Nebraska fires AD Pederson

Nebraska athletics director Steve Pederson was fired Monday, two days after the school's once-mighty football team was rocked with its worst home loss in nearly a half-century.

Pederson, along with coach Bill Callahan, has been heavily criticized after a series of one-sided losses this season. The most recent was a 45-14 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday with former Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne and his 1997 national title team in attendance.

Callahan's job is apparently safe for now. Chancellor Harvey Perlman said the next athletics director would decide the fate of the football staff.

Over the past two weeks, the Huskers (4-3) have lost by a combined score of 86-20, losing 41-6 at Missouri two weeks ago.

"There is no joy in my heart for having to do this," Perlman said. He said it would cost at least $2.2 million to buy Pederson out of his contract. At the end of the July, Pederson's contract was renewed for five years.

SEC FINES KENTUCKY: The Southeastern Conference fined Kentucky $50,000 Monday for failing to prevent fans from rushing the field after the Wildcats' triple-overtime victory over top-ranked LSU.

It was the third violation, dating to last year for Kentucky, which was fined $5,000 for the celebration after a win last year against Georgia and $25,000 this year after a win over Louisville.

Under the SEC policy, "access to competition areas shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed individuals at all times." Universities are held responsible if spectators rush into the competition area.

CIAA HONORS: Two members of Shaw's football team received weekly honors from the CIAA after the Bears' 35-7 victory over Livingstone on Saturday.

Junior left guard Oliver Pazdry was named offensive lineman of the week for helping the Bears amass 402 yards of total offense.

Freshman defensive end Martellus Braxton got the nod as the rookie of the week after his four-tackle and two-sack effort against the Blue Bears.

C-USA HONORS ECU'S ESKRIDGE: East Carolina sophomore Van Eskridge was named Conference USA defensive player-of-the-week for his effort in the Pirates' overtime victory at UTEP.

The Shelby native racked up eight total tackles (seven solo) a pass breakup, and he became the first ECU player in three seasons to return a fumble for a TD. The Pirates' beat the Miners 45-42 in overtime on Saturday.

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SUNDAY'S LATE RESULT

BOISE STATE 69, NEVADA 67 (4 OT): In a game with 136 total points and nearly 1,300 yards of total offense, it was the defense that made the biggest play.

Sooner or later the defense had to make a stop, and Boise State's Tim Brady did just that on the final play in the fourth overtime period, stuffing a 2-point conversion attempt in a thrilling win over Nevada in Boise, Idaho.

The game set a record for most points in an NCAA Bowl Subdivision game since 1937, when official record keeping began.

The shootout finally ended on a sack by Brady, foiling Nevada's attempt to send the game into a fifth overtime.

"It was the biggest play we had all night," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "It's really too bad someone had to lose this one. I don't think I've felt that way after any game, ever."

For a while, it seemed this one would never end -- not with the way the offenses were moving up and down the field.

The Broncos (5-1, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference) rolled up 627 total yards on offense, including Ian Johnson's 205 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Nevada, led by Colin Kaepernick, a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first start, topped the Broncos with 639 total yards.

The Wolf Pack (2-4, 0-2) tied the game in the fourth extra period when Luke Lippincott scored on an 8-yard burst up the middle, capping a rushing attack that amassed 406 yards, the fourth most ever allowed by Boise State.

But Nevada opted to pass on the 2-point try, and Kaepernick rolled right, found nobody open then moments later found himself in Brady's grasp, sealing Boise State's eighth straight win over the Wolf Pack.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS