JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Though the Nebraska football team arrived to sunshine and warm weather here Friday and with the anticipation of playing in their first Gator Bowl, the mood was less than festive.
The Cornhuskers arrived without head coach Bo Pelini and his brother Carl, the team’s defensive coordinator, who were in Youngstown, Ohio, for their father’s funeral. Anthony Pelini died Tuesday at an Akron, Ohio, hospital after an extended illness. He was 85.
“Everybody’s hearts are heavy in thinking about the Pelini family,” offensive line coach Barney Cotton said.
The players were told of Anthony Pelini’s death during a Christmas night team meeting. During the two Pelini brothers’ absence, other coaches on the staff will run the team’s practices, including Saturday’s workout at the University of North Florida.
It’s a tough and unexpected situation, All-Big 12 nose tackle Ndamukong Suh said.
“Everybody feels their loss,” he said. “Being a family and as close as this team is, there is a sense of grieving for their loss.”
But the Cornhuskers (8-4) must maintain their focus as they prepare to take on Clemson (7-5) on New Year’s Day.
“From a players’ standpoint, all we can do is come down here and be focused. That’s the main thing coach wants from us,” he said.
Emotions aside, the Cornhuskers should be at full strength for the game. Everyone is expected to be healthy and ready to play against Clemson.
After winning just three of its first six games of the season, the Huskers finished strong with five wins in its last six games to earn its 45th all-time bowl appearance, the fifth-highest total nationally, and the school’s first trip ever to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.
A win against Clemson will give the Huskers a nine-win season for just the second time since 2003.
“This has been a year where we’ve asked the kids to set the foundation for the future,” Cotton said. “It’s a long process that we’re taking part in but we seem to be heading in the right direction. Our kids have given us a great effort all year long, both mentally and physically.”
Securing a ninth win won’t come easily for the Huskers. Clemson also finished strong, closing the regular season with four wins in its last five games, all under interim coach Dabo Swinney.
Swinney took over the team on an interim basis after Tommy Bowden resigned Oct. 13 and was made the head coach earlier this month.
Clemson is a very athletic football team, Cotton said. The defensive line is big and physical and offensively the team is well set behind the skills of running backs C.J. Spiller and James Davis.
“I’m sure our game plan will be how to stop the run first,” he said.
