Pelini Reflects on His Nebraska Years

The former coach talks with one of his prize pupils, Will Compton, about the good and the bad.

Joe Hudson | Aug 11, 2021

Bussin' With The Boys

In this "Bussin' With the Boys" episode, Will Compton and Bo Pelini talk at length about their time together at Nebraska, from Compton's recruitment all the way to Pelini's fallout with Nebraska.

NFL veteran Compton explains why Pelini was the most important coach he's had, but he does offer a thought about what Pelini could have done better during his seven seasons in Lincoln ending in 2014.

When you get chewed out by the head coach "and you feel like you’re letting everybody down, I feel like it festers in a young kid’s psyche. And then you play more not to mess up," Compton tells Pelini.

Pelini doesn't push back on that, saying, "You play not to make a mistake; you don’t play to win.” He later remarks: "The kids had so much pressure on them, and sometimes my personality added to that maybe."

They also discuss NIL issues, Pelini's future in coaching and much more. The segment was recorded in late July and released Wednesday. Forward to the 7-minute mark to skip the introductory material and cut to the chase. Go here for the HuskerMax discussion and here for a World-Herald summary.

If the video won't play on your device, try this direct link.

Published Aug 11, 2021

JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.