Dec. 8, 2000

By Tim Mimick
The Gazette

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick returned Thursday from Los Angeles with more than recruiting tales.

He also had a firm commitment to remain in Fort Collins as the Rams coach after discussions with Southern California officials about becoming the Trojans' coach. He also reportedly was interviewed for the vacant job at Texas Christian.

"I'm staying at CSU, and that's the way she goes," the 63-year-old Lubick told the Associated Press.

Lubick was interested in the Southern California job three years ago when John Robinson was let go by the Trojans. Lubick, a former Stanford assistant coach, often recruits in California. At least 11 Californians started at some point this season when the Rams claimed the Mountain West Conference.

Colorado State (9-2) never was ranked by the Associated Press this season until the final weeks - the Rams are No.23 - and earned a Liberty Bowl berth against Louisville. However, a 9-2 record got traditional power Notre Dame a No.10 ranking and into the Bowl Championship Series lineup with a Fiesta Bowl berth.

Lubick has been tempted to see if he could win a national championship while coaching at a school with a big budget and glossy tradition. Given the chance six years ago at Miami, where he had been the defensive coordinator before coming to CSU, he hesitated before declining the offer.

Southern California has been seeking a coach, with no luck finding the right guy, since athletic director Mike Garrett fired third-year coach Paul Hackett on Nov.27. Hackett was 19-18, with the 5-7 mark this season the first losing record at the school since 1991.

Garrett has been turned down by Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti and San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley. Riley might be waiting for his dreadful NFL season (1-12) to end before taking the job.

Former NFL coach Pete Carroll's name has been dropped into the discussion.

On the USC Web site, Garrett issued a statement that said Hackett stocked the team with talent ready to win. Garrett just needs a veteran college coach who can instruct the players better.

TCU has its job available since Dennis Franchione departed last week for the Alabama coaching position. TCU defensive coordinator Gary Patterson reportedly is the likely choice for the Horned Frogs.

Lubick isn't the only Colorado State coach checking the want ads. Eighth-year defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said he talked Tuesday in Fort Collins with San Jose State officials.

"Like any assistant coach, I want to be a head coach, sure," Kerr said Thursday. "I want to bring good assistant coaches and have a good program. I have a desire to be a head coach, but not at any expense."

Kerr, a San Jose State alumnus, said he would talk with coach Dave Baldwin, who declined to sign a new contract last week after the financial terms for himself and his coaching staff were not to his liking.

Kerr said he would like to take over at Colorado State if Lubick departed, but that "none of us thinks that Sonny is leaving." Lubick is 66-29 in his eight Rams seasons, with five league championships and five bowls.

Waiting for Lubick to retire after another few years at Colorado State wasn't desirable to Kerr.

"What if it's five or 10 years?" Kerr said. "You don't want to ride it out. I don't want to dictate my life waiting for someone to retire. But would I like to succeed him? Yeah, and it would be a heck of a challenge."