Search Ends for Two Schools

Dallas Cowboy assistant Les Miles reportedly is the choice to become the coach at Oklahoma State, while Brigham Young was set to name Chicago Bear offensive coordinator Gary Crowton its coach.

Miles was Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator in 1997 when the team went 8-4 and earned a berth in the Alamo Bowl. He would replace Bob Simmons, who was fired in November after six seasons.

Miles has served on staffs under such coaches as Bill McCartney at Colorado and Bo Schembechler at Michigan. Miles also played for Schembechler at Michigan from 1972-75.

Crowton would replace LaVell Edwards, who retired after 29 years as the sixth-winningest coach in NCAA history.

Crowton was 21-13 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech from 1996-98, his only previous head coaching job. His best season was 9-2 in 1997, but he gained recognition for his high-powered passing offense.

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Notre Dame Coach Bob Davie signed a five-year contract, two days after the Fighting Irish were invited to their first major bowl in five years. Davie is 30-18 in four seasons at Notre Dame. . . . Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer said he’s not interested in coming to Georgia, which began the search for a successor to Jim Donnan. . . . Temple Coach Bobby Wallace signed a three-year contract extension through the 2005 season. Wallace, who took over the program three years ago after 10 seasons at North Alabama, led the Owls to a 4-7 record this season. . . . Tulane Coach Chris Scelfo has been given a two-year contract extension through 2005. Scelfo was 3-8 in 1999, the year after Tommy Bowden led Tulane to a 12-0 record and Liberty Bowl victory. Tulane started 3-5 this year, including a loss to Army (1-10), then finished 6-5.

Miami linebacker Dan Morgan won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. Morgan is the second Miami player to win the award, following Warren Sapp in 1994. . . . Purdue quarterback Drew Brees was selected as top player for the Academic All-America team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Brees, a senior from Austin, Texas, had a 3.42 grade-point-average as an industrial management major. . . . Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter’s injured thumb will be examined today to determine if he can begin rehabilitation that might allow him to play in the Dec. 24 Oahu Bowl.

Texas Christian interviewed Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney for its opening. Auburn offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone was also scheduled to be interviewed. Middle Tennessee’s Andy McCollum and Ohio University’s Jim Grobe also have emerged as possibilities to replace coach Dennis Franchione, who was named coach at Alabama. Horned Frog assistants Gary Patterson and Mike Schultz confirmed they would be interviewed sometime this week. . . . Georgia Tech promoted offensive line coach Mac McWhorter to assistant head coach. . . . Jim Lansing, Fordham’s last consensus football All-American, died Saturday of natural causes. He was 81.