donna Shalala consulted him as a friend.

¢ Dee had a brief conversation with Texas Tech coach Mike Leach but decided not to ask for a formal interview. Dee declined to give a reason, but two other UM officials said Leach was not considered a good fit after the initial conversation.

¢ West Virginia granted UM permission to interview Rich Rodriguez, but Dee said the interview never took place because Rodriguez was, at that time, closing in on a deal with Alabama that never materialized. Rodriguez’s agent reportedly asked Miami to make an immediate offer, but UM apparently did not. “We did not compete for him,” Dee said.

¢ Dee said only three candidates were formally interviewed: Shannon, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano (who was widely believed to be Miami’s first choice) and an unidentified candidate whose name was never reported, according to Dee. He declined to identify the person.

¢ Dee disputed reports that Schiano made demands at their meeting. “He wasn’t going to demand anything,” Dee said, adding Schiano’s lack of interest in the job “was disappointing.”

An official close to Schiano said he went into the meeting planning to tell Dee he wasn’t interested, and nothing happened during the meeting to change his mind. But the official said salary was never an issue, and that Schiano likely would have received at least $2 million a year to come to Miami.

¢ Davis, who had supporters and detractors inside the UM program, never was approached by UM before taking the North Carolina job.

¢ Dee said contrary to speculation, UM had no conversations with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops or his brother, Arizona coach Mike Stoops.

¢ Dee said UM would have contacted Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson if the search had continued beyond Shannon. “We were heading toward that,” Dee said.

Shannon became the front-runner after Schiano pulled out. Shannon won the job after two impressive interviews, including one with Dee, Shalala and two key Board of Trustee members.

“He was very good,” Shalala said. “Well-organized, very disciplined presentation, had thought ahead, explained his own philosophy. . . . He doesn’t only tell you what his principles are. He tells you a story that gives you an example of how he does it. You have confidence in his management ability and leadership ability. …

“I don’t consider myself an expert on football. I do consider myself a good judge of people and whether they’re ready for jobs.”