Browns assistant withdraws name for UCLA position

Rip Scherer, the Cleveland Browns’ quarterbacks coach, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the UCLA offensive coordinator position, sources familiar with the search said.

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel is expected to hire a coordinator within the next few days, the sources said, as he will wait on former USC coordinator Norm Chow to decide whether he wants to join the Bruins’ staff.

Chow, fired as the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator this week, has two years remaining on his contract with the Titans that will pay him more than $1 million a year.

Scherer, Baltimore Ravens quarterback coach Jedd Fisch and former UCLA and Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges were interviewed before Chow became available.

Chow said he has not spoken with Neuheisel, but confirmed that Neuheisel and Carter Chow, who is his son and agent, have had discussions.

-- Chris Foster

Former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett has transferred to Arkansas and will have three years of eligibility after sitting out the 2008 season. The 6-foot-7 freshman played in 11 games for the Wolverines before leaving after Rich Rodriguez replaced retiring coach Lloyd Carr.

Mallett was 61 for 141 for 892 yards with seven touchdown passes and five interceptions last season while filling in for an injured Chad Henne.

Defensive back Patrick Chung, Oregon’s leading tackler last season, withdrew his name from the NFL draft and will play his senior season in Eugene. . . . Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell is one of four players not enrolled in classes this semester. The university said in a release that privacy laws preclude it from commenting any further, but the announcement comes one day after a new semester started at Virginia, suggesting the players are academically ineligible. . . . Notre Dame starting nose tackle Pat Kuntz is not enrolled in school for the spring semester for what he termed “personal reasons.” Kuntz said he plans to return to Notre Dame, possibly as early as this summer, and hopes to play for the Irish this fall.

HOCKEY

Ramage is sentenced to four years in prison

Former NHL player Rob Ramage was sentenced to four years in prison at Newmarket, Canada, for a 2003 crash that killed ex-Chicago Blackhawks player Keith Magnuson.

Magnuson, 56, died at the scene when a rental car driven by Ramage slammed head-on into another car north of Toronto. In October, a jury found Ramage guilty on all five charges he faced, including impaired driving causing death.

Colorado center Paul Stastny had surgery to remove his appendix and will miss up to three weeks. . . . Goalie Curtis Joseph signed a $1.5-million, one-year contract with the Calgary Flames.

MISCELLANY

Deal for Mayweather, De La Hoya fight close

Negotiations for a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Oscar De La Hoya rematch are nearing a conclusion, and an announcement of a September fight between the pair is expected by next week at the latest, Golden Boy Promotions executive Richard Schaefer said.

Carson’s Home Depot Center and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas have emerged as the finalists for the site. The fight could be a non-title bout with a weight limit between welterweight (147 pounds) and super-welterweight (154 pounds).

Mayweather (39-0, 25 knockouts) beat De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) by split decision May 5.

-- Lance Pugmire

Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein never agreed to play for Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC, his agent, Mike Gartlan, said.

Earlier this week Maccabi Tel-Aviv reported on its website that Bornstein had agreed to join the team.

Also, Chivas USA acquired 2004 MLS Cup MVP Alecko Eskandarian from Real Salt Lake for allocation money.

-- Jaime Cardenas

Parker Bohn III went 7-1 in the first round of match play to take the top spot heading into the final two rounds in the Professional Bowlers Assn.’s Motel 6 Dick Weber Open at Fountain Bowl. Pete Weber, looking to make the finals for the first time in his father’s event, went 4-4 and is in eighth place. All 24 bowlers return today at 11 a.m. for the final two rounds.

Cycling’s Amgen Tour of California announced that 17 teams, including No. 1-ranked Team CSC, will compete at this year’s race that begins Feb. 17 in Palo Alto and finishes Feb. 24 in Pasadena.