Fast Break
NFL
Raiders keep Cable as coach
The Oakland Raiders are retaining head coach Tom Cable, officially removing the interim designation from his title more than five weeks after their season ended.
The former University of Idaho head coach and player went 4-8 with the Raiders after replacing Lane Kiffin. Cable, Kiffin’s former offensive line coach, rallied Oakland to back-to-back victories to end the season.
Oakland owner Al Davis interviewed a handful of candidates for the vacancy but never seemed seriously inclined to replace Cable, valuing his organizational loyalty and leadership.
The Raiders will make the official announcement at a news conference today.
College sports
Pac-10 doesn’t interest Rice
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a big fan of Pac-10 sports, but she’s not interested in becoming commissioner of the conference.
Rice was approached about the opening and was flattered by the opportunity, said her spokesman, Colby Cooper.
Cooper said Rice wants to pursue teaching and writing at Stanford University. She was a professor and provost at the Pac-10 school before joining the Bush administration.
Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen is retiring July 1 after 26 years. The search is being handled by committee of university presidents.
College football
Aggies hire Rosenbach
Former Washington State and NFL quarterback Timm Rosenbach was hired as New Mexico State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, one of eight assistants named by new head coach DeWayne Walker.
Rosenbach has coached quarterbacks at Washington State since 2003 and before that was Eastern Washington’s offensive coordinator from 2001-02. He played four years with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals in the 1990s.
Walker, hired by the Aggies in December after three seasons as UCLA’s defensive coordinator, knows Rosenbach’s work from the Bruins’ matchups with WSU.
“We used to bump heads in the Pac-10,” Walker said. “I have always admired his work offensively, along with his work ethic. He is the guy that has experience calling the plays and running the offense, however, I will have my hand in it.”
Arenafootball2
Shock add defensive back
The Spokane Shock have added defensive back Virgil Gray to their roster.
Gray, 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, led the Lubbock Renegades in tackles (881/2) and interceptions (eight) last year.