DURHAM - A day after Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson and former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell interviewed for the Duke football job, Vanderbilt University sent out a statement that said Johnson had removed his name from consideration.

Dorrell's name was still in play though neither he nor Don Yee, his Los Angeles-based agent, could be reached for comment on Tuesday.

It has been 15 days since former Duke coach Ted Roof was fired, and Duke athletic director Joe Alleva began his search for a coach with experience at a NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision school.

Alleva has remained silent throughout the search. He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but others are trying to get his attention in creative ways.

On Saturday, a petition surfaced on the Duke Basketball Report Web site that aims to push Alleva to interview current Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel.

Neuheisel, 46, held head coaching positions at Colorado (28-19 from 1995-98) and Washington (33-16 from 1999-2002). He interviewed for the Georgia Tech job that is now held by former Navy coach Paul Johnson.

Neuheisel doesn't have to wait if Duke wants to pounce. The Carroll County (Md.) Times reported Nov. 26 that Neuheisel has received the blessing of Ravens' head coach Brian Billick to entertain offers.

Usually NFL coaches must seek permission from their general managers to entertain other job offers during the season, a privilege rarely granted.

Other potential interview targets such as East Carolina's Skip Holtz, whose name had been mentioned for the Arkansas job, and Ball State's Brady Hoke, who has been mentioned for the Michigan job, do have to wait.

Holtz and Hoke currently are preparing their teams for bowl games. The Pirates leave Monday morning for Hawaii. They meet Boise State at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 23 and are scheduled to return at noon on Christmas Eve.

Ball State plays Rutgers in the International Bowl on Jan. 5.

East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland said late last week that no school had officially requested permission to speak to Holtz, though that doesn't preclude back-channel overtures.