Pelini Sets Sights Higher in Second Year

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said standing in place after nine wins and a few pats on the back is not an acceptable option for his second season. “Thinking back to different places where I was entering Year Two, I expect to make a big jump this year,” Pelini said. “We were our own worst enemy a lot last year. We need to fix us and I think we have a good idea on how to get that done. If we can stay consistent, I think we have a shot to be a lot better. We gave up a lot of big plays, and it wasn’t always the offense beating us. I have high expectations.” – Journal Star

Browns Deny Ryan Asked Out of Contract

A story making the rounds here - and in Cleveland - is that shortly after the Browns hired Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator, he changed his mind and asked out of his contract so he could join his brother, Rex Ryan, the new head coach of the New York Jets. The Browns deny it. “That is so farfetched,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said, shaking his head. – Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kiffin Done with Apologies

Lane Kiffin said he is through apologizing to Florida. Kiffin issued a public apology for wrongly accusing the reigning BCS football champions and coach Urban Meyer of cheating while recruiting. Kiffin said that he felt like that was enough, and he didn’t plan to contact Meyer personally to say he was sorry. “I already apologized to [Meyer] and anybody at the University of Florida that I may have offended, and I figured that was enough,” Kiffin told the AJC in an interview on Tuesday. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Maryland Head Coach In Waiting Guaranteed $1 million

Maryland has promised to pay offensive coordinator James Franklin $1 million if he is not named to succeed Ralph Friedgen as head coach, according to a copy of Franklin’s agreement with the university. The contract, obtained Tuesday by The Baltimore Sun under a Maryland Public Information Act request, guarantees Franklin a five-year package worth at least the average paid to other Atlantic Coast Conference head coaches in the sport. Maryland demonstrated its commitment to Franklin, 37, who had received at least one NFL assistant coaching offer, by agreeing to pay him $1 million should it “elect not to offer” him the position when Friedgen departs. – Baltimore Sun