Karl Dorrell may not fit at UCLA, but he deserves a job

Karl Dorrell is 35-26 with four bowl appearances in five seasons at UCLA. Darryl Dennis/Icon SMI

This is the time of year that college football renews all of its richest traditions -- rivals are re-acquainted, bowl bids are extended and boosters are mobilized so they can raise millions of dollars to help buy out their head coach's existing contract.

It is hard to mourn the recent departure of Dennis Franchione, a mercenary who wound up at Texas A&M only after he jilted Alabama; or Bill Callahan, an NFL retread who practically turned Nebraska into the Raiders; or Ed Orgeron, who had 20 players go on probation this season at Ole Miss for stealing various items from hotel rooms.

But UCLA's Karl Dorrell has always been different. If UCLA loses to USC on Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum, which is widely anticipated, and Dorrell is fired shortly thereafter, which is widely speculated, it will mark a sad end to a noble journey.

Dorrell was hired five years ago, on his 39th birthday. At the time, he was the wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos. He had never been a head coach at any level. The most devoted fans knew only a few biographical details about him: He played receiver at UCLA, he worked as a graduate assistant there, and he was African-American.

He signed a contract for $600,000 a year, modest by major college football standards. "We could have brought in a big name for $2 million," UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said at the time. "But there are no guarantees. So I went with my gut."

Dorrell was under-qualified, but that was part of his appeal. In a sport where the same coaches keep getting rehired -- most of them middle-aged and white -- Dorrell was the ultimate sleeper. He stood for all those minority candidates who never get a chance.

On the day he was introduced, Dorrell walked through UCLA's Hall of Fame, past photographs of fellow alumni, fellow pioneers. There was Jackie Robinson in his baseball jersey, Arthur Ashe with his tennis racket, Rafer Johnson holding a torch.

"My voice is cracking right now because I'm telling you how important this is," Dorrell said. "It's obviously very dear to me. And I promise you that I will work my tail off to be the best coach I can be. I am proud to be a Bruin, proud to be back."

Administrators beamed. Former teammates burst into applause. No one had a clue if the guy could win, but he could at least restore a little hope. In many ways, Dorrell's inaugural address still ranks among the finest moments of his time at UCLA.

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