ESPN's Rod Gilmore noted multiple times during today's broadcast that Pelini's buyout is $7.65 million and the administration has not backed Pelini publicly.
Following the loss, Pelini didn’t mince words. He made it clear the job speculation served as a distraction to his team.
“I don’t coach to make a case," he
said to reporters. "You guys have chosen to make a story of it all year. It’s impacted our football team. It’s hurt our football team.
Let’s call a spade a spade. If they want to fire me, go ahead. I believe in what I’ve done. I don’t apologize for what I’ve done. I don’t apologize to you. I don’t apologize to anybody, myself or this staff. Our record since we’ve been here speaks for itself. This program is headed in a good direction. If you choose not to think so, that’s your prerogative. All I know is, myself, this staff, people that have been associated with this program since I’ve been here can look themselves in the mirror and feel good about what they’ve done.”
