College Football
Notebook: Pelini takes job at Oklahoma

By The Associated Press

	AMY CONN-GUTIERREZ / AP Bo Pelini, right, led Nebraska to a victory in the Alamo Bowl but was fired by new Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan.
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NORMAN, Okla. — Former Nebraska interim coach Bo Pelini was hired as Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator and defensive-backs coach yesterday, joining the Cornhuskers' longtime conference rival.

He replaces Mike Stoops, who left Oklahoma to become Arizona's head coach last month. Pelini will share duties with the Sooners' other co-defensive coordinator, Brent Venables.

"Bo comes in with a great deal of experience and we're excited," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "He'll continue to build on a great tradition we've already established defensively."

Pelini joins a staff that produced the nation's third-ranked defense and was ranked No. 1 before a loss in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4.

Pelini interviewed for Nebraska's head-coaching position but didn't get the job and was one of seven assistants fired last week by new coach Bill Callahan.

Pelini took over as Nebraska's defensive coordinator in December 2002. The Cornhuskers had the nation's 11th-ranked defense last season.

Pelini served as interim head coach after Frank Solich was fired Nov. 29, coaching the Huskers to a 17-3 victory over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.

Fife stars

LAS VEGAS — Oregon's Jason Fife threw two touchdown passes to lead the West to a 14-7 victory over the East in the Las Vegas All-American Classic.

Fife, 8 of 16 for 83 yards, was selected the most valuable player of the college football all-star game.

The West scored on the game's first drive on Fife's 45-yard pass to Texas receiver Sloan Thomas.

Fife added a 1-yard TD pass to Southwest Missouri State fullback Nathan Schurman for a 14-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq was 4 of 9 for 30 yards and ran for 23 yards on two carries before leaving with a minor concussion in the fourth quarter.

His replacement, Jackson State quarterback Robert Kent, completed a 12-yard TD pass to Minnesota receiver Aaron Hosack with 6:55 left.

Notes

• Iowa's Fred Russell ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns to help Aina beat Kai 26-7 in the Hula Bowl.

The speedy, 5-foot-8 back carried the ball eight times, including scoring runs of 12 and 35 yards, and was selected Aina's most valuable player.

The college all-star game featured 96 seniors and was played in front of 9,128 fans at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui.

• Georgia defensive end Robert Geathers will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Geathers filed his paperwork, even though he said earlier in the week he would stay in school. Geathers, who started every game last season, could have faced a competition to retain his starting job.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company