NOTEBOOK: TEXAS RUNNING BACK BENSON CHARGED.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Texas running back Cedric Benson was charged Tuesday with forcing his way into an apartment to look for a television he said was stolen from him.

Benson, also a minor-league outfielder in the Dodgers' organization, was charged with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine if convicted, Austin, Texas, police official Laura Albrecht said. Bond was set at $10,000.

Texas' leading rusher turned himself in to the Travis County Jail and was released, said his attorney, Brian Carney.

Benson was a 12th-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2001. The Dodgers declined comment because it's a legal matter.

--Criteria set: The Black Coaches Association will use a five-part system next year to evaluate hiring practices in Division I-A, with the group's goal to have 20 percent of all new coaches, dating to last year, be minority hires.

The association said it will grade individual schools on the number of contacts it has with the BCA's executive director, the percentage of minorities involved in the hiring process, the number of minority candidates interviewed, the length of time involved in the search process and how the process compares to institutional affirmative-action policies.

Last year, one black head football coach was hired - UCLA's Karl Dorrell. There are only four black coaches in Division I-A football: Dorrell, Notre Dame's Tyrone Willingham, San Jose State's Fitz Hill and New Mexico State's Tony Samuel.

--Ex-Colorado QB in coma: Former Colorado quarterback John Hessler was in a coma after a Sunday hit-and-run accident in Denver.

Hessler, 29, who had a collapsed lung and a major head injury, was in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital, school officials said.

--Johnson might be suspended: Penn State coach Joe Paterno might suspend leading receiver Tony Johnson, who has been charged with drunken driving.

Paterno said he has not decided on a punishment for Johnson, though he is considering a suspension for a game ``just because I have to send a message to the squad that it is inappropriate to be out in the middle of the week having a couple of drinks.''

Johnson, 21, a senior, was pulled over early Thursday.

--Also: Illinois quarterback Jon Beutjer, the Big Ten Conference passing leader last season, will miss the rest of the season with a back injury. He has a herniated disc and will have surgery within the next several weeks, coach Ron Turner said. ... Texas A&M receiver Jamaar Taylor is out for the season with a right knee injury. He was only 36 yards shy of passing Bethel Johnson as the school's all-time leading receiver. ... Harold ``Hal'' Lahar, twice the coach at Colgate University after a brief career as a pro player, died Monday in Dallas at age 84.