Pelini has one last go-round with LSU

BATON ROUGE, LA. - Before Bo Pelini could return to LSU's sideline for one last game as defensive coordinator, he and Tigers head coach Les Miles had to set a few ground rules.

"I agreed that he could call the entire defense, call every play," Miles said. "I also agreed that we would be ahead at the end of the game and that if he called a defense that didn't allow that to happen, then he would be relieved of duty immediately.

"We've agreed that he will not wear an 'N' on his cap when he coaches on the sidelines."

No worries, said Pelini, who will lead his defense in the battle for the BCS national championship on Jan. 7 against Ohio State, then turn full-time to his new job, as head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

"I have a job to do, and that is part of being a professional," said Pelini. "You have to take your own emotions out of it. ... I owe a lot to LSU. I love this place and the kids I coach. It's a different time and a different place and right now I'm all about LSU."

Pelini joined the LSU staff when Miles took over in 2005 and is part of a team that has won 33 games during the past three seasons, including lopsided victories over Miami in the 2005 Peach Bowl and over Notre Dame in last season's Sugar Bowl.

Now, he gets his second shot to be part of his first college national championship squad. His decision to temporarily wear two hats has been questioned by many, but not by LSU players or by Miles, who say Pelini's return shows that coaching football still has a human, emotional side. It's not always the cold, calculated business it seems to be when the coaching carousel starts turning this time of year.

"It's us and him recognizing that he's a part of our team and until we saddle this one up and ride this last one out, he's with us," Miles said. "It benefits not only us, our team, him, but Nebraska. Their coach is coaching in a heck of a game. I just think it's a win-win. ... I never thought of doing it any other way."

While LSU got a couple of weeks off after the Southeastern Conference title game for final exams, Pelini said he filled out his Nebraska staff and got caught up on watching film of the Buckeyes. He said he may make a few phone calls regarding business at Nebraska during whatever down time he has but otherwise will spend the next few weeks preparing LSU's defense just as he has for the past two bowl games.

"I'm no different now than I was at this time last year when [LSU] was preparing for the game against Notre Dame," Pelini said, adding that he doesn't really even feel like his tenure at Nebraska has begun yet. "I've been so focused on accomplishing what I wanted to accomplish that I haven't had time to sit back and enjoy it. That is for a different time when things settle down. Right now, I'm not quite a head coach. Right now, I am a defensive coordinator because that is what I am committed to doing."

"It shows that his heart is with us," said defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. "... He's coming back and it means a lot to us."