Bielema Back To The Big Ten? Could Be Headed To Nebraska? (UPDATED)

UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF STORY

Football Scoop.com is citing sources that Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eihorst has Arkansas

head coach Bret Bielema in his cross hairs and wants the Boss Hog to move north to Lincoln, Nebraska to coach the Cornhuskers.

Getty Images

Bielema and Eihorst have a relationship dating back to their Wisconsin days.  Eihorst wore many hats in the Badger athletic department from 2006 - 2011 moving up the latter as Deputy A.D. under Barry Alvarez.

Of course Bielema was the head coach of the Badgers.

The current Razorback head coach was asked about his commitment to Arkansas during a teleconference with local reporters.

“I took this opportunity without anybody knowing about it or hearing about it. … I’m not one of those coaches that gets my name involved or anything like that. When I started talking to Arkansas, I told them, ‘If my name comes out in a way other than my own release, then I’m going to be out of this conversation.' It’s just how I’ve always operated. … I can't tell you how excited I am for next year. Obviously, my commitment to Arkansas is long-term."

Should the two parties reach an agreement then Nebraska would have to pony up $2.5 million to buy out Bielema's contract.

Would Bielema bolt Arkansas to return to the Big Ten Conference?  Nebraska would seem to be a great fit for his system.

You have to ask why would he make that move to leave an Arkansas program that has some momentum.  

The carousel keeps spinning

Chris Low of ESPN.com spoke to Bielema Wednesday afternoon.

Talked to Bret Bielema and he said he's not going to Nebraska and that he's all Hog.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 3, 2014

Bielema has worked too hard to get the Hogs' program to a point where they can compete in the West to bolt now.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 3, 2014

BREAKING: Nebraska fires Bo Pelini

You gotta win some big games, Coach... (photo courtesy AP)

LINCOLN--Apparently seven consecutive winning seasons and an overall 67-27 record are not enough to keep a job as head coach of the University of Nebraska football program.

Mark "Bo" Pelini was relieved of his coaching duties this morning, after dropping two of his last three regular season games this season. He ended his Nebraska tenure by losing to #20 Wisconsin, #25 Minnesota, and then defeating Iowa in a shootout yesterday.

This was Pelini's first head coaching gig, and he never really established the Cornhuskers as a national championship-contending team. Consistency is one thing - Pelini won at least nine games every season. However, people in power in Lincoln apparently did not believe Pelini's leadership could take Nebraska to the next level in the Big Ten, or the BCS for that matter. He never won a conference championship at Nebraska, and we all know that's the death knell for a high profile college coach.

"Earlier this morning, I informed coach Bo Pelini of our decision to move forward in a new direction. Coach Pelini served our University admirably for seven years and led our football program’s transition to the Big Ten Conference,” Shawn Eichorst, Nebraska's athletic director, said in a press release this morning. “We wish Coach Pelini and his wonderful family all the best and thank him for his dedicated service to the University."

UNL chancellor Harvey Perlman expressed his confidence in Eichorst.

“I fully support Shawn’s decision to make a change in the leadership of our football program, and wish Bo and his family all of the best," Perlman said in a press release. "I am confident that Shawn will find the best coach, teacher and fit for this University and for our football program."

According to the Lincoln, NE Journal-Star's HuskerExtra, per Pelini's last contract, NU is on the hook to pay him $7.65 million, owing him $150,000 monthly for the next 51 months. All assistants coaches, and football strength coach James Dobson, were on contract until January 2016. They would be owed a total of just over $3.1 million combined.

A press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m.

More coming...

Nebraska Lineman's Ass Blocks Punt

There are no words that can describe this blocked punt.  Let the pictures do the talking.


That's right.  Sam Foltz's fumbles the snap from Nebraska long snapper Josh Faulkenberry throwing off the timing.  Then when Foltz tries to boot it he does right into the backside of 6-5, 305 pound teammate Zach Hannon.

Iowa's Drew Ott scooped up the blocked punt and ran it in for a touchdown.

Another oddity in the Heartland rivalry of Nebraska and Iowa.

Cole Netten's Boot Brings The Cy-Hawk Trophy Back To Iowa State 20-17 Over Iowa

Iowans from Des Moines to Davenport to Sioux City focused on the in - state battle between Iowa and Iowa State this Saturday.

Since 1977 the winner possess the Cy-Hawk Trophy to go along with in-state bragging rights.

Iowa State has only possessed the Cy-Hawk Trophy 13 times since 1977 but recent history has been swaying the Cyclones way.

Today at Kinnick Stadium the game went to the final seconds.

Iowa State kicker Cole Netten nailed a 42 yard field goal with two seconds left to give the Cyclones at 20-17 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes and for the third time in 4 years the Cy-Hawk Trophy will be housed in Ames.




"Being an Iowa State fan your whole life, this is something that it doesn't feel real," Netten said. "Like a dream is even pushing it."

"Obviously it was a tough loss for our football team." Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said.

The blame may be put on Ferentz who called time out earlier to freeze Netten who missed the field goal attempt.  It didn't count.


"I mean, there's not a lot of it's a 50/50 shot, you either call a timeout or you don't." Ferentz said.  "We called a timeout. We had one left and that's the reason I called it."

Iowa State quarterback Sam Richardson led the Cyclones completing 25 of 37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Today the hawkeyes wear black to mourn their loss to the Cyclones! IOWA STATE BEATS THE HAWKS 20-17!!
— Ames Problems (@AmesProbs) September 13, 2014

Cole Netten (@swollnetten) smiled and laughed and then kicked the Cy-Hawk game-winner through: http://t.co/X7FKOfMOdI pic.twitter.com/xaokp2xz7F
— Alex Halsted (@AlexHalsted) September 14, 2014  

Beating Iowa is Iowa State's equivalent of making the playoff, everything from here on out is a bonus. Congrats on a great 2014 season ISU!
— Tyler Ford (@tford_417) September 14, 2014

Virginia Tech Does The Hokie-Pokie At The Horseshoe - Hokies Stun #8 Buckeyes 35-21

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said back in July that he looks forward to playing games like
Ohio State.  Games like that let's you know where your program is.

Judging from Virginia Tech's 35-21 win over Ohio State at the horseshoe the Hokies are looking good.

"When you play good teams like we play, you’ve got about a 50-50 shot of winning and when you go on the road, it probably goes down a little bit." Beamer said.  "I think this is a big, big win for the program and for the status of our program.”


Not only was it a heart breaker for Ohio State many streaks went out the window.

It's the first time the Buckeyes had lost a home opener since 1978 ending a streak of 35 consecutive home openers.

It's the first time Ohio State has lost at home to an unranked non-conference opponent since 1982 when Florida State defeated the Buckeyes 34-17.

The loss to Virginia Tech also snaps Ohio State's 25 game regular season winning streak, the nations best.

"I'm a little bit surprised. I thought our skilled guys would perform better, I thought we'd protect a little better," Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said. "Coaches don't get surprised, we get disappointed. Obviously, we've just got to work a little harder."

Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer completed 23-36 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was 9 of 29 passing for 219 yards, one touchdown and 3 interceptions.

Barrett could not escape the Hokie defense who sacked him seven times.

Dadi Nicolas and Derek Di Nardo each sacked Barrett twice.

Ameer Abdullah Saves Nebraska

TED KIRK/Lincoln Journal Star

McNeese State, yes McNeese State almost pulled off an upset that the word stunning would not
apply.  Shocking wouldn't even be strong enough either.

The Cowboys from Lake Charles, Louisiana came to Lincoln and hung with the Cornhuskers.

In fact with the game tied at 24 with 20 seconds left until Nebraska finally got a big play.

Ameer Abdullah took a short pass from quarterback Tommy Armstrong, Jr. and had the run of the year so far breaking five tackles and taking it the distance 53 yards for the game winning touchdown.


Cornhusker Nation breathed a big sigh of relief as Nebraska escaped an embarrassing loss to Mc Neese State 31-24.

Final thought: I don't think it's hyperbole to say that @Ameerguapo single-handedly saved Nebraska football. #huskers
— Alex Lowe (@SteelSker) September 6, 2014

Today the Nebraska football team had to overcome their own coaching staff, as well as mcneese st's whole football team. Not right.
— Eric Bruening (@bruendawg) September 6, 2014

"Thank God for Ameer today"  Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said.

"We were doing a lot of man-to-man on third-and-long, so I saw an opportunity to go isolation with the linebacker so I wanted to make the most of it."  Abdullah said.  "So I caught the ball, cut back and scored."

"You know you just have to take into consideration that he's a playmaker"  Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong, Jr. said.." If he's going on with the mike, he just has to realize there's a possibility of getting a first down. That was the main focus, getting a first down. But it turned into four or five yard gain into a touchdown. I just have to applaud him for being the playmaker that he is."

"Got to give them credit, they found a way to win the game at the end."  McNeese head coach Matt Viator said.  "Great play by (Ameer) Abdullah."

One Pelini To Another: Fine, You Can Keep Her...

((HT: BTN))

This is what happens during Spring Football games... stuff that's not normal...

For those of you that follow Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini on the Twitter Machine, he has a fake account from someone else @FauxPelini and the avatar for that account has him looking like this (pictured right, thanks Fake Bo Pelini)...

So, you knew that with Spring Football being Spring Football, the slightly half-bubble off plumb Cornhuskers head coach would do something... Just not something involving Faux Bo's feline...

But he did...


Next move is yours... Faux Bo...

The 'Cuse Conquers Texas Bowl Defeating Minnesota 21-17

The Orange may have beaten the Gophers in the Texas Bowl but head coach Scott Shafer would have like to not have to stress over the outcome the entire game.

"I just couldn’t be happier with the results today, would have been nice if we could have just knocked them out and won by 17 or something, but that’s kind of not our way this year."  Shafer said.

Syracuse had a 14-3 lead in the third quarter before Minnesota rallied for two touchdowns to take a 17-14 lead.

This Mitch Leidner 55 yard touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky in the fourth quarter put Minnesota up 17-14.



The Orange have had to rally late in games to get a win.  Syracuse wouldn't have been deep in the heart of Texas Friday for the Texas Bowl if it wasn't for a last minute win over Boston College in the season finale to earn the sixth win.

Why not follow that script in the Texas Bowl.  

Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt sealed Texas Bowl MVP honors with a 12 yard touchdown run with 1:14 left to win it for the Orange.



Hunt completed 19 out of 29 passes for 188 yards and rushed for 74 yards and tow touchdowns.

"This young man at my left (QB Terrell Hunt) is really representative of what we are as a program, young man from New York (and) stayed in New York to come and play at Syracuse." Shafer saidl  (He) isn’t’ the prettiest guy in the world on the field yet, but he’s getting prettier by the minute."

Hunt may not be super model status yet but Shafer doesn't need beer goggles anymore.