BOULDER, Colo. » Saint Louis School graduate Brian Cabral was named interim head coach at Colorado yesterday after the school fired Dan Hawkins.

Cabral will serve as interim coach for the final three games of the season, beginning Saturday against Iowa State.

Cabral, 54, who coaches the inside linebackers, is the longest-tenured assistant in school history at 21 seasons. He served as interim coach once before, in the spring of 2004, when Gary Barnett was suspended.

"Here we go again," smiled Cabral, who’s hoping to be considered for the opening. "My role again is very much like last time I sat here. My role, without a doubt, is to stand in the gap. … My role is to calm the storm."

Athletic director Mike Bohn said the school’s financial constraints mean he won’t be able to pursue just anyone to be the next coach because the higher profile names earn about $4 million annually, way out of the Buffs’ price range.

Bohn fired Hawkins three days after the biggest meltdown in school history put a cap on his five failed seasons with the Buffaloes. Bohn said the search for a new coach would begin immediately.

Auburn defends Newton

Auburn found itself defending quarterback Cam Newton for the second time in five days, this time adamantly sticking up for the Heisman hopeful in the wake of allegations of academic cheating when he was at Florida.

The second-ranked Tigers’ coach Gene Chizik dismissed the latest report as "pure garbage" yesterday in an emotional 4-minute, 25-second rant.

"I’m standing up here on a very important week trying to defend something that’s garbage," Chizik said. The Tigers face Georgia on Saturday.

Foxsports.com reported Monday that Newton was caught cheating three times and was to appear for a hearing in front of Florida’s Student Committee facing possible expulsion during the spring semester of 2009.

Newton transferred to Blinn Junior College where he played last season. He declined to discuss the latest report, which came on the heels of former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond saying someone claiming to represent the Newton family sought money during his recruitment by the school.

Oregon’s backup QB out

Backup quarterback Nate Costa will need season-ending surgery for a right knee injury suffered in Saturday’s victory over Washington.

Costa was hurt when he bobbled a field goal attempt — he also serves as the holder — and was tackled as he tried to scramble to the sideline with the ball. He was taken from the field on a cart.