Harbaugh, Raiders didn't meet

Contrary to reports that have been circulating the past few days, Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Oakland Raiders did not meet recently, according to Harbaugh's agent Jack Bechta.

Reports have surfaced that Harbaugh recently went to Alameda, Calif., to meet with Raiders owner Al Davis. Early speculation was that the meeting involved talks regarding Harbaugh’s interest in coaching the Raiders.

“There is no truth to the rumors that Jim Harbaugh or I have met with the Raiders,” Bechta said. “Further, Jim has not interviewed with nor been offered the head coaching job of the Oakland Raiders. Jim and Al [Davis] have a very special relationship full of mutual respect. However, the rumors circulating are absolutely false.”

Speculation has been mounting in the Bay Area regarding the fate of current Raiders head coach Tom Cable. While no official word has been announced regarding Cable’s future role with the organization, many believe a regime change could be in the works.

An Oakland team official said Wednesday that Davis has yet to interview anyone for the head coaching position.

The Raiders went 5-11 this season, the seventh consecutive year the team has lost 11 or more games.

Harbaugh’s name has also been linked to the Buffalo Bills, the University of Kansas and Notre Dame.The former NFL quarterback is an up-and-coming head coach who has gone 17-20 in three seasons at Stanford.

The Cardinal have improved in each of Harbaugh’s three seasons, winning four games in 2007, five in 2008 and eight in 2009. Stanford defeated Oregon 51-42 this past season and knocked off USC in Los Angeles, 55-21, the second time Harbaugh’s Stanford team has defeated the Trojans in three years.

The Cardinal lost the Brut Sun Bowl to the Oklahoma Sooners 31-27 on Dec. 31. It was the first bowl appearance by Stanford since 2001.

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