Packpride.com caught up with Bill Cowher today on a scoop that everyone has been trying to get, but with an answer no one wanted to hear. Unless this is Coach speak and he didn’t want to say too much, Cowher has essentially taken himself out of the running for the NC State football job.

Here is an excerpt

PackPride What’s your reaction to being at the top of the NC State search?
Cowher First of all, let me just say I have great admiration and respect for coach Amato and what he’s done since he went down there. I’m very flattered to hear some of the things that have been coming out, but I’m not a candidate. I have a job here and my focus really is on this job right here, so you can take me off the list. I am flattered. It’s a super program and I’m sure that they’ll get a very qualified coach who’s going to walk into a good situation.

PackPride Does it interest you at all?
Cowher No.

PackPride Has anyone tried contacting you about it?
Cowher No. Like I said, I’ve been getting a lot of contacts about it; I’ve heard about it. But like I said I’ve got a job here. Can you envision some day being a college coach? I don’t know. I don’t look that far down the road, I really don’t. I guess those are times when you get in that reflective mode. The only thing I’m reflecting on now is that feeling we had after last Sunday’s game and trying to rectify that. That’s where the focus is at. Is it because of the logistics?

Cowher I’m here. I’m a coach here, as much as that may disappoint some people, but I am the coach here and I want to win these last five games. I’m going to do everything in my power to do that. Like I said, my focus, I’ve been here for awhile and I like it. It’s a good job. I don’t like the way we are right now and I’m going to do everything in our power to finish this thing up strong and see where the chips fall.

Coach speak? Maybe. It sounds like he was caught off gaurd and didn’t want to say too much. We all knew it was wishful thinking b/c us state fans are not that lucky, so it should not come as a surprise if this is his true feelings.

Time to move on.

Next on the list, in my opinion, Paul Johnson and Jimbo Fisher. I know a majority of the Pack fans want Norm Chow, but I am just not sure he can be successful as a Head Coach. Another target that some pack fans, including myself would like to talk to is, Jim Donnan. More on him later, but for now Fisher and Johnson seem to be the popular opinion.