END OF AN ERA: DONAHUE RESIGNS : WHO’S NEXT? : Neuheisel, Tops List of Eight Candidates

Now what?

Now that Terry Donahue has finally turned in his whistle and dropped the reins of the UCLA football program after 20 years on the job, who will pick them up?

It’s too early to say with any certainty, but UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis plans on moving quickly, hoping to have a new coach in place by New Year’s Day. The more delay after that, the more the school’s recruiting effort will suffer.

Donahue’s announcement didn’t catch Dalis by surprise. Dalis said he had felt since the start of the season that Donahue might be walking into Dalis’ office around this time with a farewell announcement. So even though Dalis didn’t act on his hunch, not wishing to affect Donahue’s decision, he certainly has a mental list of candidates.

Among those figuring to be on it are:

Rick Neuheisel--In a perfect situation, he would probably be the choice. But the timing for Neuheisel, in terms of returning to Westwood where he was both a star quarterback and an assistant coach, is awful.

He has just completed his first season at Colorado, where he has been successful enough to get his team into the Cotton Bowl.

The other head-coach candidates--Kansas’ Glen Mason, Kansas State’s Bill Snyder, Oregon’s Mike Bellotti and Northwestern’s Gary Barnett.

The UCLA assistant candidates--Both defensive coordinator Bob Field and offensive coordinator Bob Toledo are interested. Dalis has said he’d talk to assistants applying.

Longshot--Rich Brooks, former Oregon coach, now finishing his first year with the Rams. A year ago, Brooks might well have been the favorite. Now he makes about twice as much as the $300,000-plus the UCLA job will pay.