NEW ORLEANS — It was a familiar airport scene on Tuesday, a bunch of people dressed in red telling each other sad stories about the previous day’s football misery.

Anyone who has made airplane journeys to Nebraska road games in recent years has witnessed this behavior the day after disappointment — visits to USC, Texas and Colorado come quickly to mind.

Except this time it was Ohio State fans, sitting around Gate C15 with pained expressions and sulky voices, taking it hard in the Big Easy.

A man with a big “O” on his hat shook his head as he stared at the very large photo on the front sports page of USA Today. There, smack in the center of the picture, was Bo Pelini, caught by a camera click in a moment of untamed celebration after an interception.

Nebraska fans hope this is just the beginning of Pelini causing heartache to other fan bases.

After Monday night’s BCS title game, a 38-24 victory for LSU over Ohio State, Pelini is now red all over, fully removed of his duties as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator.

“I’m sure going to miss him,” LSU coach Les Miles said Tuesday morning. “… He has all the qualities — intelligence, competitiveness, the ability to motivate players. I think he’s going to be a great coach at Nebraska, and we look forward to facing him in a game like this years from now.”

LSU defenders were similar in their sentiments after the game. Tigers’ defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, possibly the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, even joked that he wouldn’t mind going and playing a few snaps for Pelini the head coach.

“He’ll be a tremendous coach,” said LSU safety Craig Steltz. “Players love him. He’s a great person, not just on the field but off the field.”

LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson said it was an emotional pregame locker room as Pelini talked to his guys for the final time.

His last message to his LSU defense was a simple one.

“He just told us he loved coaching for us, he was going to miss us and that we had to go out for him and play for him one last time and put on a show for him,” Steltz said.    

Despite the pressure of holding two job titles at once, having been named NU’s coach on Dec. 2, Tigers’ players say it was the usual Pelini preparation heading into the title game.

Sophomore Harry Coleman, who would come in for an injured Steltz and have the game of his young college career, said Pelini was a tough coach when he had to be, but also cracked jokes to ease the tension leading up to the game, “just clowning.”

LSU gave up 133 yards within the game’s first six minutes, but then settled in, allowing 353 yards for the game, sacking Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman five times and forcing three Buckeyes’ turnovers.

“I don’t think he was ever able to get real comfortable,” Pelini said. “If a quarterback can’t get comfortable, you’re going to win most of the time.”

Ohio State did score three touchdowns, the second one bugging Pelini the most. The score came on a fourth-and-4 pass from the 5-yard line late in the third quarter. For a moment, it looked like the pass might be intercepted.

“Oh, we should’ve. Miscommunication over there. We should’ve held them,” Pelini said on the field after the game, still a tad annoyed at the thought of that play even amid the postgame celebration. “I knew what the route was, but what are you going to do?”

His wife, Mary Pat, stood nearby as purple and gold confetti rained down. The band blared and fans screamed so loud you could barely hear a person 5 feet from your face.

“This is why you’re in this game, that’s why you’re in this sport, to reach the pinnacle,” Pelini yelled above the noise. “Obviously, there’s nothing higher than a national championship. I’ve been fortunate. I’ve won a Super Bowl in the pros and now I’m part of a national champion. It’s just a dream come true.”

Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.