LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska earned the Big 12 North championship, but the trophy presentation was postponed after conference commissioner Dan Beebe decided not to send any staff to the game because of death threats received in the last week.
Beebe said he received more than 2,000 “vulgar and nasty” e-mails and voicemails from Nebraska fans upset about Big 12 decisions regarding officiating against the Huskers and a suspension.
Some of the messages have included threats to Beebe, his family and Big 12 staff members.
“I’m a big boy, I can take this, but our staff doesn’t deserve the vulgarity and the nastiness aimed at them,” Beebe said. “We had a threat talking about ‘You’re going to die and your family is going to die in your house.’ “
Beebe said the angry messages started after the league imposed a one-game suspension on linebacker Eric Martin for targeting a player with the crown of his helmet during a kickoff return Oct. 23 against Oklahoma State. No penalty was called on the play.
Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne said he had communicated with Beebe earlier in the week and knew there wouldn’t be a conference representative at the game.
