Oh Boy: Bo Pelini Went on Rant Against Nebraska A.D After Firing

((ht: omaha.com))

Yikes! Talk about leaving the earth scorched behind you. And we're guessing that new Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini and Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst won't be exchanging Christmas Cards.

The Omaha World-Herald got ahold of an audio tape of Pelini's last meeting with his former team on December 2nd.

And in it, he calls Eichorst, someone he says wanted nothing to do with him or his team...a "total prick" and a "total cunt".

And that was only a small portion of the expletive filled rant that Pelini says was borne of his frustration and aggravation that had built during the last two years of his tenure.

Pelini added he's happy to now be somewhere where the school president (Former Ohio St. coach Jim Tressel) "Understands Football".

Geez...

Read the rest of the story from the Herald RIGHT HERE

Talk about leaving on bad terms. Pelini is currently due a pro-rated portion of his $7.9 million buyout. However there's talk that disparaging comments might affect that payout.

Either way, he's obviously happy to leave.

The question we have is this: If Pelini felt so comfortable saying this to his players and coaches, why would one or the other have leaked this rant?

Yeah....

We're guessing Nebraska's gift to Bo this year might be a box of kitty litter.

Here's a story on Pelini's arrival in Youngstown from WKBN-TV:

Uh Okay: Nebraska Hires Mike Riley

Raise your hands if you saw this coaching hire coming.

Nebraska has a new football coach--and no, it's not who you thought it might be. The Cornhuskers announced Wednesday afternoon they've hired now former Oregon State coach Mike Riley to be their new head coach.

Riley replaces Bo Pelini who was let go just over a week ago. He was at Oregon State for the past 14 years compiling a 93-80 record. His teams were competitive, but he was never able to compete with the remote Corvallis, Oregon location and the big Nike bucks fueling arch rival Oregon.

Riley inherits a Cornhusker program that has been good but not great for the past few seasons under Pelini. The Cornhusker alumni still imagine themselves a national power, which is no longer true, but brings added pressure to the job.

Props to Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst who conducted his search largely in the shadows. A rumor leaked earlier this week saying Eichorst had interest in Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, but that was quickly shot down.

The search was a direct contrast to the highly visible and shaky search conducted by Florida who finally announced their hire of Jim McElwain earlier in the morning.

Nebraska Fans Not Calling For Bo Pelini To Be Fired

Bo Pelini

{HT: Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star}

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini dared his athletic director Shawn Eichorst to fire him during a bizarre post game tirade during his press conference following the Cornhuskers 38-17 loss to Iowa.

Perhaps Husker fans are more "Pro-Bo"

After the game the Lincoln Journal Star surveyed Nebraska fans as to whether Bo Pelini should stay or go.

Norm Phiffer from Lincoln, NE says Bo should stay.

Nebraska A.D. Shawn Eichorst

"No, absolutely not. You can’t make changes every six years, change guys every six years and expect to have a successful program. We need to stay with what we’ve got.”

Husker fans don't take to kindly though to offensive coordinator Tim Beck or defensive coordinator John Papuchis.

"I think Tim Beck and John Papuchis should, be (fired) though."  Dan McMullen from Council Bluffs, Iowa said.  "I think they’re taking him down. I think Bo is a hell of a coach, but his coordinators will drag him down.”

The only opinion that matter is Eichorst who says he will evaluate Pellini's performance at the end of the season.

You wonder if Pelini teed up Eichorst to pull the trigger and fire him during his post game melt down in front of the assembled media.

It's going to be an interesting few days in Lincoln.

Iowa Beats Nebraska and Bo Pelini Dares Someone to Fire Him

It must be rough being Bo Pelini these days. Never mind what happened to brother Carl at Florida Atlantic, Bo's got his own problems.

Those problems start--and end with a restless Cornhusker fanbase who are increasingly unhappy with Pelini and his performance.

Iowa is the latest to add to the beat Nebraska war cry, beating the Cornhuskers 38-17 in Lincoln. The Hawkeyes took advantage of 2 Ron Kellogg III interceptions sending Nebraska to their 3rd home loss of the season.

The loss left Nebraska at 8-4 on the season, 5-3 in the Big 10, Iowa improves to the same record. And unfortunately, after a great win by Iowa, all anyone could talk about is Nebraska coach Bo Pelini.

Pelini has been under fire by alumni (most notably Tommy Frazier) and much of the fanbase for their perceived under-performance of the team. However, to fire the $3 million a year coach is going to take a lot of money and a big leap of faith by AD Shawn Eichorst.

For his part Pelini immediately added fuel to the fire by stating in his post game presser "If they want to fire me, go ahead" adding he was proud of his and the teams accomplishments and that the program is heading in the right direction.

And he may not totally be wrong.

It's not like Nebraska has been terrible. Though they haven't been the Nebraska of the 1990's and earlier. And that's something that the fans and alumni need to remember. For every coaching change that helps improve the program, consider what happened to Tennessee when they fired Philip Fulmer, the Vols haven't been relevant since that happened.

Your highlights from ESPN

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...

H.S Star Airlifted to Hospital After In-Game Hit (UPDATE)

((ht: espn.com))

Scary times for Apopka high school star QB Zack Darlington's family after he was airlifted to a South Carolina hospital during a game against Byrnes H.S Saturday afternoon on T.V.

Check out the video of Darlington getting crushed as he rolls out of bounds trying to throw a pass late in the 4th quarter.

According to reports, he laid motionless on the ground, unconscious after the hit, and was put on a stretcher as soon as medical personnel was able to get him on one.

Darlington, who has committed to play at the University of Nebraska was taken to a Spartanburg area hospital and according to his school's athletic director was conscious and moving, but appears to have a serious concussion.

His father, the coach of the team, left with family to go to the hospital shortly after the helicopter left the stadium.

Video is provided by ESPN here:



UPDATE: "The diagnosis is that he has a concussion and has to be under observation for 24 hours," Apopka athletic director Fred Priest told the Orlando Sentinel. "His parents (Rick, Apopka's coach, and Shelly) are staying here with him while the team returns home.'"

The HQ spent time with Darlington in his time as head coach at Valdosta (GA) High, and remembers his fondness for country music. Obviously, our thoughts are with everyone at Apopka.

Coaches Gone Wild: Bo Pelini Pranks Nebraska

And it continues.

A week full of college head coaches doing wild, crazy and sometimes wacky things to fire up the troops as they wind down training camp.

In this episode, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini goes to elaborate measures to put one over on his football team.

The players are waiting to be dismissed to attend "Movie Night" when the hilarity ensues...

((note--you have to watch all this video to get the joke))

7 Year-Old Gets TD At Nebraska Spring Game

((HT: BTN/Yarina))

And it's for a good reason...

Jack Hoffman, a seven-year-old Huskers fan, is fighting brain cancer. He formed a special bond with Nebraska's Rex Burkhead that started last season.

He attended this year's Red-White Spring Game and got a hand-off late in the game...
Easy to figure out what happened... even if we did give it away with the headline...

Here's the highlight... and it's all that...


Just cool...

Your Inflatable Nebraska Mascot Drug Induced Video of the Day

The headline is the only explanation we could think of since there's apparently no context for this.

Check out this somewhat strange, techno-music produced video of an inflatable University of Nebraska mascot break dancing and other things in an arena surrounded by other mascots.

It's either a dream sequence or someone is doing to much ecstasy. It's the only explanation that makes any sense.