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Nebraska Players Meet With Fired Coach Bo Pelini

By Phil Watson

Oct 25, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini watches from the sideline during the game against Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini watches from the sideline during the game against Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Many players reacted strongly and negatively to the firing of Bo Pelini at Nebraska this weekend and they had a chance to meet with the deposed coach on Tuesday.

It can be one of the hardest thing for a college athlete to cope with—the firing of a coach.

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It’s different for a college kid. This coach visited you, recruited you, believed in you, invested in you. So when that coach is subsequently fired, it can be an emotional jolt for an athlete.

Nebraska’s players experienced that first-hand last weekend when coach Bo Pelini was fired after seven years on the job.

Many of them expressed their unhappiness with the move on social media when it happened Sunday.

On Tuesday, the players had a chance to meet with Pelini to hear his perspective on the decision and to, well, say goodbye.

There was a report on FootballScoop.com that indicated athletic director Shawn Eichorst was locked into one name as a replacement for Pelini—former Wisconsin and current Arkansas coach Bret Bielema.

That would make sense. Eichorst worked in the athletic department at the University of Wisconsin from 2006-11. Bielema’s tenure as head coach also began in 2006.

However, if Bielema were to leave Arkansas—he’s been there two seasons and has gone 9-15, including 6-6 this season—it would require a $2 million buyout if he left before Jan. 1. The amount of the buyout gradually decreases after that date.

It may be a moot point. According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Bielema is staying in Fayetteville.

Then again, Nick Saban was going to remain with the Miami Dolphins and he did … right up until the moment he left for Alabama.

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