NEBRASKA Bo Pelini reported to be choice as assistant

The Cardinal Mooney and Ohio State product is a leading candidate for defensive coordinator.
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Omaha (Neb.) World Herald reported Monday that Nebraska football coach Frank Solich flew to Green Bay last week to interview Bo Pelini, and it appears as if the Packers' assistant is a leading candidate for Nebraska's defensive coordinator job.
Pelini, 34, is a native of Youngstown and a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High. He also played at Ohio State.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette also reported Monday that Pelini met with the Nebraska coach to talk about the job that was opened a week ago, when Craig Bohl was fired.
Vacancy needs filled
Solich declined to get into details about the search again Sunday at a press conference announcing the Huskers' selection to the Independence Bowl. But Solich again said that he'd like to fill that job -- along with the offensive coordinator position -- by the Dec. 27 game.
"We're moving as quickly as we can," Solich said. "But you also want to make the right moves and get all the bases covered."
Nebraska is preparing for the bowl with just one full-time defensive assistant coach, Defensive Line Coach Jeff Jamrog, and graduate assistant Jimmy Burrow. Last week, Solich said that he'd give Jamrog a look for the defensive coordinator job.
In the meantime, the Huskers said they're functioning fine with the scaled-down staff.
"Actually, I kind of enjoy it because the players have to step up more and be a little more verbal," said NU linebacker Barrett Ruud. "It's kind of like back in high school when you only have a few coaches and you have to communicate with players a lot."
Pelini, 34, is a nine-year NFL assistant who coaches the linebackers at Green Bay. He was a graduate assistant under Hayden Fry at Iowa in the early 1990s and served for a short time with the San Francisco 49ers.