Fast Break

College basketball

Giacoletti nailed for ref bashing

Utah coach Ray Giacoletti was reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference for criticizing the officials after Saturday’s overtime loss to Rhode Island.

Giacoletti, the former Eastern Washington coach, was upset that a foul was not called on Rhode Island players when Utah’s Luke Nevill was trying to put back an offensive rebound at the last second of Utah’s 85-84 loss.

Giacoletti said it was the “most gutless” non-call he had seen in 21 years of coaching.

SportsLink

Grippi: Kramer right choice at UI

University of Idaho athletic director Rob Spear is facing one of the most crucial decisions of his tenure. He has to decide who replaces Dennis Erickson and cleans up the broken pieces of the football program.

The names being floated all have their positives, but there is one coach who deserves the job, who wants the job, who has been waiting his whole adult life for the job.

It’s time to hire Mike Kramer. Online columnist Vince Grippi tells you why on his blog, SportsLink, at spokesmanreview.com/ sports.

College football

Lofton, Aliotti on Stanford list

Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton and Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti are among the candidates to have talked with Cardinal athletic director Bob Bowlsby about becoming the school’s new football coach.

Aliotti, Oregon’s defensive coordinator since 1999, met with Bowlsby last week to talk about replacing Walt Harris as coach.

Lofton, who played at Stanford from 1975-77, has also had informal talks and is interested in the job, his attorney Rich Nichols said. Lofton is the receivers coach for the San Diego Chargers.

Bowlsby has said he’d like to finish his search by early next week.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that former Stanford assistant Jim Fassel interviewed with Bowlsby this week in Chicago.

University of San Diego coach Jim Harbaugh, whose father was once an assistant at Stanford, and Montana coach Bobby Hauck have also reportedly interviewed.