Donahue Is Due to Announce His Decision Today

Terry Donahue, who can become a millionaire coach in the National Football League or remain a college coach at UCLA, will announce this morning what he’s going to do.

The Atlanta Falcons have offered Donahue a five-year contract worth a reported $3 million as well as complete control of the Falcons’ football operation.

Donahue, who has been UCLA’s head coach for 11 years, had not made a decision as of late Thursday, Bruin Athletic Director Peter T. Dalis said after speaking with Donahue by telephone.

“He sounded like a man in a dilemma,” Dalis said. “We really don’t have any idea what he’s going to do.”

Neither do the Falcons, who dispatched club President Rankin Smith Jr. and Executive Vice President Taylor Smith to meet with Donahue and his adviser, Los Angeles agent Marvin Demoff, in a series of meetings over two days.

If you are looking for indications of which way Donahue is leaning, there are plenty to go around.

Both Dick Vermeil and Pepper Rodgers, who are former UCLA coaches, pushed hard for Donahue to take the job with the Falcons.

The Smiths were discouraged that they flew back to Atlanta without Donahue and also without an agreement, according to a source in Atlanta, but they also remain hopeful that Donahue will agree to their deal.

Several members of the Falcon coaching staff have said privately that they expect Donahue to come to Atlanta, according to another source.

But at the same time, at least two of Donahue’s assistant coaches at UCLA believe he is staying.

Tom Hayes, the Bruins’ co-defensive coordinator, said that he spoke with Donahue Thursday and now thinks that Donahue is staying.

“He just told me to hang loose and everything would be all right,” Hayes said. “I don’t really think he’s leaving, but he didn’t tell me that. It’s just a feeling.”

Homer Smith, UCLA’s offensive coordinator, also believes Donahue is not going to leave, although Smith himself may be leaving.

Thursday, Smith was in Kansas City, where he was interviewed by new Chief Coach Frank Gansz about joining his staff as an assistant. The interview was set up before the Falcons asked permission to talk to Donahue.