In a somewhat pre-emptive move, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins announced Thursday he has promoted Erik Kiesau to offensive coordinator to replace Mark Helfrich.
Helfrich had interviewed this week for the same job at Oregon, but no official word has come out of Eugene on Helfrich’s hiring.
“When I got the call when all this was shaking down, it’s a natural progression to move in that direction, especially with what we’re doing offensively,” Kiesau said in a release.
Kiesau, 36, had been CU’s receivers coach and passing coordinator and is the second- youngest offensive coordinator in Buffs history. Helfrich, 35, was the youngest. Kiesau joined the staff with Hawkins in December 2005 after four seasons at California.
Brown, Torretta headline Hall class
NEW YORK — Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Gino Torretta, along with two-time All-American Chris Spielman, are among the 16 players to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
“When you picked up a helmet and a football when you were 8, 9 years old, the last thing you thought about was ending up in the college football Hall of Fame,” said Brown, the 1987 Heisman winner for Notre Dame.
Torretta won the 1992 Heisman for Miami and went 26-2 as the Hurricanes’ starter.
Others selected for induction by the National Football Foundation were Penn State’s Curt Warner, New Mexico State’s Pervis Atkins, Arizona’s Chuck Cecil, Auburn’s Ed Dyas, West Virginia’s Major Harris, BYU’s Gordon Hudson, Alabama’s Woodrow Lowe, Stanford’s Ken Margerum, Texas’ Steve McMichael, Iowa’s Larry Station, Georgia Tech’s Pat Swilling and Nebraska’s Grant Wistrom.
The NFF’s veteran’s committee selected Williams Lewis, who played center for Harvard from 1892-93. Coaches John Robinson of Southern California and Dick MacPherson of Syracuse also will be inducted in December.
Pitt seniors Porter, Duhart leave program
PITTSBURGH — Wide receiver T.J. Porter and defensive lineman Tommie Duhart have left Pitt and plan to transfer to another school, according to coach Dave Wannstedt.
The players, both seniors, were suspended from spring practice for disciplinary reasons and were dropped from the depth chart.
Porter was Pitt’s third-leading receiver last season with 25 catches for 357 yards.
Denver Post wire services
