Both coaches have reportedly interviewed with Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs about the Tigers' vacant head coaching positions, along with a handful of other potential candidates.
``We had discussions, but I think there's been a lot of discussions,'' Hoke told the Mobile Press-Register during a trip to Mobile Wednesday to promote the bowl game. He said he was interested in the job.
``If you're any kind of competitor, the challenges are out there, so there's always a high interest,'' Hoke said.
Graham said to be mentioned in connection with a job like Auburn is ``flattering,'' but declined to comment further.
``I'm happy where I am,'' he said. ``I love being at Tulsa. It's a great place. We have a lot of momentum.''
Other head coaches Jacobs has reportedly interviewed include Buffalo's Turner Gill and Louisiana Tech's Derek Dooley. Georgia assistant Rodney Garner and Miami offensive coordinator Patrick Nix, both former Auburn players, have also interviewed for the post.
Jacobs was not available for comment on Thursday, a spokesman said. The Birmingham News reported that he is expected to interview other coaches who have some experience in the Southeastern Conference.
The Tigers are seeking a replacement for Tommy Tuberville, who resigned on Dec. 3 after 10 seasons.
Hoke has led Ball State to a 12-1 record in his sixth season marred only by a loss to Gill's Buffalo team in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Graham has led Tulsa to two straight 10-win seasons after spending one year as Rice's head coach.
Gill is a former Nebraska quarterback who was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1983. He has turned around a program that was 10-69 in its first seven seasons in the MAC before he took over. Buffalo is 8-5 and set to face Connecticut on Jan. 3 in the International Bowl.
Buffalo athletic director Warde Manuel confirmed on Wednesday that he gave both Auburn and Syracuse permission to discuss their openings with Gill.
``If he does go, then he's left us in a much better position,'' Manuel said.
Earlier this week, Dooley confirmed in a statement that he was ``one of the many'' coaches who have spoken with Auburn. Dooley has led Tech to a 7-5 record and the program's first bowl berth since 2001 in his second season, facing Northern Illinois in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 28.
He is the son of former Georgia coach and Auburn player Vince Dooley.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/12/216009