LINCOLN — Bo Pelini broke his silence on being connected to the University of Miami head coaching job just after noon on Friday, saying such reports are untrue.
"The reports that I am preparing to interview at the University of Miami are false," he said in a prepared statement released by the Nebraska athletic department. "I will not have any additional comment on this matter or any other rumors."
In the same release, Nebraska issued the following statement from Athletic Director Tom Osborne: "Bo has done an excellent job of leading our football program at Nebraska over the past three years. We're looking forward to having Bo and our coaching staff lead our team in the Holiday Bowl and as we transition into the Big Ten next year."
It was thought that Pelini would make his first public statements on the matter after football practice on Friday, NU's first since the Big 12 title game loss to Oklahoma on Dec. 4. However, with the statements issued by both Pelini and Osborne, the university informed media that there would be no availability at today's practice.
The first media availability will be on Monday, the statement said.
Reports connecting Pelini to the Miami job first surfaced on Wednesday.
A Florida newspaper reported on its website Thursday afternoon that Miami Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt had spoken with Pelini about the coaching job, but that Pelini had not been offered the job. The news outlet cited two people with knowledge of the search.
"He is in the mix," one of the sources reportedly said.
Pelini has not responded to attempts by the World-Herald to reach him. However, when reached late Wednesday, Pelini said he would "not respond to rumors and innuendos."
Osborne's only comment on the matter was through a secretary, who said Osborne told her to tell to tell callers: "There's nothing to comment on."
Meanwhile, as attention centered on Miami's interest in Pelini, a couple of Nebraska assistants were reportedly being courted by other programs as well.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is believed to remain a candidate for the open head coaching position at Vanderbilt. Rivals.com is reporting that Watson interviewed for a second time Thursday.
Watson did not comment when reached Thursday afternoon.
Assistant coach John Papuchis said he was surprised to learn Thursday that the Austin American-Statesman cited a source who tabbed him as the "front-runner" to replace Texas assistant coach Mike Tolleson, who retired on Monday. Tolleson coached Longhorn defensive tackles.
Papuchis did work with UT defensive coordinator Will Muschamp at LSU in 2004. He has been at Nebraska since Pelini became head coach in 2008, but said he hasn't corresponded with Texas.
"I haven't talked to anyone down there," Papuchis told The World-Herald. "I have not been contacted by anyone from the University of Texas."
NU will take a 10-3 record into the Holiday Bowl Dec. 30 against Washington.
It will be the third bowl appearance in three years under Pelini, who turns 43 next week. The Huskers, who endured a tumultuous 5-7 season in 2007 preceding Pelini's arrival, went 9-4 in 2008 and 10-4 last season.
To speak with another team about an open job, Pelini's contract stipulates that he must "first notify" Osborne before he can "engage in discussions or negotiate, directly or indirectly, concerning (his) prospective employment by any other employer."
Pelini's contract was restructured last winter, raising his base salary to $2.1 million. He's also owed $250,000 in bonuses in 2010.
Miami, a private school, did not release salary information when it hired Shannon in 2006 or when the two parties agreed to a new deal in May. The Associated Press reported that the raise put Shannon's salary right around the midpoint of ACC coaches.
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