Osborne returns in interim role

Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne returned to Nebraska on Tuesday as interim athletic director, a day after the firing of Steve Pederson.

Osborne, 70, will determine whether Bill Callahan stays as Nebraska coach, but he won’t make the decision until after the season.

“I don’t want to be someone who micromanages, watches over people’s shoulders,” Osborne said. “If they want me to come to practice or go to meetings, I’ll go. If they want me to stay away, I’ll stay away.”

It was 10 years ago that Osborne finished a celebrated 25-year coaching career that culminated with three national championships in his last four seasons.

But the program has fallen on hard times -- by Nebraska standards -- having lost no fewer than four games a year in four seasons under Callahan. The Cornhuskers have lost their last two games by a combined score of 86-20, and their defense is one of the worst in the country.

Osborne, who was in the stadium for Saturday’s 45-14 loss to Oklahoma State, didn’t seem as panicked as some of the Cornhuskers’ fans.

“It’s worth pointing out that we’re 4-3. We’ve won more than we’ve lost,” he said. “There are other programs -- some pretty good programs -- that haven’t won more than one game. But we’d like the intensity level to pick up to what we’re accustomed to.”

Osborne said he took the job because he cares about Nebraska athletics. He’ll stay on as long as it takes Chancellor Harvey Perlman to hire a permanent athletic director, and his pay will be based on a $250,000 annual salary.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers is hoping for a full pardon 37 years after robbing a Lincoln, Neb., gas station.

The former Nebraska player has thought about seeking a pardon for years, but he decided to move forward after considering limits on felons in business ventures, Rodgers’ lawyer said.

He plans to open a sports bar in Omaha -- Jets All Sports Bar and Grill -- with partners in his corporation, Jets Inc.

But Nebraska law prevents businesses from obtaining a liquor license if a convicted felon owns 25% or more of the business, according to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

Rodgers was convicted of grand larceny in 1971 for the robbery and sentenced to probation.

The NCAA put Ball State on probation for two years and cut three football scholarships because of misuse by athletes of a textbook loan program.

The penalties announced by the Division I Committee on Infractions also included a reduction of money available for men’s tennis scholarships and a restriction on the number of hours per week allowed for softball practice.

An assistant coach at Baylor was suspended after he was cited for urinating on the bar at a tavern.

Eric Schnupp, Baylor’s offensive line-tight ends coach, was not arrested but issued a citation early Sunday for disorderly conduct-reckless exposure at Scruffy Murphy’s, police said. The citation is a Class C misdemeanor carrying a $258 fine, according to Waco Municipal Court.

Colorado State Coach Sonny Lubick, 70, whose team has lost 13 consecutive games, acknowledged he has been thinking about retiring at the end of the season. . . . Illinois Coach Ron Zook is expected to receive a contract extension today. . . . Georgia tailback Kregg Lumpkin underwent surgery on his left knee but might be able to play in a bowl game, Coach Mark Richt said.