• Video Below: Bo Pelini discusses reports linking him to the Penn State job
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Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne said Tuesday he has no reason to think Bo Pelini will not be the Cornhuskers' coach in 2012.
In the face of reports linking Nebraska's football coach to the opening at Penn State, Osborne said he has no sense that Pelini is unhappy with his job or situation at Nebraska.
"I think things are fine,'' Osborne said.
Addressing the reports directly on Tuesday after practice, Pelini said that he has not interviewed for the Penn State job, calling reports suggesting otherwise "irresponsible."
Osborne said he has no reason to think there was any credence to the reports. He said he has not been contacted by Penn State officials, and said Pelini has not said anything to him that would suggest he was interested in replacing iconic Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno.
Pelini told The World-Herald through a spokesman Monday that there was "nothing" to a Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News report that he was in contact with Penn State officials. He spoke again Tuesday, bringing up the topic without being asked at the beginning of his post-practice interview.
"There's all kinds of speculation all the time. I don't address all those rumors, irresponsible reports that are going on," Pelini said. "If I addressed every coaching job, every opening that was going on in the country, I wouldn't do anything else."
Asked if he wanted to use Tuesday's interview session as a chance to reaffirm his commitment to Nebraska, Pelini said this: "I'm not addressing every situation. I don't do it. I shouldn't have to do it."
As to Pelini's commitment to Nebraska, Osborne said he and the coach have a good relationship and "talk fairly freely.''
"If he was really unhappy he would let me know,'' Osborne said. "He likes it here and his family is happy here. I'm not going to say he will be here for the next 30 years. There's very little certainty in athletics. But he likes the things he's doing here and feels he has a good chance to win and be successful.''
Osborne said it's not surprising that Pelini's name comes up when coaching vacancies arise around the country. As a young, up-and-coming coach, his name will be mentioned in conjunction with almost any prominent job.
"I think a lot of people around the country see him as a very viable candidate," Osborne said.
Like Pelini, Osborne expressed frustration with the anonymous nature of many of the reports and lack of standards when reports are made through social networking sites.
"I don't think it's helpful if it keeps coming up,'' he said. "It's like we're jousting at windmills.''
David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News tweeted Monday that Pelini has spoken to Penn State representatives, but "is not in the mix." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday that Pelini has met with acting PSU athletic director Dave Joyner and is one of several candidates.
Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson tweeted Tuesday that only one person interviewed for the vacant job last Friday — presumably referring to interim coach Tom Bradley. In a press conference Monday, Bradley confirmed to local reporters that he interviewed on Friday to remain the Nittany Lions' coach.
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• Video: Bo Pelini discusses reports linking him to the Penn State job
Contact the writer:
402-444-1130, henry.cordes@owh.com
402-444-1130, henry.cordes@owh.com
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