Barnett Keeping Schools Guessing

Northwestern Coach Gary Barnett, a master at keeping his options open on the football field, proved equally adept at keeping them open off the field Tuesday.

With a nation of college football watchers trying to learn whether he will stay at Northwestern or take the vacant UCLA job, with both schools wooing him with lucrative contracts, Barnett gave each side reason to remain hopeful Tuesday without committing himself.

After meeting with his assistant coaches in Pasadena to go over recruiting plans on the morning after Monday’s Rose Bowl loss to USC, Barnett flew home with his team, saying he intended to leave this morning on a previously planned recruiting trip to North Carolina.

“I’ve got to see four kids in the next two days,” Barnett told the Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s where I’m at now.”

If Barnett, 49, goes through with the trip, it would be interpreted as a bad sign by UCLA officials.

Barnett knows full well that UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis, facing the school’s first major recruiting visits this weekend, wants to name a coach in the next 48 hours. Barnett has already promised UCLA a decision by Thursday. If that decision is to coach the Bruins, it doesn’t seem likely that Barnett would spend the next two days in North Carolina recruiting for the school he is leaving rather than in Westwood negotiating with the school he is coming to.

“I think we all just expect Gary to come back,” Northwestern defensive coordinator Ron Vanderlinden said. “It’s a pretty sure thing, but because it hasn’t been finalized, it’s become more of an issue. But I think all of us assume he’s going to be back.”

Not at UCLA they don’t. Barnett has not broken off negotiations with Dalis and has not indicated to UCLA that he has decided to stay at Northwestern, where he elevated the school from perennial losers to a Rose Bowl berth and national prominence in one season.

Asked when he would announce his future plans, Barnett said, “When everything is right.”

Northwestern has offered Barnett a 12-year contract. UCLA is offering three to five years.

If Barnett decides to stay where he is, Dalis is expected to act quickly, naming a replacement for the retired Terry Donahue by Thursday or Friday.

If it’s not Barnett, the choice is expected to be either Denver Bronco defensive coordinator Greg Robinson or UCLA offensive coordinator Bob Toledo. Chicago Bear offensive coordinator Ron Turner and UCLA defensive coordinator Bob Field are also on Dalis’ list, but are considered longshots.