Former Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini "repeatedly blasted" AD Shawn Eichorst during a team meeting immediately following his dismissal as coach, "providing a window into his strained -- almost nonexistent -- relationship with his former boss," according to a front-page piece by Dirk Chatelain of the OMAHA WORLD-HERALD. Pelini told the players, "A guy like (Eichorst) who has no integrity, he doesn’t even understand what a core value is. And he hasn’t understood it from the day he got here. I saw it when I first met with the guy. To have core values means you have to be about something, you have to represent something that is important to you. He’s a f------ lawyer who makes policies. That’s all he’s done since he’s been here: Hire people and make policies to cover his own ass." Chatelain writes Pelini's rant, of which audio was recorded, offers "a rare glimpse into the mindset of a coach who increasingly felt besieged by his own administration and fan base." Pelini on the tape said of Eichorst, "I didn’t really have any relationship with the AD. Nebraska's athletic department responded with a statement yesterday afternoon, "making clear that Pelini’s pattern of unprofessional behavior played a role in his firing." Chatelain notes Pelini's contract "doesn’t show any specific 'non-disparagement' language that would reduce his buyout -- $150,000 per month, mitigated by money made" in his new contract with Youngstown State as head coach (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 12/18).
DOOMED FROM THE START? ESPN.com's Mitch Sherman wrote Pelini's comments "reveal a significant rift" between the coach and the AD, which is "no surprise." The support of Eichorst and NU Chancellor Harvey Perlman "appeared to waver in September 2013 after the release of a two-year-old audio tape in which Pelini criticized Nebraska fans." Eichorst "offered a statement of support for Pelini," although their relationship "was always suspected to be icy." Eichorst "was thrust on Pelini two years ago." The two were "cut from different cloths" and "had little chance to make it work" (ESPN.com, 12/17).
