Minnesota Coach To Stay

Minnesota football coach Glen Mason removed himself from consideration for the Louisiana State head coaching job Wednesday, a day after the Golden Gophers disclosed he was offered a significant raise.

Mason, who reportedly met with officials from LSU on Tuesday in Chicago, did not give a reason for withdrawing.

Mason's base salary is $500,000 a year, near the bottom among head football coaches in the Big Ten.

"I've had numerous conversations with coach Mason over the past week, and it is my intention to keep him here in Minnesota," university president Mark Mark Yudof said Tuesday. "Last week, I made coach Mason an offer of a significant salary increase, and I expect to be finalizing those details with him next week."

While Mason said he listens to offers, as any prudent person would do, he is not looking for another job.

"I am not out pursuing a job. Period," Mason said Wednesday.

Mason, who has coached three seasons at Minnesota, this year led the Golden Gophers to their first eight-victory season in 32 years. The team, 8-3 and ranked 13th, will play Oregon on New Year's Eve in the Sun Bowl. It will be Minnesota's first bowl appearance since losing 21-14 in the Liberty Bowl in 1986.

If Mason voids his contract before Jan. 1, he must pay Minnesota 25 percent of his salary about $105,000 during the next three years. If Mason terminates the deal after Dec. 31, no buyout is necessary.

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