Next coach must understand Nebraska football culture

Published 10:44 pm Sunday, November 25, 2007

LINCOLN, Neb. — The next Nebraska coach doesn’t necessarily have to have ties to the school, but Tom Osborne says the Cornhuskers’ next leader must have an understanding of the program’s unique culture and history.

LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who held the same job with the Huskers in 2003, and Buffalo coach Turner Gill, a former star quarterback at Nebraska, would qualify.

Pelini was interviewed by Osborne in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday, according to the Lincoln Journal Star, citing unidentified sources.

Buffalo athletic director Warde Manuel gave permission to Osborne, Nebraska’s interim athletic director, to speak with Gill, Buffalo sports information director Paul Vecchio told The Associated Press. He said an interview had not yet been scheduled.

Gill and Pelini didn’t return messages left by The Associated Press.

One of the criticisms of Bill Callahan, who was fired Saturday, was that he didn’t understand or appreciate the fans’ passion and high expectations. Both were inflated during Osborne’s coaching career, a 25-year period that saw the Huskers average 10 wins a season and win three national championships.

“I think it’s pretty important that they have a good grasp of it,” Osborne said of prospective candidates. “I think most people in football have a kind of peripheral sense of what it is like.”

Gill and Pelini top the list of names mentioned most often as possible successors to Callahan.

Gill quarterbacked the Huskers in the early 1980s and was an assistant under Osborne and Frank Solich. He left in 2004, after Callahan’s first season.

Pelini was the Huskers’ defensive coordinator under Solich in 2003 after working eight years as an NFL assistant.

Texas A&M has not contacted Tuberville: Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said he has not been contacted by Texas A&M officials seeking to hire a new coach, and doesn’t expect them to come calling. Tuberville said he would meet with athletic director Jay Jacobs today to begin talks that could lead to a contract extension.

Tebow injured: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has a broken right hand and will be in a cast for at least two weeks.

The Heisman Trophy hopeful sustained a non-displaced fracture in his non-throwing hand during his 5-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the third quarter against Florida State, team spokesman Steve McClain said Sunday.

Team doctors looked at his hand and did some tests on the sideline, but Tebow said he was OK to play and stayed in the game.

X-rays following Florida’s 45-12 victory revealed the severity of injury.

The Gators (9-3) probably will play in either the Capital One Bowl in Orlando or the Outback Bowl in Tampa on New Year’s Day, and they expect Tebow to be back in time to play.

Texas Bowl: Houston accepted an invitation Sunday to play in the hometown Texas Bowl on Dec. 28 against a Big 12 opponent.

Houston (8-4, 6-2 Conference USA) will be making its fourth bowl appearance in five years. The Cougars finished second in the C-USA West behind Tulsa after winning the conference last season.