Seems like a logical time for the veteran coach to call it a career. Right?

Wrong. McBride and Weber State are in the final stages of negotiating a contract extension. They hope to reach a deal in the next few days.

"At this point, it's a matter of finishing the details of what the conversation has been with myself and the university," McBride said Monday. "I want to be here. I want to do things for this university that hasn't been done. I want to do right by the kids [I recruited]."

McBride has turned the Weber State program into a legitimate Football Championship Subdivision playoff contender this season. In his first three years, Weber State had a combined 15-18 record and didn't finish better than fourth place in the Big Sky.

This season, Weber State is 6-0 in conference and on Monday broke into the Football Championship Subdivision top 10 for the first time. The Wildcats are ranked ninth in The Sports Network poll and 10th in the Division I FCS coaches poll.

The Wildcats made the jump from No. 13 after a 31-21 win over Portland State last week.

A win at Idaho State this Saturday would clinch a playoff spot for the 'Cats. A victory over Eastern Washington at Stewart Stadium on Nov. 22 would clinch the Big Sky title and, possibly, secure the Wildcats a first-round playoff game at home.

"Everything's been positive. We're down to talking about the details of the contract," Weber State athletic director Jerry Graybeal said. "These things don't just take a couple of days."

The coach and the university have been negotiating for the last two weeks.

McBride knows that waiting any longer could have hurt recruiting down the road.

"The other guy always uses that against you for the kids you're recruiting," McBride said. "I tell them everything is going to be OK. I'll be here. I like my assistant [coaches] to be taken care of and the last thing [we need ] is a question mark."

LaVell Edwards, the former BYU coach and an old colleague of McBride's, thinks there is no better choice.

"The guy has done a remarkable job," Edwards said. "I don't think you're going to find a better guy for the job or for the players."

mthach@sltrib.com

Playoffs and payoff?

* Weber State is poised to give football coach Ron McBride a new contract.

* In McBride's fourth season, the Wildcats are 6-0 in the Big Sky Conference.

* A win at Idaho State on Saturday would clinch an FCS playoff spot for the 'Cats.