According to LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith, the defensive coordinator told the team before the game that he was leaning toward taking the Nebraska job and that it's his dream job.

LSU players say Pelini appears headed to NU

the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:00 pm

ATLANTA — If Bo Pelini’s not going to be the next head football coach at Nebraska, he sure delivered an odd pre-game speech to his Louisiana State defense before Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game.

According to several LSU players, Pelini told his team that coaching at Nebraska was his dream job.

“He said he’s leaning toward taking the job and that it’s his dream,” LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith said after LSU’s 21-14 win against Tennessee. “We understand that, so we came out and played hard for him.”

After the win, the defensive coordinator was doused with water by players and presented a game ball.

A source close to the Nebraska situation says NU officials were preparing to possibly have a news conference to announce a new coach today or Monday.

Though it was reported Friday night that Pelini was going to be the next Husker coach, Nebraska interim athletic director Tom Osborne would not comment on the reports.

Randy York, associate athletic director for communications, said Saturday night that Osborne still had no comment on the situation.

It would be the 39-year-old Pelini’s first head coaching job. It’s assumed he would not coach LSU in a bowl game, unless the Tigers were in the national title game, an outside possibility after Saturday night’s upsets.

Obviously, nothing is set, but past interviews indicate that leading candidates to be part of Pelini’s staff at Nebraska would include Marvin Sanders, Carl Pelini, Barney Cotton and Ron Brown. It also seems likely that NU current assistant Shawn Watson could be on the staff.

Earlier Saturday, Charles Weems, a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, told the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate that Pelini going to Nebraska appeared to be a done deal.

Said Weems: “I think it’s pretty clear, and it’s our idea that Bo will be the next coach at Nebraska.”