COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Non-Renewable Hatfield Resigns

Clemson Coach Ken Hatfield resigned Wednesday, saying school officials gave him a clear signal they wanted him out by refusing to add a year to his contract for the second season in a row.

Hatfield also lashed out at fans who stayed away from the Tigers’ games despite the team’s 8-3 record and likely trip to the Peach Bowl.

The resignation was effective immediately--meaning Hatfield will not coach the team if it receives a bowl bid. He will receive a $600,000 buyout.

“I said, ‘If you do not renew the contract two years in a row, then obviously you do not want me there and it would be the best time for both of us to separate and go our own way.’ That was clearly understood from our first meeting and it’s clearly understood here today,” Hatfield said.

In four years at Clemson, Hatfield was 32-13-1. But he never could win over some fans angry that Clemson got rid of former coach Danny Ford, who won a national title and four Atlantic Coast Conference championships.

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Nevada Athletic Director Chris Ault announced his return as coach of the Wolf Pack football team, filling the void left by the sudden departure of Jeff Horton to Nevada Las Vegas.

UNLV officials tried to lure Ault to Las Vegas, but he declined. Then Horton, who just completed his first year at Nevada with a 7-4 record, resigned abruptly on Tuesday to take the job.

Ault stepped down as head coach on June 9 after 17 seasons and a 145-58-1 record.

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Texas doesn’t need added inspiration for its Thanksgiving Day showdown at No. 8 Texas A&M; at College Station. A Cotton Bowl trip is on the line. But there’s more.

The Longhorns, 5-4-1 overall and 5-1 in the Southwest Conference, don’t think they are 21 points worse than the Aggies (10-1, 6-0), and they still have vivid memories of last year’s taunting dance after A&M;’s 34-13 victory in Austin.

“You can’t say in print what I want to say,” Texas safety Van Malone said. “You don’t go to somebody’s house and stand on the furniture. They came in my house and stood in the sink.”

A group of Aggies performed a chorus line dance in front of the Texas side of Memorial Stadium that drew derisive jeers from Longhorn fans. But don’t expect a repeat at Kyle Field.

“That was just over-reacting by some of the guys,” A&M; cornerback Aaron Glenn said. “I don’t think you’ll see it again. Coach (R.C.) Slocum made it clear he didn’t like it very much. It was just a few guys that got carried away.”

The Aggies lost hope of a national championship with a 44-14 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 11, but they still can gain prominence by beating the Longhorns for their third consecutive SWC title.

Texas A&M; has won 21 consecutive SWC games and a victory would make the Aggies the first team to go through three consecutive SWC seasons unbeaten. They’re tied with the 1968-71 Longhorns with 21 SWC victories in a row.

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The other games today are Georgia (4-6) at Georgia Tech (5-5) and Louisville (7-3 and headed for the Liberty Bowl) at Tulsa (4-5-1).