LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini was introduced Sunday afternoon as Nebraska's new head football coach.

During the news conference, Interim AD Tom Osborne called Pelini "a good fit" for the program, citing his leadership abilities, defensive creditentials and the way he gets his teams to play hard.

"As you know, Bo was here in 2003 and took a defense that in 2002 was pretty mediocre and in 2003 became a very good defense," says Osborne. "We led the nation in turnovers gotten. This year that was somewhat of a problem, as you may know."

"We were also looking for someone who can inspire confidence and get players to play with great effort," said Osborne.

"And, of course, we also wanted our new head coach to understand our traditions, including the importance of our walk-on program and the importance of football in this state."

Not recognizing the walk-on program and Husker tradition are two things former coach Bill Callahan was criticized for.

Osborne described Pelini as "charismatic" and said he's a good communicator. Pelini says he's excited to be here and called Nebraska and the university a special place.

He referred to the hiring as an "honor" and says there's a lot of work to be done. He is anxious to get going on recruiting.

"I look forward to the opportunity to work with the young men that are here, go out and recruit the best out there in the state of Nebraska and to get this going and back on track to where everyone in the state is proud of what we have going," says Pelini.

Pelini indicated he had no animosity about being passed over for the Nebraska job in favor of Callahan four years ago. Pelini says he's more prepared now than he was in 2003.

Pelini, then an NU assistant, was named interim coach after Frank Solich was fired and led Nebraska to a win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.

Pelini says he expects himself and the team to be "good." He wants a team the state can be proud of on and off the field.

He says he'll be calling the defensive plays since defense is his specialty, wanting "certain things done certain ways," but doesn't want to be "overbearing."

Pelini had a chance to meet his players prior to being formally introduced, but his introduction wasn't nearly as formal as the afternoon's news conference.

"It was actually kind of funny,” says Husker defensive lineman Zach Potter. “His plane had some problems getting here or something, so coach Osborne was talking to us for awhile and Bo walked in just real nonchalant. Coach Osborne said, 'Hey Bo, how are you doing?' He never really introduced him as head coach."

Potter says the team wasn't surprised. “We had an idea it was going to be him, but once he finally got named and we knew he was our head coach, it was exciting.”

Wide receiver Todd Peterson says he's glad the search is over. “It is definitely a good thing to have it over with."

"It is hard to explain really because you feel like you have ties to your former coaches. I still like all the guys that were here the past couple years, but I am extremely excited for this new opportunity."

The 39-year-old Pelini replaces Callahan, who was fired last weekend after the Huskers' second losing season in four years.

Pelini leaves an LSU team headed for the national championship game next month.

Unlike Callahan, a former NFL coach many Nebraska fans never felt comfortable with, Pelini doesn't come to the football-crazed state as a stranger.

Pelini was interim coach after Solich was fired following the 2003 regular season and went on to coach the Huskers to an Alamo Bowl victory over Michigan State.

As he walked off the field in San Antonio, Husker fans chanted "We want Bo."

"It's something I've worked a long time for," Pelini said of becoming a head coach.

Expectations are high at Nebraska, where football is king and the Huskers are the only big-name program in the state. Pelini said he won't concern himself with the expectations, but appeared ready to embrace them.

"One of the unique aspects of this job ... is everything it means to the state," he said. "It's like one big family."

Pelini said a contract hasn't been finalized and he wouldn't talk about what he might be paid.

Osborne had said that the next coach didn't have to have Nebraska ties. Pelini was only at Nebraska for a year, but his no-nonsense style of coaching defense and fiery demeanor quickly made him a popular figure.

Osborne had interviewed Pelini and Buffalo coach Turner Gill, a former star Nebraska quarterback, longtime assistant at the school and friend of Osborne's. Osborne also reportedly spoke informally with Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe.

Pelini had been a candidate for the Nebraska job after Solich's firing and was interviewed by former athletic director Steve Pederson, who elected to go with Callahan.

Pelini's first task will be to resuscitate the Huskers' "Blackshirt" heritage.

The past four years have seen Nebraska sustain some of the most embarrassing losses in school history.

The Huskers finished 5-7 after losing 65-51 loss at Colorado, a game in which they squandered an 11-point lead.

Nebraska's dismal season followed one in which it reached the Big 12 championship game. This year also featured a 76-39 defeat at Kansas, the most points allowed by a Nebraska team.

At LSU, Pelini has coached defenses that have ranked No. 3 in the nation three years in a row, going into the SEC title game that LSU won Saturday against Tennessee.

The Tigers were giving up 278.9 yards a game this season heading into the game, and were second nationally in turnover margin at plus-1.5 and sixth in pass defense (175 ypg).

The 2006 Tigers led the SEC in six defensive categories and ranked among the top five nationally in four. That group also had streaks of 16 and 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown.

The 242.8 yards LSU allowed per game in 2006 was the fewest surrendered by a Tiger team since the 1976 squad allowed 233.1.

In 2004, Pelini served as Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, helping the Sooners to the national title game against USC.

Pelini had spent eight years as an NFL assistant before Solich hired him from the Green Bay Packers in 2003.

Pelini led a Nebraska defense that tied the school record with 47 turnovers. In addition, Nebraska was No. 2 in the nation in takeaways and led the nation in turnover margin at plus-1.77.

The Huskers under Pelini also led the nation in pass efficiency defense (88.66 rating), ranked No. 2 in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), No. 11 in passing yards (177.8 ypg) and No. 11 in total defense (297.2 ypg).

As a player, Pelini was a free safety at Ohio State from 1987-90. He was a three-time selection to the Academic All-Big Ten team as well as serving as team captain for the Buckeyes as a senior in 1990.

Here is the university's news release on the hiring of Bo Pelini:

University of Nebraska Interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne Sunday named Bo Pelini the school’s 28th head football coach – and only the fifth head coach at Nebraska since 1962.

Osborne said his eight-day search for a successor to Bill Callahan was based on analyzing the qualities of individual coaches and balancing them with the needs of the program.

“We need a head coach with strong defensive credentials and great leadership,” Osborne said. “We were also looking for someone who can inspire confidence and get players to play with great effort. And, of course, we also wanted our new head coach to understand our traditions, including the importance of our walk-on program and the importance of football in this state.”

Osborne said Pelini “fit the bill in all respects.”

According to Osborne, Pelini “made a significant difference when he was defensive coordinator of our (10-3) team in 2003, especially after we struggled considerably on defense the year before. I was particularly impressed with the way we beat Michigan State (17-3) in the Alamo Bowl. As interim head coach, Bo motivated the team on both sides of the ball, and we played with a great deal of passion and intensity in that game – both on defense and on offense.”

In 2004, Pelini was co-defensive coordinator for an Oklahoma team that won the Big 12 championship and lost to USC in the national championship game. For the last three seasons, he has been defensive coordinator at LSU, helping the Tigers to three consecutive years of a top-three national ranking in total defense.

“It takes good coaching and good leadership to have a defense ranked either at or near the top of the national charts,” Osborne said. “I thought LSU’s defense played well yesterday and was important in that Southeastern Conference championship game.”

Osborne acknowledged an aggressive timeframe for hiring a new coach. “We wanted to get this done as quickly as possible, so Bo can put together his new staff and concentrate on recruiting,” he said. “These next two weeks are really critical to the recruiting process.”