Nebraska coach Bo Pelini proud of Valley background

Pride in the roots that molded him into a successful football coach was the theme of Cardinal Mooney High graduate Bo Pelini’s speech at the United Way Champions Among Us banquet on Tuesday night.

“I am so proud of not only growing up here, but of the people that I know, so many great friends,” said Pelini who is preparing for his third season as the head coach at the University of Nebraska. “I try to work day in and day out to make you guys all proud of what we’re doing at Nebraska.

“I know that Coach [Bob] Stoops [Oklahoma], my brother Carl [Nebraska defensive coordinator], and everybody else who’s out there in college coaching [from here] feels the same way.”

Pelini’s speech at Antone’s Banquet Center capped a three-day Mooney reunion the included the Pelini’s and the Stoops brothers — Ron, Bob, Mike (Arizona) and Mark (Florida defensive coordinator).