Bo Pelini has entered a time of great uncertainty in his career as the head football coach at Nebraska. After a tough loss to UCLA on Saturday, former Cornhuskers quarterback Tommie Frazier ranted on Twitter about how the program deserves better and is in need of a change. Pelini later fired back by saying the team doesn’t need the support of Frazier, who was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this year.
It gets better. On Monday, Deadspin received a recording from a tipster that was allegedly taped on Oct. 8, 2011 after Nebraska erased a three-touchdown deficit to beat Ohio State at home. Moments before beginning his postgame interview with Greg Sharpe of the Husker Sports Network, Pelini began venting to Sharpe and an unidentified woman. He was furious with the Omaha World-Herald’s Dirk Chatelain for criticizing him in a column. He also took aim at Chatelain’s colleague Tom Shatel.
“Tom Shatel, f— him, too,” Pelini said. “He wants to walk out after my press conferences. I’m gonna say, ‘Get the f— away from me. I’m done with you, motherf—er.”
Pelini was clearly feeling an adrenaline rush after a huge win and wanted a piece of everyone who doubted him. Sharpe pointed out that many of the Nebraska students and fans left at halftime after the Huskers dug themselves into a hole. Pelini went off on them next.
“It took everything in my power to not say, ‘F– you, fans. F— all of you.’ F— ’em,” he said. “Our crowd. What a bunch of fucking fair-weather f—ing — they can all kiss my ass out the f—ing door. ‘Cause the day is f—ing coming now. We’ll see what they can do when I’m f—ing gone. I’m so f—ing pissed off.”
The day didn’t come back then, but it may be coming now. Nebraska has lost three straight bowl games and Pelini and the program seem to be running out of patience with one another. Pelini later issued a statement apologizing for the remarks he made two years ago.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my comments from two years ago which became public today. 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.”
If the Cornhuskers coast through a mediocre season going forward, this could very well be the end of the road for Pelini. Audio of the NSFW rant can be heard below:
