Colorado Picks Interim Coach

Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz was appointed the interim replacement for ousted Colorado coach Gary Barnett on Friday and will lead the team against Clemson in the Champs Sports Bowl at Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 27.

Barnett resigned Thursday at the request of Athletic Director Mike Bohn.

“Hankwitz possesses great experience in this profession, and his organizational skills, discipline and competitive spirit will be a great asset in preparing the team for the bowl,” Bohn said. “We are most appreciative of his willingness to take on this leadership role.”

The 57-year-old Hankwitz, is in his second stint with the Buffaloes. Barnett appointed him defensive coordinator before last season. Hankwitz also coached at Colorado from 1985 through 1994.

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New Mexico State, which ended the season with the longest NCAA Division I-A losing streak, has opted out of its contract to play next season’s opener at Arizona State on Sept. 2.

Sun Devil associate athletic director Mark Brand said the Aggies must pay Arizona State $300,000 for breaking the contract.

New Mexico State went 0-12 last season and has lost 13 consecutive games.

The Aggies will try to bring a Division I-AA opponent to open the season in Las Cruces, associate athletic director Sean Johnson said.

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NFL Hall of Famer James Lofton is interested in the coaching vacancy at San Diego State, Rich Nichols, his attorney said.

Lofton has been the San Diego Chargers’ receivers coach for four seasons. Lofton said he couldn’t comment because of Charger Coach Marty Schottenheimer’s rule barring assistants from being interviewed by the media.

San Diego State fired Tom Craft on Monday after he went 19-29 in four seasons, including 5-7 this season. The Aztecs haven’t had a winning season since 1998.

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A record crowd will see Brigham Young play California in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22. The game at Sam Boyd Stadium sold out for the first time in its 14-year history, organizers announced.

Tina Kunzer-Murphy, executive director of the Las Vegas Bowl, said 40,000 tickets have been sold. Last year a record in-house crowd of 27,784 watched Wyoming defeat UCLA, 24-21.

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Matt Tharp intercepted Barrick Nealy’s third-down pass after Brian Wingert made a 25-yard field goal to give Northern Iowa a 40-37 overtime victory over Texas State in an NCAA Division I-AA semifinal at San Marcos, Texas.

Northern Iowa (11-3) will play the winner of today’s game between Furman (11-2) and Appalachian State (10-3) next Friday night in Chattanooga, Tenn.