Bill McCartney Blasts Embree Firing, Short List Made For Next Hire

DENVER (CBS4) - With Jon Embree out as the University of Colorado football coach, the school has wasted no time in their search for a new coach.

A short list of candidates has been made and the salary is in place. CU hopes to make a hire in the next 10 days -- the sooner the better for recruiting purposes.

The new coach will be paid upwards of $2.5 million annually, placing him in the top 25 percent of Division I salaries.

Meanwhile, team leaders are doing their part to keep the team intact. Receiver Paul Richardson hated to see Embree go, but said it's not going to keep him from honoring his commitment. He's hoping his teammates do the same.

"I'm going to try to get a group of kids together who I consider to be leaders on the team and try to address the team together and make sure we're all on the same page as far as working hard to finish the semester off in school first," Richardson said. "And whatever group we get next, just to work with them to help turn this program around."

Some names that have been talked about to replace Embree are Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn and Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter. DeRuyter is in his first year at Fresno State and compiled a 9-3 record, so he's a hot commodity.

In the meantime, former CU coach Bill McCartney took to his radio show to show his continued support for Embree and hopes the university will reconsider.

"Men and women of Colorado, don't let this happen, please weigh in. This is wrong, it undermines the values of the university," McCartney said. "This is a great school, Boulder is special place."

He went on to say that the university should honor the rest of athletic director Mike Bohn's contract and Bohn should do the same for Embree.