By Brian HamiltonTony Dungy says he still prepares like a coach for his television gig. Except he doesn't have to actually be on the sidelines, allowing him to counsel players like Michael Vick and coaches like Mike Locksley, and to lead a new NFL player advisory forum that he discussed Thursday.
As a result, he won't be on any sidelines any time soon -- including Notre Dame's, Dungy said emphatically during a teleconference.
"I am not (interested in Notre Dame)," Dungy said. "And I guess I could use that to say whether it was college football, pro football, high school football...it really doesn't matter what level, where it is. I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I am not interested in any coaching job at any level."
Dungy's name has emerged in the already rampant speculation about who might replace Charlie Weis, should Notre Dame elect to part ways with its football coach at the end of the 2009 season.
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick was intensely involved in Indianapolis sports during Dungy's tenure as Colts coach, and Dungy's age (54), values and head-coaching pedigree would seem to make him an ideal fit. Be that as it may, Dungy isn't budging.
"It has not crossed my mind at all," he said of a return to coaching. "When I left I wanted to make sure I had all the coaching out of me. My wife and I talked through it for several years and came to the conclusion this was time.
"I love what I do at NBC. It gives me a chance to stay in the game, to talk to players, to watch football as a fan and still prepare like I would as a coach. But it gives me a chance to do some other things and (the player advisory forum) is one of them.
"I'm actually busier now than I've ever been. I feel like I'm energized in looking at different projects, but still involved in the game of football."
"It has not crossed my mind at all," he said of a return to coaching. "When I left I wanted to make sure I had all the coaching out of me. My wife and I talked through it for several years and came to the conclusion this was time.
"I love what I do at NBC. It gives me a chance to stay in the game, to talk to players, to watch football as a fan and still prepare like I would as a coach. But it gives me a chance to do some other things and (the player advisory forum) is one of them.
"I'm actually busier now than I've ever been. I feel like I'm energized in looking at different projects, but still involved in the game of football."
I'm convinced that ND already has their man. At this point they just need the season to play out and Swarbrick will make his announcement after the Stanford game.
Checkout my UConn preview and join the forum chatter at http://www.myfightingirish.net
If you post every who withdraws from consideration for the ND job, you will need more space on the web. Every time the ND job opens up, dozens of coaches withdraw from the search. Here is a flash. Most were not on the list and those that might have been were most likely not contacted by the school. Some coaches use the opening to squeeze money from their current employer, some use it to make themselves feel important, and some are simply loons.
Dungy is a great man. I doubt that ND seriously considered asking him to coach the team in South Bend.