COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : ACROSS THE NATION : Reedy Expected to Get Baylor Job; Dickerson Named as Temple Coach

Chuck Reedy, whose option offense made Baylor one of the top rushing teams in the nation, is expected to become the school’s next head football coach.

Grant Teaff’s replacement will be named at a news conference today, according to a source in the school’s athletic department.

Reedy, Baylor’s offensive coordinator, became the leading candidate when Texas A&M;’s defensive coordinator, Bob Davie, withdrew his name from consideration over the weekend. Tulsa Coach Dave Rader also was considered a top candidate.

Davie said he was no longer a candidate after the Aggies defeated Texas Christian, 37-10, to clinch the Southwest Conference title.

“With the Texas game coming up and the Cotton Bowl I’ve decided to withdraw my name,” Davie said.

Reedy, 43, came to Baylor in 1990 and installed the Bears’ I-formation, which has made them a top 20 rushing team. Before that, he spent 12 years at Clemson.

Teaff coached his final regular-season game Saturday, a 21-20 victory over Texas. He will retire to become full-time athletic director. Teaff could coach one more game if Baylor (6-5) gets a bowl bid.

Temple named Clemson defensive coordinator Ron Dickerson its head football coach, giving Division I-A its only black head coach.

Temple scheduled a news conference this morning to formally introduce the new coach.

Dickerson, 44, replaces Jerry Berndt, who was fired last week with one year remaining on his five-year contract. He takes over a program that has recorded only two winning seasons in the past 10 years. The Owls don’t even have a stadium of their own, playing home games before sparse crowds in Veterans Stadium.

Dickerson, former president of the Black Coaches Assn., was an assistant at five schools, including Penn State for five years, before going to Clemson before the 1991 season.

Clemson finished 5-6 this season.

Johnny Majors has been given the choice of coaching No. 18 Tennessee in a New Year’s Day bowl game despite a $600,000 contract buyout that would make Dec. 31 his last day as Volunteer head coach.

“At the present time, I’m more inclined to do it,” Majors said.

Tennessee (7-3) is expected to play No. 16 Boston College in the Hall of Fame Bowl at Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 1.

“I told John several times that coaching a bowl game is his decision,” Athletic Director Doug Dickey said. “I am personally glad that John is going to coach the bowl game, if that is his decision.”

The Volunteers close the regular season Saturday at Vanderbilt (4-6). It would have been the last game at Tennessee for Majors, who is being forced out by the administration after 16 seasons coaching his alma mater.

“There has been a tremendous personal investment and I have a complete commitment to try to lead these young men in the best way I know how,” Majors said.

Majors said his plans could change if he is hired to another coaching position before the bowl game. Some speculation has Majors returning to Pittsburgh, where he won a national championship in 1977.

Offensive coordinator Phillip Fulmer, who coached the Volunteers to a 3-0 start this season while Majors recovered from heart surgery, reportedly is the top contender to be chosen the new coach.

Charles (Buddy) Nix was fired as head coach at University of Tennessee Chattanooga after nine-game losing streak to end the season.

Nix, who coached the Moccasins for nine seasons, met with Athletic Director Ed Farrell Monday morning and the team was notified of the firing in the afternoon.

Nix’s record was 2-9 this season and 44-54-1 over nine seasons.

Nix signed a three-year contract extension that carries through 1995 after last season’s 7-4 season.