This time of year often sees sparks lighting under various coaching hot seats around the country, most notably at high-profile college football programs. Two in the Big Ten that seem to have some pressure on them this fall can be found at Michigan with Brady Hoke and Nebraska with Bo Pelini. Neither coach is likely to be fired at the end of the season but both coaches are being looked to raise the bar at their respective programs. While Hoke has seen the win total diminish each season he has been in Ann Arbor, Pelini has been holding steady with identical 9-4 seasons for a few years running. Still, some expect more from Nebraska.
As far as Nebraska Athletics Director Shawn Eichorst is concerned, Pelini has no reason to worry about his job status. Eichorst says the Nebraska football program is in stable condition with Pelini at the helm and there is no need to make any changes.
''I really enjoy what he brings to the table,’' Eichorst said to the Associated Press. ''He’s the first to admit he’s kind of walked that line a little bit. Everybody is different. You’ve got calm and collected, high strung and everything in between. I try not to make judgments about that.’'
Eichorst has done his part to ensure Pelini has extra resources available to compete at a high level at a time when recruiting trends seem to be moving away from Nebraska, so there appears to be no tension between Pelini and the athletics director when it comes to the direction of the football program in Lincoln.
“We’ve done everything they’ve asked us to do, within reason, so to me that should be a sign of support right there,” Eichorst said.
Nebraska has not won a conference championship since winning the Big 12 title in 1999. The Huskers ended their run in the Big 12 with back-to-back Big 12 championship game appearances, falling to Texas and Oklahoma, and were trounced in the one Big Ten championship game they have played in their first three seasons in the new conference.
