The Wiz of Odds

Did Nebraska's Carl Pelini Attack Camera Operator?

The site TexAgs has posted this video showing Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini after Saturday night's loss to Texas A&M. It's unclear what exactly happened, but the implication is that Pelini, who is the brother of coach Bo Pelini, attacked the person behind the camera.

Nebraska fans are saying it's nonsense. One explanation has Cornhusker tight end Kyler Reed getting tangled in the camera cord and the person behind the lens yelling an inappropriate comment to Reed. Pelini then jumped in and told Reed to get to the locker room.

But it's no secret that Pelini has a temper. He displayed it last December after Nebraska's controversial loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game. While walking up the tunnel at Cowboys Stadium, he twice turned to the field and screamed, "You should be ashamed to accept that trophy."

There were also rumors early this year, which were tracked by the site Better Off Red, of "some sort of marital indiscretion" involving Pelini and the wife of a booster.

Worst Bet Ever

A Nebraska fan has a choice — either pay $200 to a Texas fan after losing a bet over the outcome of last Saturday's game or eat a bar of soap. The Cornhusker fan decided to eat the soap. The thrilling conclusion is after the jump.

Nebraska

Who could forget the 2009 Cornhusker poster schedule, which featured former former coaches Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and Frank Solich along with current coach Bo Pelini. Missing was Bill Callahan, who was 27-22 in four seasons before getting fired. Callahan was brought in to change the culture of Nebraska football, which meant teaching the Cornhuskers how to throw the ball. Nebraska lost its second game under Callahan to Southern Mississippi, then was crushed in game five by Texas Tech, 70-10. Cornhusker fans knew at this point a culture change was not what the program needed. Nonetheless, the hardworking and honest Midwesterners gave Callahan four years before sending him out the door. Enter Bo Pelini, who has brought the physical style back to Lincoln. "This Season We Finish" is the Cornhuskers' motto, which presumably means kick the hell out of Texas on Oct. 16.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Last year, the site displayed 69 posters. This is poster No. 56 for 2010. Thanks to Paul!

Nebraska to the Big Ten by Friday?

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe drew a line in the sand, and now Nebraska, guided by the steady hand of Tom Osborne, is ready to cross it.

The Cornhuskers are expected to become a member of the Big Ten by Friday, according to a report by Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald.

Sources at two other Big 12 schools told Barfknecht that their athletic directors have instructed them to be ready by week's end for a briefing on probable Big 12 changes. Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman is expected to address the topic with the Board of Regents at its Friday meeting in Lincoln.

"There's a lot of information we really don't have right now," Osborne said. "Hopefully we'll get these put together in the next few days."

Osborne also said the move has nothing to do with any grudge he or other Nebraska officials might have against Texas.

"This is not a case of reacting to any one school," Osborne said, "particularly Texas."

To Nebraska, Texas Is the Axis of Evil

It has been a rocky 2010 for the Big 12. Nebraska and Missouri have lobbied to become members of the Big Ten, and Colorado is ready to snuggle up with the Pacific 10. Commissioner Dan Beebe has suggested that he will draw a line in the sand, wanting to know who's in and who's out when league meetings begin Tuesday in Kansas City.

Division among league members has never been greater, and Beebe might best be served trying to be a uniter instead of a divider.

Money aside, the out-of-league flirtations of Missouri and Colorado are likely wrapped in fear. What would become of the Big 12 if Texas and Nebraska were to leave?

In Nebraska's case, its motivation to flee is more the result of a deep distrust of Texas. It started in 1996 with the formation of the Big 12.

Nebraska was king of college football back then, in the midst of a remarkable run that had Tom Osborne's Cornhuskers staking claims to national titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997. With victory came power and Nebraska, the marquee member of the Big 8, called the shots. That was until Texas got a seat at the new Big 12 table.

Nebraska's Proactive Approach Is Bad News for Big 12

Read what you want into quotes by athletic director Tom Osborne on the possibility of Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for another conference, but it's clear the Cornhuskers are considering the possibilities.

"These are interesting times," Osborne told the Lincoln Star Journal. "I think fans are a little bit nervous. All I can tell fans right now is don't think for one minute that we're asleep at the switch, that we’re just sitting here waiting for something to happen to us.

"It's much better to be proactive than reactive. I don't think I'm free to say much more than that. We are very aware. We don't plan to get left at the gate, although we could be. I just don't know what’s going to happen in this environment."