Bob Shoop.jpg

Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop (left) and head coach James Franklin during the team's media day at Beaver Stadium on August 6.

(PennLive/Joe Hermitt)

Though his coordinator counterpart on the Penn State staff was sacrificed at the end of the regular season, Bob Shoop is remaining steadfast and loyal to James Franklin in State College. And he's apparently had at least one opportunity to flee the scene.

According to a dependable source in Alabama, Shoop has turned down multiple offers to meet with Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and discuss filling the Tigers' vacant defensive coordinator position. And it would have been at a salary that would've made him at or very near the highest paid coordinator in college football.

Both last week and this week, intermediaries from both camps were in contact, each time initiated by Auburn, the source told me. Early this week, Malzahn offered to meet to discuss the position with Shoop who is preparing the Penn State defense for its game on Jan. 2 against Auburn's SEC stablemate Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

But, on each occasion, Shoop declined a formal meeting and told Auburn he was not interested in its position. This, despite a reported salary offer in the range of $1.5 million per year.

Attempts to reach Shoop on Thursday through Penn State sports information were unsuccessful. Team members and staff were with their families. The team is scheduled to regroup and depart for Jacksonville on Monday.

Shoop earns close to $1 million annually under his current agreement as Penn State's coordinator. His package was bumped up considerably last year at this time when Louisiana State's coordinator position came open.

Despite a 55-point submission in the final game at Michigan State, Shoop's defense still finished the regular season in the top 15 nationally in yardage allowed (324.3) and in the top 30 in points allowed (21.7).

Known as an offensive guru, Malzahn has had trouble finding a replacement for his previous coordinator Will Muschamp who departed to become South Carolina's head coach on Dec. 6. Muschamp was paid $1.6 million at Auburn this season with an increase to $1.7M scheduled for next year had he stayed at AU.

Though Malzahn was signed to a 6-year extension at $3.85 million in December 2013 after the Tigers' appearance in the national championship game, an 8-5 finish last season and a 6-6 record this year has Auburn insiders believing he could be let go after next season if the team does not substantially improve. That makes a move to Auburn a tenuous prospect for any assistant coach.