Multiple outlets, including FOX26 Sports, are now reporting that Arizona State has ended it's pursuit of University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin, per well-placed sources with knowledge of the search process. Per FOX, the Arizona State source who requested anonymity said:
"We've dropped from further consideration and moved on."
This goes against an earlier report Friday that ASU would be sending a delegation to Houston comprised of president Michael Crow, vice president for athletics Lisa Love and chief operating officer Steve Patterson, to meet with Sumlin on Saturday.
The reported trip was spurred on by the recent head coaching vacancy at Texas A&M, another likely landing spot for the hotly pursued Cougars coach, who is leading his team into the Conference USA Championship against Southern Miss this Saturday.
Local sports reporter, Joe Pequeno of CBS affiliate KPHO TV in Phoenix, is also reporting that according to a source he considers highly reliable, Sumlin will take the open job at Texas A&M.
[Update, 12/02/11 6:19 PM MST ]
Numerous additional reports have confirmed those above. It's suggested that ASU won't be able to compete financially with an offer from Texas A&M. Several new names have been floated for the open job, but they all appear to be speculation at this point.
For more on the possibility of Sumlin being the Sun Devils coach, head to House of Sparky.