In a universe not far removed from our own, Rich Rodriguez would have coached Alabama for at least a few seasons.

It’s still unclear how close Rodriguez was to leaving West Virginia for the Crimson Tide back in 2006, but according to ESPN’s Alex Scarborough, one thing is certain — the former coach was in Tuscaloosa on Monday.

There was no immediate reason provided for Rodriguez’s visit, but it’s possible that he was there for football reasons. Alabama coach Nick Saban has a history of bringing on former head coaches as assistants or analysts, a list of notable names including Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin and Butch Jones.

Strangely enough, Saban was the man hired instead of Rodriguez, who remained with the Mountaineers despite reports that he had accepted an offer from the Crimson Tide in December 2006. He left the following year for Michigan, where he flamed out in only three seasons before taking the job at Arizona.

Rodriguez went 43-35 with the Wildcats but was fired in January amid allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied. It’s possible that Saban is looking to hire Rodriguez for his staff, but given the massive leap Alabama’s offense has made this season, it’s unclear what he could add.