He may make the biggest headline in the state of Nebraska this year: Steve Pederson, former athletic director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
That's right, former athletic director.
Word out of Lincoln is that Chancellor Harvey Perlman asked Pederson to step down.
It will be made official at a 4 p.m. news conference.
There has been talk of his firing, particularly over the past two weeks—and especially after Nebraska lost 45-14 against Oklahoma State last weekened in its Homecoming game.
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It was a move that even big-name boosters, such as Dale Jensen (part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks), were starting to call for.
If there were one single man responsible for the current state of the athletic program, it was Pederson—no question, it was the right move.
But who should replace him?
Obviously, it should be someone who knows Nebraska, someone who has the same down-to-earth passion for the school.
Pederson was a Nebraska man who'd worked under Tom Osborne, but he never looked the part while he was AD. He turned the athletic department into a corporate headquarters office.
Nebraska needs someone who knows how to run an athletic department, but who's also as approachable as the farmer down the road.
One thing that's almost official—Bill Callahan is done after this year.
The football team now has a decision to make: to roll over and play dead like lame ducks, or to fight to the bitter end.
Finally, some excitement for the future of Husker Nation.
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about 1 year ago
Tom Osborne is stepping up as interim AD. Get excited.
about 1 year ago
The 'common' fan at Nebraska has been grumbling about Peterson's so-called leadership for alot longer than the last couple weeks. I hope now we can clean up the destruction he's done in the athletic department and get down to the business of competing on and off the field consistently.
about 1 year ago
I know many people, including me, have complained about Pederson's leadership. I could not stand the way he was trying to lead the program -- it doesn't look like Nebraska anymore. Granted, I know college sports have evolved immensely in the past 10-20 years, but there's certain ways that things should be done. Pederson has strayed far from that way, and it's time to revert back to those certain ways. Those include, but are not limited to: firing a coach who was appointed by a legend as a successor, restructure the department, and beg for money at the same time. There is a mess in Lincoln, and it will take time to clean up.
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