FootballScoop: Nebraska Focused on Bielema

Roussel, who most people give a pass in terms of being relatively legit, has Nebraska focusing all attention on 1 and only 1 candidate - Big Bert himself.  

If you can't beat Wiscy...join em.  Fascinating stuff if valid.  Would up the stakes in what is turning into a cool Big 10 West rivalry.  Makes sense from the AD relationship angle and ability to get to the Rose Bowl.

Bert has a $2.5M buyout that drops to $2M by Jan 1.

Since last night I have spoken with a number of connections and the feeling in the profession is that Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst seems to have a very short list – perhaps with only one name on it. Sources have told me he isn’t taking calls from coaches trying to get themselves involved. He doesn’t appear to be building a list. He sounds like he is locked in.

Update - Per sources, Nebraska is targeting Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema and is in serious talks with him. Eichorst and Bielema has an extensive relationship from their time at Wisconsin (Eichorst served as Wisconsin’s second-in-command from 2006-11) and from what we hear this got serious quick.  More to come…