Price Says He’s Not Candidate for Bruins

It is not known whether the roar traveled all the way from Pullman to Denver, where UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero was interviewing Karl Dorrell and Greg Robinson. But the Washington State Cougars gave throaty approval to Coach Mike Price’s announcement Saturday that he is not interested in the Bruin job.

“I’m not going to UCLA because I can’t take you with me,” Price said to his players after practice.

Actually, he was a long way from getting an offer -- and reportedly that is what bothered Price about UCLA’s belated request to talk to him. According to sources, he did not believe he was a serious candidate because Guerrero waited until Friday to ask for an interview -- four days after Bob Toledo was fired.

Guerrero has stayed focused on New Orleans Saint assistant Mike Riley and Denver Bronco assistant Dorrell, although he did meet with Kansas City Chief assistant Robinson on Saturday night after interviewing Dorrell.

Riley will fly to Los Angeles after the Saints play today and meet with UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale tonight or Monday. Riley turned down a lucrative offer from Alabama on Friday and has expressed a desire to coach at UCLA.

Although the interviews with Dorrell and Robinson reportedly went well, Guerrero did not ask either coach to meet with Carnesale, simply inquiring about where they could be reached Monday. Guerrero is scheduled to fly to Dallas today to attend UCLA’s NCAA championship men’s soccer game.

Dorrell and Robinson have the vocal support of their head coaches. Chief Coach Dick Vermeil, who coached UCLA in 1974-75, called Guerrero to boost Robinson early last week and Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan praised Dorrell, who was a finalist for the San Diego State opening last year.

“I think Karl would be an excellent candidate,” Shanahan said. “He’s a heck of a coach, a first-class person and he knows [Los Angeles] well.”

Said Bronco receiver Scott Montgomery: “He’s the kind of guy you like to be around as a head coach and he fits right into that player-coach type coach. At the same time, he’s a good disciplinarian and has a lot of talent.”

Robinson, a respected defensive tactician, is in his second season with the Chiefs after six years as defensive coordinator of the Broncos. He is a Los Angeles native who spent 15 years in the collegiate ranks, including eight at UCLA, which won three Rose Bowls during his tenure.

Robinson told a source early Friday afternoon that he had not been contacted by UCLA, but apparently Guerrero contacted him later in the day and set up the meeting.

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Cory Paus did not take part in the Bruins’ first practice since Dec. 6 on Saturday and is not expected to play in the Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas Day. The senior quarterback sat out the last five games because of a broken leg and had hoped to return for a bowl game.

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Defensive tackle Rodney Leisle said he is strongly considering making himself available for the NFL draft.

Leisle, a junior, was a preseason All-American, but he sat out four games because of a broken foot. He has 17 tackles and no sacks in eight games.

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Receiver Ryan Smith expects to be ready to play by spring practice after having surgery on his ankle. Smith, a junior, injured the ankle near the end of last season and had off-season surgery. However, he never fully recovered and had only five receptions in eight games before electing to have a doctor outside the UCLA staff evaluate the ankle.