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...

Tommie Frazier vs. Bo Pelini: Nebraska Mad (Madder Now That 2 Year Old Effing Rant Is Out...?)

My, my, my...it sure appears that the faithful followers of the Nebraska Cornhuskers (a) have short memories and (b) both the fans and coaches have awfully thin skin.

The Cornhusker faithful were rather vocal after their school got trounced by the UCLA Bruins on Saturday night in Lincoln 41-21.

And no, while the team hasn't returned to their success of the 1970's, where they were regular contenders for the national title, they've won 9 games per year for the past 5 years under coach Bo Pelini. But Pelini hasn't gotten them to the promised land, a BCS game.

But that appears to not be enough.

Former Nebraska QB Tommie Frazier (@touchdowntommie) was perhaps one of the most critical of the game Saturday, taking to Twitter:

After letting it sink in for about 4 hours I still struggling. It's time to get rid of the defensive play caller, the Dc, lb dl and db coaches. I hate saying this but this crap is getting old. How in the hell do you not make adjustments or put your players in the position to compete? If this is what is going to happen for the remainder of the season, count me out. I don't care if we lose a game but the way we are losing is just not what #Nebraska fans deserve. I have fought, bled, and cried over this program. I didn't do all that for the program to become what it has today. Time for change! I will comment about the offense this week on Tommie's X's and O's. Trust me you don't want to miss it. #Huskers

That angered Pelini who was asked about the comment at his Monday press availability. His response per Steven Sipple of Huskers Extra "If he feels like that, we don't need him"

To which Frazier said; "I said what I said, He's right: He doesn't need me. He needs someone to help him. But what he's doing is not what the Nebraska fans deserve, period".

The Huskers are 2-1 this season, which is far from over. Sure they've given up 29 points a game, which isn't a good sign. But they play in the crappy Big 10, where anyone has a chance. They play the FCS South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Saturday before the conference schedule kicks in.

Our thoughts: Quit whining bitches. Yeah, sure, you can get rid of Pelini, who's probably not going to be Tom Osborne. But he's not Bill Callahan either. Consider the next guy may not be as good as the guy you currently have.

You good with that?

Keep some perspective. You'll never be what you were in the 1970's and early '80's. Very few ever are.

In the meantime, keep the public feud going, it's a great way to keep Sports Writers and Bloggers entertained.

In case you didn't see the above mentioned UCLA game:



PM UPDATE: And, now Pelini has had to apologize for a rant that he had two years ago talking about effing-Nebraska fair weather fans...
((HT: LostLettermen))


"I want to sincerely apologize for my comments from two years ago which became public today," Pelini said in a statement. "I take full responsibility for these comments. They were spoken in a private room following the Ohio State game. I was venting following a series of emotional events which led to this moment. That being said, these comments are in no way indicative of my true feelings. I love it here in Nebraska and feel fortunate to be associated with such a great University and fan base. I again apologize to anyone whom I have offended."

Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman said he was disappointed by the comments:

"We are taking some time to consider it and what impact it would have on the university."

Athletic director Shawn Eichorst said he talked to Pelini about the rant.

"I am disheartened and disappointed by the 2011 comments published today attributed to Coach Pelini about our dedicated and passionate fans and supporters," Eichorst said in a statement. "I have spoken with Chancellor Perlman and I have addressed the situation with Bo and expressed our deep concern."

The HQ thinks the other Pelini in Florida may last at his job longer than the one in Lincoln...