Cable Is Hired by UCLA as Offensive Line Coach

A year after spurning overtures to become UCLA’s offensive coordinator, Tom Cable was hired Tuesday as offensive line coach for the Bruins. Cable was recently fired as coach at Idaho, where he posted a record of 11-35 in four seasons.

Cable interviewed at UCLA last year when Coach Karl Dorrell was assembling his first staff but decided to remain at Idaho. Cable and Dorrell worked together at Colorado in 1998, when Cable was line coach and Dorrell was offensive coordinator under Rick Neuheisel.

“He’s going to help get ourselves a jump-start offensively,” Dorrell said. “He understands the language and the school of thought I’m from.”

Cable, who was offensive coordinator at Colorado in 1999 and line coach at California from 1992 to 1997, replaces Mark Weber, who was fired last week after seven years at UCLA.

Dorrell still has one open position on his staff and said he planned to hire a tight ends coach to replace the fired Gary Bernardi. Dorrell reiterated that the offensive coordinator responsibilities -- held by quarterbacks coach Steve Axman -- might change. Receivers coach Jon Embree might become offensive coordinator, or Dorrell could take on the job.

“There’s a lot of things we could tweak,” Dorrell said. “There is going to be restructuring.”

Steve Henson

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Pete Carroll, who accepted the national championship trophy from Associated Press on Monday, was honored as coach of the year in Division I-A by the American Football Coaches Assn., the same organization that was contractually bound to choose Louisiana State as the national champion.

It was the latest twist to one of college football’s most confusing seasons. In December, LSU Coach Nick Saban was selected AP coach of the year.

The AFCA has selected a coach of the year since 1935. The winners in five divisions were selected in a vote of coaches. Dick Biddle of Colgate, Brian Kelly of Grand Valley State, Mike Van Diest of Carroll (Mont.) and John Gagliardi of St. John’s (Minn.) were the other winners.

Carroll will be invited to serve as head coach in the 2005 Hula Bowl.

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One week after being fired by the Oakland Raiders, Bill Callahan will interview at Nebraska today for the head coaching job, his agent, Gary O’Hagan, said.... Texas defensive coordinator Carl Reese, 60, resigned. The Longhorns gave up 329.9 yards per game and finished ranked No. 25 in defense.... Purdue junior offensive tackle Kelly Butler, 6 feet 8 and 320 pounds, is making himself available for the NFL draft.... Nebraska cornerback Kellen Huston was charged for punching a fan on the field after a loss to Missouri on Oct. 11 at Columbia, Mo. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.... The ABC telecast of the Sugar Bowl game between Louisiana State and Oklahoma drew a 14.8 rating and 23 share, the second-worst national TV rating for a bowl championship series title game after the 13.8 with a 22 share for the 2002 Rose Bowl game between Miami and Nebraska.

Miscellany

The Sparks, with the 12th pick in the WNBA dispersal draft, selected former Cleveland Rocker center Isabelle Fijalkowski, who last played in the league in 1998.

Fijalkowski, 31, who played at Colorado, was drafted by Cleveland in 1997. She played two seasons and later played in Italy and France.

The Rockers, who were disbanded after the 2003 season, had retained her WNBA rights.

Olympic skier Carl Swenson and Rebecca Dussault won their third national titles in a row in the U.S. Cross-Country Championships at Rumford, Maine.

Swenson won the men’s 10-kilometer event in 22 minutes 58.2 seconds. Dussault won the women’s five-kilometer race in 12:49.2.

Alex Barron, who subbed with several teams last year, and rookie Ed Carpenter will drive this year for Red Bull Cheever Racing, which is expanding to a two-car team in the Indy Racing League.

The Assn. of Tennis Professionals suspended Mariano Puerta of Argentina for nine months, retroactive to October, for failing a drug test at a tournament last year.

Sixty-four players are competing today through Sunday in a United Poolplayers Assn. tour event in the Bicycle Casino at Bell Gardens. Information: (562) 806-4646.

Mike Penner has the day off.