Every year from 2008 through 2014, Nebraska won at least nine games and lost at least four games under head coach Bo Pelini. The Huskers fired him toward the end of 2014, meaning that year was technically only a 9-3 season for Bo, but times are tough, so we’re gonna count it as well.
Nebraska went 9-4 just 2 years after firing Bo Pelini, the king of going 9-4
There’s a bit more to it than that, but you’re just going to have to endure some laughter for a while.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t just the program stagnation that did it. There was a reasonable case for it, which included his rocky relationship with the local fanbase. (Two years later, NU is still talking about Pelini, which goes to show just how stressed things were.)
Nebraska hired Mike Riley from Oregon State, indicating it wanted a total break from Pelini’s style. Riley is widely known as one of the most pleasant and personable coaches in football, and he’d won slightly more games than one would expect during a long tenure at OSU. Still, he was at the top of nobody’s list.
Well! After a rough, 6-7 first year that included some unlucky breaks, the Huskers are back. Dropping the Music City Bowl to Tennessee brings Nebraska in at a healthy 9-4 for 2016, meaning in all but one year since 2007, they’ve gone either 9-4 or 10-4, with the only other year being much worse. Eight times in nine years!
That’s amazing! Not even making fun! Lots of programs would do anything to win nine games a year! Nebraska’s not one of them, but still!
Pelini, meanwhile, has Youngstown State in the FCS championship and might be a year or two away from getting another crack in the FBS.
Let’s check in on Bo’s Twitter alter ego:
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