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Bo Pelini: A Love Story of Coach and Cat

By Husker Mike
@Huskers

At Nebraska's 2014 Spring Game, the punch line of Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and his cat reached an epic high point. Frankly, I'm not sure whether ANYTHING can top the Tunnel Walk with his cat.

The cat joke became a national phenomon when the Nebraska coach tweeted at @FauxPelini, his internet doppleganger, during the BCS National Championship game.

And for about 10 minutes, Pelini stole the thunder from Florida State and Auburn as the national media turned away from the game.

It didn't end there, though. Defensive coordinator John Papuchis joined in the fun while on a recruiting trip.

Of course, we now know it didn't end there. And yesterday, @FauxPelini waved the white flag of surrender as Pelini won the internet once again.

Even ESPN SportsCenter spotlighted the gag last night as the "Top Cat" of the day.

But while @FauxPelini popularized the cat gag, he didn't create it, contrary to popular belief. The origins of the cat gag actually go to an anonymous Tumblr site called "Kitty Pelini", which features Photoshopped images of Pelini, brother Carl, and Tom Osborne as well.

Tumblr_lwnu9m1zck1r8ifvxo1_400_medium

via kittypelini.tumblr.com

 Tumblr_lwo0ob84lv1r8ifvxo1_500_medium

via kittypelini.tumblr.com


While Pelini's original response to @FauxPelini appears to have been initiated by Pelini himself, the rest has had a hand from the athletic department. Anya, the cat in the Tunnel Walk actually is owned by Ethan Rowley, who works in marketing for the athletic department. Speaking of marketing, the group running the @Huskers Twitter account has taken a huge step forward in recent months. In the past, they seemed to be only interested in trying to get people to use hashtags, but now they actually get "social". No longer satisfied with just talking about the Huskers, they now try to create a buzz around Nebraska athletics.

And they've convinced Pelini to open the curtain and make the Bo Pelini that his players love more public. We started to see it last year with the Harlem Shake and cell phone prank. Yet some people seem oblivious to the real Bo Pelini that's been emerging. Earlier this month, the World-Herald's Lee Barfknecht took a dig at Pelini while complimenting basketball coach Tim Miles.

Beyond X's and O's though, Miles' biggest contribution by far has been to make Nebraska athletics fun again.

NU administrators openly rave about the era of good feeling Miles has established throughout the department with his engaging personality, honesty about his team and connection with the fans.

What those officials won't say publicly but is heard behind the scenes is they want the football program to learn something from Miles, and fast.

And that's the long lasting benefit to gags like yesterday. Old school, Twitter-inept reporters like Barfknecht may have ignored or dismissed Pelini's recent openness, but a stunt like the cat in the tunnel walk was so over-the-top that it's impossible for even Barfknecht to overlook. It may not soothe old, still festering, wounds, but it does eliminate old, tired talking points.

It's hard to argue with a straight face that Nebraska's football program doesn't have a fan friendly, feel-good image because of the coach anymore.

Not with this Lion King, "Circle of Life" moment out there.

Not anymore.

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