Coach Tom Osborne has put New Orleans’...

Coach Tom Osborne has put New Orleans’ major tourist area off limits to his Nebraska football team after eight players and two coaches were arrested about midnight last Wednesday.

But Osborne said he doesn’t think his players did anything wrong during their visit to the French Quarter, and he will not discipline them.

Officers accused the players, in town to prepare for the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, of shouting, of slapping at parked cars and of yelling obscenities at police after being told to calm down.

Osborne said his players deny being rowdy and added that they accused the police of shouting obscenities.

“Henceforth, I’ve told them to stay out of the French Quarter because it appears like there are going to be some problems,” Osborne said.

“People are going to challenge them and say things. We basically realize the police have a hard job and are good people, and we have no problem with the police force. But it does appear--to me, at the present time--maybe somebody overreacted a little bit, if what the players tell me is right.”

Meanwhile, Police Chief Warren Woodfork said an internal investigation would be conducted to see whether police acted improperly.