Nebraska Fans React to Coach Bo Pelini’s Firing

Like most Americans on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was traveling home after a great extended weekend. Traveling through Nebraska in fact. Having stopped off along the midway point to fuel up, I just happened to check my phone somewhere near North Platte and saw BREAKING: Nebraska Fires Pelini. It was a big surprise to say the least considering how that Husker team came back on Friday to defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes having been down at one point 24-7. Surprising that it happened that sudden, but not surprised that it happened at all. Nebraska finished the regular season at 9-3 and can expect a decent bowl, but without their coach Bo. Most would say that the Cornhusker faithful was just tired of losing 3 to 4 games a year and not even competing for a Big Ten Title much less a National Title. Husker Nation had become Mediocre Nation.

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I drove a bit further and wondered what the Nebraska fan base was thinking since the news was just a half an hour old. Then it dawned on me that I was smack dab in the middle of Nebraska, why not stop and ask a few people what their thoughts were? Cause if there’s one thing for certain, Cornhusker fans are a diehard bunch who love to talk pigskin. Polite as they are, it’s a hotbed issue for them, especially since the hiring of Bo Pelini seven years back. The old journo in me got hyped and although it was 10 degrees outside in York Nebraska, I braved the elements to get the ‘immediate’ reaction. The down low if you will. Some of their answers might seem safe but you could tell a difference in what Nebraska football is now by age group and what the perception was from the last guy I spoke with. I just asked one question to all of them.

Ten steps into the truck stop and I saw a lady standing in line with a gray Nebraska sweatshirt on and a red Cornhusker ear protector on. I introduced myself and asked away.

‘What were your thoughts on Coach Pelini’s dismissal?’

Linda W.-34, Alliance: ‘I think it was a long time coming. I mean I hate for anyone to lose their job, but maybe since they fought so hard on Friday, (Nebraska came back to beat Iowa 37-34 in overtime) it might’ve carried over into next season. They could’ve at least seen what would’ve happened in the bowl game I guess.’

Mark B.-42, Sidney: ‘He was better than Callahan!’ (In reference to the previous coach at Nebraska from 2004-2007)

Joe C.-55, ‘Really?! That just happened? (I pull out my phone to show him headline) Wow! Can’t say I didn’t see that coming. But…When you’re the coach at Nebraska, you’re always in the shadow of Osbourne, always in the shadow of those National Titles, those Big 8 and Big 12 Championships, Heisman winners and ‘Blackshirt Defenses.’ Giving up 70 to Wisconsin a couple of years back in prime time and 400 some odd yards on the ground a few weeks back. That’s not Nebraska Football. Hmm…Wow…Can I see that again?’

The last two people I spoke with were a father and son who had traveled to Omaha for Thanksgiving and were on their way back to Scottsbluff. They both had Nebraska stocking caps on. It was here that I saw the biggest difference in reaction. First the son James, 22.

‘I think he deserved another year. I mean who else are we going to bring in? He was a player’s coach and sure he was fiery on the sidelines but these things take time and I think Bo was headed in that direction.’

Then the dad, Joseph, 52, spoke up. He looked menacing.

‘I’m tired of the excuses. You know he called out the Nebraska fans last year don’t you? (In 2013 a recording was discovered from 2011 where Pelini was heard dropping a few F-Bombs towards what he called ‘Fairweather Fans’) I say ‘good riddance.’ Sure the recruits loved him, his players loved him, but it’s not how we do things. Nebraska Football doesn’t get 70 put on ‘em. Doesn’t lose 3-4 games a year. Doesn’t have it’s coach lose it on the sideline once or twice a year. Seven years was about 3 years too long. Nebraska had it right with Solich. (Frank Solich, Head Coach at Nebraska from 1998-2003) Made it to the Title Game, Crouch won the Heisman. The past 10 plus years we’ve been stuck with a hothead and an idiot. Don’t know who we’re going to get, maybe Frost (Scott Frost, former starting QB at Nebraska and current Offensive Coordinator at Oregon.) but I’m just glad Pelini’s out.’

There you have it. The ‘immediate’ reaction from Husker fans. You can tell the contrast between a 22 year old who’s used to losing 3 to 4 games a year to a Husker fan in his 40’s or 50’s who remembers Rozier, Gill, Crouch, Remington, and Osbourne. Nebraska Football needs to get back to prominence…before a new generation of Cornhusker fans decides it’s okay to be mediocre…