Nebraska hires Pelini

Bo Pelini is the new coach at Nebraska, leaving the defensive coordinator post at Louisiana State for a job many Cornhuskers fans thought he should have been given four years ago.

Tom Osborne, Nebraska’s interim athletic director and former head coach, announced Pelini’s hiring Sunday, after introducing Pelini to the players.

“We need a head coach with strong defensive credentials and great leadership,” Osborne said. “We were also looking for someone who can inspire confidence and get players to play with great effort.”

It’s the first head-coaching job for the 39-year-old Pelini, who spent three years at LSU.

He replaces Bill Callahan, fired Nov. 24 after the Cornhuskers’ second losing season in four years.

Pelini was interim coach after Frank Solich was fired following the 2003 regular season and went on to coach the Cornhuskers to an Alamo Bowl victory over Michigan State.

“It’s something I’ve worked a long time for,” Pelini said Sunday of becoming a head coach.

Colt Brennan threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Grice-Mullen with 44 seconds left and Hawaii overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Washington, 35-28, on Saturday night to finish the regular season 12-0 and earn a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Brennan completed 42 of 50 passes for 442 yards and five touchdowns. He was six for six on the winning 76-yard drive.

“This was something we dreamed about and to be here and see what we’ve accomplished, and the perfect record, is just mind-blowing,” said Brennan, who did not have a pass intercepted.

Washington (4-9) took over with 38 seconds left and drove to the Hawaii four-yard line, but Jake Locker’s pass was intercepted by Ryan Mouton in the end zone with three seconds left.

Connecticut Coach Randy Edsall is staying with the Huskies.

Edsall traveled to Atlanta last week to talk to Georgia Tech officials about their coaching vacancy.

But the coach informed his team at its annual banquet Sunday that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for that job.