NEW YORK — West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who called labeled reports that he had agreed to leave for Alabama last weekend as “rumors,” is meeting with Alabama officials here, according to several published and broadcast reports.

Rodriguez, whose team faces Georgia Tech in the Toyota Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, has said he hasn’t been contacted by Alabama officials.

Sources told ESPN.com’s Joe Schad that Alabama officials were meeting with Rodriguez. The Birmingham News reported Tuesday that Alabama officials would meet Rodriguez at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. The paper reported its sources said a job offer is unlikely on Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Alabama is expect to offer Rodriguez the job in the next 48 hours. Alabama officials denied this, calling it premature, according to the Birmingham News.

Rodriguez has been coy about his plans, publicly saying he hasn’t been contacted by Alabama.

“I plan on being at West Virginia the rest of my career,” Rodriguez repeatedly stated in an interview with the Wheeling (West Va.) News-Register in a story posted on its Web site last Friday.

Also on Friday, Rodriguez replied to rumors he was leaving by telling MetroNews Statewide Sport radio: “I have no idea what anybody is talking about. I have not talked to anybody. They haven’t offered me anything. I didn’t even say I was interested. When all of these rumors came up, all I said was I don’t address rumors. It’s as simple as that.”

Rodriguez is 49-24 record in six seasons at West Virginia. He signed a three-year extension with the Mountaineers on June 24 and has six years left on his contract, which pays him about $1.1 million annually with the possibility of more than $400,000 in additional performance bonuses. The contract includes a $2 million penalty if he leaves West Virginia before Aug. 31, 2007.

The amended contract increased Rodriguez’s supplemental compensation for work such as radio/TV appearances and other promotional activities to more than $510,000. That sum increases to $900,000 beginning Jan. 16, with $50,000 increases each additional year until the contract expires after the 2012 season.

Rodriguez, 43, also would receive a $600,000 annuity from the school if he’s still coaching the Mountaineers after the 2011 regular season. He loses the annuity if he leaves West Virginia before then.