The Pac-12 weekly teleconference became a one-stop shop for coaches to refute interest in the USC head coaching position Tuesday, with David Shaw of Stanford and Mike Riley of Oregon State each shooting down speculation they might be on any short list to fill the vacancy.
"It might be short, but it's one person too long," Shaw said.
Shaw is 27-4 in three seasons leading the Cardinal, with two BCS bowls appearances and one Pac-12 championship on his resume. Shaw, 41, has also been suggested as the man to toughen up Texas if the Longhorns decide to part ways with head coach Mack Brown. However, Shaw is a Stanford alum and his father, Willie, also coached on The Farm.
It would seem as if only an NFL head coaching position -- Shaw was an assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens -- could tempt Shaw to leave Stanford, and even that would be a long shot.
Riley, a USC assistant from 1993-96, has been much sought-after each of the last two times the Trojans have been searching for a head coach. However, Riley said he is not interested.
"That's the furthest thing from my mind," Riley said.
Outside of the Pac-12, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin treated the speculation linking him to USC as the by-product of success.
"It means you're winning and doing things the right way," Sumlin said during his weekly press conference.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, who was suggested by NFL Media analyst Gil Brandt as a potential option for USC if Kelly cannot adjust to the professional ranks after enjoying unprecedented success at Oregon, delivered an emphatic "no" when asked about that column and a possible return to the Pac-12.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
