Husker athletics is a $70 million operation. So it’s not unusual that a consultant might come in from time to time to help guide or reshape a process to gain further efficiency. According to Omaha World Herald, former AD Steve Pederson believed a man he met while AD at Pitt could provide this type of insight. Sadly, as with most things Pederson tried, it didn’t work out that way.

William J. DeLeo, who held senior management positions with Duquesne Light, Gulf Oil and Price Waterhouse, was paid $15,000 per month plus expenses since last January. But his advise was not welcome in Lincoln. He questioned employees’ work ethic and instituted a quarterly performance review that pitted neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend.

He brainstormed ways to take the standard raises given to university workers — raises approved by the Legislature — and put them into a “performance pool” and dole them out as he saw fit.

“I almost went nuts when that guy came in,” said one longtime Husker coach who spoke about DeLeo on the condition his name not be used.

DeLeo’s presence ratcheted up the paranoia of athletic department employees who “always worried they would show up for work and wouldn’t have a job,” said fired head football trainer Doak Ostergard.

“Everything is disposable nowadays,” said Ostergard Wednesday. “You get done eating food and you throw away the container. People treat other people that way, too — if you can’t do anything for me right this second, I’ll get rid of you.”