ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

ASU’s Todd Graham is tired of his name being linked to job openings

Dec 17, 2013, 11:15 PM | Updated: 11:15 pm

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In case you live under a rock, you’ve likely heard that Mack Brown is stepping down from his head coaching position at the University of Texas following the Longhorns’ Alamo Bowl appearance against Oregon.

Further, Nick Saban isn’t leaving Alabama to take the job at Texas.

This has led to plenty of speculation on whom will get the Texas job — one of the most coveted and highest-paying coaching gigs in the country.

Due to his success at Arizona State and his Texas background, Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham seems to be popping up on a lot of Longhorn “wish lists” for new AD Steve Patterson to peruse.

Well, Graham’s getting tired of any implied connection to the Lone Star State.

“We’re working hard,” Graham said Tuesday. “Myself, and Coach Norvell is in the same boat — and we’ll have a comment on that (Wednesday) — our focus is to keep our staff together, and we’re going to do that.

“We’re committed to building a top-five program in the country.”

Norvell, ASU’s second-year offensive coordinator, has been linked to a head coaching opening at Arkansas State and the open offensive coordinator position at Florida.

“I hate even commenting on stuff like that, but I’m getting tired of it,” Graham said. “We’re looking forward to taking this thing to the next level, and that’s top-ten or top-five in the country.”

Graham and the Sun Devils are preparing to take on Texas Tech at the National University Holiday Bowl in San Diego on December 30.

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ASU’s Todd Graham is tired of his name being linked to job openings