Trojans, Bruins Are Honored

USC running back Reggie Bush was voted offensive player of the year, and USC’s Pete Carroll and UCLA’s Karl Dorrell were voted co-coaches of the year, the Pacific 10 Conference announced Monday.

“Congratulations to Karl. He’s done a wonderful job of getting his program going with great excitement and success this year,” said Carroll, who also received the honor in 2003.

Dorrell had equal praise for Carroll: “I appreciate the recognition.... That’s flattering on my part, but the other guy that’s co-coach of the year, it’s pretty special what he’s done. He’s won 33 plus games and ... for me to co- with him is an honor to me, but [Carroll] has been the one who has really been special.”

Bush, a junior who is regarded by many as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, was one of nine USC players voted to the first team by conference coaches. The other Trojans were quarterback Matt Leinart, receiver Dwayne Jarrett, offensive linemen Ryan Kalil, Taitusi Lutui and Sam Baker, defensive ends Frostee Rucker and Lawrence Jackson and safety Darnell Bing.

UCLA tight end Marcedes Lewis was a first-team selection. Bruin running back Maurice Drew was selected as a first-team punt return specialist and second-team running back. Bush was the second-team punt return specialist.

USC running back LenDale White, offensive linemen Fred Matua and safety Scott Ware were second-team selections.

UCLA quarterback Drew Olson, linebacker Spencer Havner and kicker Justin Medlock were second-team selections.

-- Gary Klein

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Rutgers (7-4) accepted an invitation to play in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 27 in Phoenix against Arizona State.

The last time the Scarlet Knights played in a bowl game was 1978, when they played Arizona State in the Garden State Bowl.

Elsewhere, Boise State (9-3) accepted an invitation to play in the MPC Computers Bowl on the blue artificial turf of its home stadium against a yet-to-be-determined team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, although North Carolina State (6-5) is the front-runner.

Louisville (8-2) will represent the Big East in the Gator Bowl against an ACC team, and Toledo (8-3) of the Mid-American Conference will play in the GMAC Bowl on Dec. 21 against a team from Conference USA.

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As they have been all season, USC and Texas were atop the bowl championship series standings this week. USC is first for the fifth time in six weeks. Texas is second again.

The final BCS standings will be released Sunday, and the top two teams will play in the Rose Bowl for a national title. USC and Texas are the only unbeaten teams left in Division I-A.

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Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm will sit out the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his right knee.

An MRI exam revealed Brohm tore the anterior cruciate ligament while scrambling in the third quarter of a 41-17 win over Syracuse on Saturday.

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David Cutcliffe is back in his old job at Tennessee with the task of reviving the Volunteers’ lackluster offense. Coach Phillip Fulmer introduced his former assistant as the new offensive coordinator. Cutcliffe replaces Randy Sanders, who resigned Oct. 31.... Virginia Military Institute coach Cal McCombs was fired after compiling a 19-60 record over seven seasons with the Division I-AA program.... Texas A&M; defensive coordinator Carl Torbush was fired three days after the Aggies finished their second losing season in three years under Coach Dennis Franchione.... Mississippi fired offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone after the Rebels finished Coach Ed Orgeron’s first season with one of the nation’s worst offenses.... Ohio Coach Frank Solich was convicted of drunk driving two days after police spotted him slumped over the wheel of his vehicle. Solich, the former Nebraska coach in his first season with the Bobcats, pleaded no contest and was ordered to complete a three-day driver intervention program. His license was suspended for 180 days, and he was fined $250.

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Times staff writer Lonnie White contributed to this report.