Yeah, I figured he was retiring when he left San Diego St. Maybe just doesn't want pressure of HC job. Though interesting that he's considering moving cross country given all his coaching has been in west. When Oregon St. was looking for new HC, some people were advocating for Rocky (he was Beavers DC for 4 seasons).
Hot rumor is that SDSU told him to make changes to his staff and he told them where to go. Not sure how true that is and I'm not sure I care either, I'm more intrigued by why he'd want to take the Syracuse DC position. As you note, it's on the other end of the country and Dino Babers isn't exactly locked into that job for life. To me, that job stinks. A guy like Rocky Long could no doubt have done better but to each their own I guess.