Minorities are getting more interviews but still aren't getting enough college football jobs, according to the Black Coaches and Administrators.

Almost one-third of the candidates interviewed last year were minorities, said a study released yesterday by the group, but only four were hired for 31 head coach openings in NCAA Division I football.

The recent firings of Ty Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State — both effective at the end of the season — left the Bowl Subdivision, the NCAA's top division, with only four black head coaches, plus one Latino and one Pacific Islander.

"In the world of college football, the facts and statistics reflect an unmistakable bias and a systemic problem that has yet to be fixed. My deep concern is, 'Why are the college football hiring practices out of synch?' " said BCA executive director Floyd Keith, who did not have an answer to his question.

"The message in this report is the process is being followed, but the poor hiring results continue," he said.

NEW MEXICO STATE

MUMME DECLINED DEAL

New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme never signed a one-year contract extension the university offered last year, athletic director McKinley Boston disclosed yesterday.

The deal proposed after last season would have stretched the coach's contract through the 2010 season. Boston said Mumme declined the offer.

"I offered him an extension and he chose not to sign it. I chose not to make it public information," Boston told the Las Cruces Sun-News.

Mumme's current contract expires after the 2009 season. He signed the five-year agreement when he was hired before the 2005 season.

SMU

3 STARTERS SUSPENDED

SMU coach June Jones suspended three starters for the final two games of the season under his "three strikes" rule.

Receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson and linebacker Justin Smart are out for the rest of the season, The Dallas Morning News reported in its online edition yesterday.

Under Jones' "three strikes" rule, a player can pick up a strike for missing or being late to practice, team meetings and study halls, among other violations.