Sports

Nebraska fires Bo Pelini, who failed to return proud program to elite status during 7-year run

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In a Friday, Nov. 28, 2014 file photo, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa. Pelini was fired as Nebraska’s football coach on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, after a seven-year stint. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In a Monday, Nov. 24, 2014 file photo, Nebraska NCAA college football head coach Bo Pelini speaks during a news conference in Lincoln, Neb. Pelini was fired as Nebraska’s football coach on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, after a seven-year stint. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File) (The Associated Press)

Bo Pelini has been fired as Nebraska's football coach after a seven-year stint marked by his inability to restore the program to sustained national prominence and a number of embarrassing losses in big games.

Pelini extended his streak of winning at least nine games every year with a 37-34 overtime win at Iowa on Friday but he never finished a season with fewer than four losses or ended a conference-championship drought that dates to 1999.

Pelini, whose tenure spanned Nebraska's transition from the Big 12 to Big Ten, was 66-27 and led the Cornhuskers to three league championship games.