Here's the article from the Chronicle.
Dec. 4, 2002, 7:48AM
Prairie View A&M fires football coach Dorsey
By RICHARD DEAN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Fighting an uphill battle because of a lack of scholarships, Larry Dorsey was fired Tuesday as Prairie View A&M's head football coach.
Last season, Prairie View athletic officials were singing the praises of Dorsey, and he was given a two-year contract extension in February. Now, after a 1-10 season, it's out the door at the Southwestern Athletic Conference school, which competes in football on the NCAA Division I-AA level.
"I met with (athletic director) Charles McClelland and the chairman of the athletic department and they asked me to step down," said Dorsey, who was 5-27 in three seasons at Prairie View. "They said they just wanted to go in another direction."
Dorsey had only 15 scholarships available this year and was without one of his defensive coaches when Vernon Perry elected to coach golf.
The school said last month that it will have a full allotment of 63 scholarship football players next season, the maximum for I-AA schools.
"I wanted another year," said Dorsey, who is known for his pass-happy offenses and upbeat personality. "I guess it's part of the business. They weren't happy with a 1-10 season.
"It's nothing where I broke any rules. It's my understanding we made some steps backward. We didn't live up to what (the administration) was looking for."
Dorsey said Tuesday all that needs to be worked out is a contract settlement. He had three years remaining on his contract.
"My biggest thing is to get it done," said Dorsey, who previously was head coach at Mississippi Valley State for nine years "Give me my money, and I'll move on."
Dorsey said he had no ill feelings toward McClelland or the university.
"I have nothing against Charles McClelland," said Dorsey, who signed a four-year contract when he arrived at Prairie View in July 2000. "This is what they wanted to do. I wish the best for them. They've been good to me. I can see their side, too."
In 2001, Dorsey's second at Prairie View A&M, the Panthers were 3-7, their most wins since going 5-5 in 1988. But this year's 1-10 record included an 0-7 mark in the SWAC, and the only victory came against NAIA member Paul Quinn.
In 2000, the Panthers snapped a 67-game losing streak in SWAC play with a 25-22 win against Alcorn State.
"We felt we had a good program," said Dorsey. "We did the best with what we had. I don't know. It's tough. Disappointing."
Five victories in three seasons under Dorsey actually represented something of a resurgence for Prairie View. In 1990, the school dropped football for one year for financial reasons. The program was reinstated in 1991 without scholarships, and the Panthers went on to lose an NCAA-record 80 consecutive games, ending the streak in 1998.
The firing of Dorsey is the second move involving Prairie View's highest profile sports this year. In March, longtime men's basketball coach Elwood Plummer was fired.
That change already has produced positive results as the Panthers won at the University of Houston and played competitively against No. 6 Oklahoma under new coach Jerome Francis Jr.