LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Frank Solich has been fired as the football coach at Nebraska.
The firing came late Saturday despite the fact that the Cornhuskers finished the regular season at 9-3 with a 31-22 win over Colorado. Humbling losses to Texas, Missouri, and Kansas State, schools with far more team speed, likely were the biggest factors in his ouster.
A 38-9 home loss to the Wildcats eliminated Nebraska from the Big 12 North Division race, and it has lost nine of its last 13 road games under Solich.
"(Athletic Director Steve) Pederson told Dad that he really hadn't made up his mind until five minutes before Dad walked through the door," Solich's daughter, Cindy Dalton, told the Lincoln Star-Journal. "Dad said he couldn't believe that Pederson had the nerve to say that to his face."
The rumor had been that Pederson would ask Solich to retire after the Colorado contest.
Solich, 59, was 58-19 since taking over for the legendary Tom Osborne following the 1997 season, but 16-12 in his last 28 games.
