COLLEGE FOOTBALL : THE BOWLS: 1986 : College Bowl Notebook : Cowboys’ Hackett Withdraws, but Fry May Want USC Job

Paul Hackett said Monday that he has withdrawn as a candidate for the USC football coaching job and Iowa Coach Hayden Fry has emerged as reportedly a strong contender for the position.

Sources close to the Iowa football program say that Fry is interested in the job if details of a contract package can be worked out.

With Hackett’s withdrawal, the USC coaching hunt has reportedly narrowed to Fry and Arizona Coach Larry Smith.

Dave Levy, a former assistant coach under John McKay, is still in the picture, sources say, but Fry and Smith have the inside track.

Fry vehemently denied that he was a candidate for the Texas coaching job when it was vacant, but has been evasive about reports that he might become USC’s next coach.

Fry is in San Diego, where his Hawkeyes will play San Diego State tonight in the Holiday Bowl. Asked by a Times reporter is he was interested in the USC job, Fry said, “I can’t answer that.”

The next question was “Why?” Said Fry: “Hell, I don’t know.”

Smith has reportedly been a strong candidate from the outset of the coaching hunt. But Arizona officials are quickly trying to put together a multi-year package to entice Smith to remain at the school.

“After much deliberation, I’ve removed myself as a candidate,” Hackett said by phone from Dallas. “The biggest problem would be a career shift and I’ve made a commitment to pro football.”

Hackett, the Dallas Cowboys’ passing offensive coordinator, was a USC assistant coach under John Robinson from 1976 through 1980. He said that he has informed USC Athletic Director Mike McGee of his decision.

Hackett said he wasn’t formally offered the job because negotiations hadn’t gone that far.

He added that McGee is looking for someone to make a long-term commitment to the university and that the athletic director is still interested in hiring a USC connected person.

Perhaps. But Fry and Smith are apparently the front-runners to succeed Ted Tollner, who was fired Dec. 8, but will coach USC through its Florida Citrus Bowl game against Auburn New Year’s Day.