By ROBERT KUWADA
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES — UCLA fired football Coach Karl Dorrell this morning after going 35-27 after five seasons.
Dorrell has been given the option to coach the Bruins in the Las Vegas Bowl. There was no word on what Dorrell might do for the bowl game.
Acting independently or as intermediaries for UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero or athletic department officials, UCLA boosters already have made contact with several potential replacements.
That list includes Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, former Cal and San Francisco 49ers coach Steve Mariucci and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback.
Boise State coach Chris Petersen also is considered to be a candidate.
UCLA freshman defensive lineman Brian Price, the top prize in the Bruins’ 2007 recruiting class and a second-team freshman All-American, said he was considering a transfer after learning about Dorrell’s firing.
“If they got rid of the defensive staff, yeah, I’d probably leave. I’m not sure yet, though. I’m still weighing my options,” Price said.
