Book Due on Nebraska Football

A book alleging drug use and performance payments in the Nebraska football program in recent years is scheduled to be published in September.

The book, “Big Red Confidential: Inside Nebraska Football,” was written by Armen Keteyian, former investigative reporter for Sports Illustrated.

The book recounts several publicized off-field incidents involving Cornhusker football players; an investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. of pass-gate violations in 1986; leasing of an automobile by former running back Doug DuBose; steroid use by players, allegedly including Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner Dean Steinkuhler, and the suicide of tight end Brian Hiemer.

The book alleges that players were paid by a wealthy booster for yards rushing, receptions and touchdowns, and that players regularly sold complimentary tickets for profit.

It also alleges that a few players used cocaine while they were at Nebraska.

The book characterizes Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne as a man of contradictions, in contrast to his calm public image.

“A lot of people think he’s boring. I don’t,” Keteyian said in a telephone interview with the Lincoln Journal-Star. “Tom’s a class act, but he’s not perfect.”