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News Nuggets, 11.04.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Throat-slash gesture nets trouble for Callahan

LINCOLN, NE — Nebraska coach Bill Callahan was publicly reprimanded by the Big 12 Conference on Thursday for making an apparent throat-slashing gesture after an argument with an official during the Cornhuskers' game against Oklahoma.

The disciplinary action came five days after Callahan engaged in a heated exchange with referee Steve Usechek following Kejuan Jones' touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Cornhuskers' 31-24 loss. Callahan argued that holding should have been called on the play.

Video showed Callahan raising his right arm to his throat, index finger extended, and making a slashing motion after Usechek walked away.

Callahan has denied any wrongdoing but has acknowledged that he made a gesture out of frustration and intended no malice toward the officials.

Callahan said he didn't know what a public reprimand entails, but as far as he's concerned the incident is behind him.

``It's over. The decision's been laid down. It's over,'' Callahan told reporters after the team's practice Thursday afternoon.

Callahan said he talked with Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson about the situation and beyond that he had no further comment.

Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg noted that the kind of gesture Callahan made is prohibited by NCAA football rules.

Had a flag been thrown, Nebraska would have been penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

``This was out of character for Coach Callahan,'' Weiberg said. ``He has been very good to work with, and his sideline demeanor had been exemplary. I have great respect for him and understand that he was acting on emotion.

``However, the Big 12 and its member institutions place tremendous emphasis on the conference's sportsmanship policy, and I believe his action in this situation constituted unsportsmanlike conduct and therefore warrants a public reprimand.''

Pederson, as required, filed a report to the Big 12 on the incident Wednesday.

``We appreciate the fact that they have accepted Coach Callahan's explanation of this gesture,'' Pederson said. ``We also recognize that any kind of gesture is not in character either with Coach Callahan or our program. We accept the public reprimand and are ready to put this matter behind us.''

Callahan in July made a public apology for an incident at last year's game at Oklahoma where he used an expletive and called Sooner fans ``hillbillies.''

As coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2003, he caused a stir among his players when, after the team's ninth loss in 12 games, he said: ``We've got to be the dumbest team in America.''

Callahan was fired a month later.

The Huskers (5-3) have lost three of their last four games. Callahan is 10-9 in two seasons at Nebraska, 8-9 against Division I-A opponents.

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Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:29 PM