CONTRACT CLAUSE MAY BLOCK BRUCE RESIGNATION

Football coach Earle Bruce's resignation at Northern Iowa has fueled speculation he soon will be named coach at Colorado State, but a contract clause may block his release.

Bruce resigned Saturday for "personal reasons" following his first season at the Division I-AA school in which he compiled a 5-6 record. Northern Iowa Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby said he hoped to name a new coach by the first week of January."He had a two-year, no-release clause in his contract where we wouldn't release him to another school," Bowlsby said Sunday of Bruce.

Northern Iowa Assistant Coach Tom Lichtenberg said he would be interested in the post. Bruce became the school's 22nd head football coach by succeeding Darrell Mudra, who retired last May.