Rams interested in Babich

For the second time in a month, North Dakota State head football coach Bob Babich is flirting with another job.

This time, a professional team has contacted him.

The St. Louis Rams have inquired into Babich's availability for defensive assistant in charge of linebackers.

However, Babich said the job is not set in stone. Yet.

"It's in the preliminary stages," Babich said.

Babich has at least one direct tie to the Rams: defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is one of his best friends. The two coached together at the University of Tulsa and the University of Wisconsin.

Babich has been quoted as saying: "He's my best friend in coaching."

Smith worked the Bison football clinic in 1998 when he was the linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Babich is a candidate for the assistant job. Babich said he'll talk more about the Rams' position after he addresses his team on Monday.

"I want to talk to them first," he said.

It does not appear Babich has competition for the Rams job, at least publicly.

"Right now, I don't know the particulars," Babich said.

Rams head coach Mike Martz plans to interview two candidates Monday for the last two vacancies on his staff.

Frank Falks, who last worked as the running backs coach for the Detroit Lions, is getting looked at as a tight ends coach.

Babich was a finalist in December for the head coach at Tulsa, his alma mater. He interviewed, but the job was offered to Buffalo Bills assistant Steve Kragthorpe.

Babich has a 46-22 record in six years as a Bison head coach.