Mitch Sherman of the Omaha World Herald went to Youngstown, Ohio to learn more about Bo Pelini. His story starts off with the expected steel town history, but centers on Pelini’s high school, Cardinal Mooney. Mooney–also the alma mater of the Stoops brothers–helped shape the character of these big time coaches, and is therefore a natural place to focus.

Don Bucci, Moooney’s 74-year-old retired coach, said he understands Nebraskans’ connection with Bo Pelini.

“I think the people in Nebraska are so used to Tom Osborne,” Bucci said, “not only his success but his way of doing it. I think they equate that type of coaching with Bo. And they’re right.”

There’s a lot more to the story, including speculation that the last spot on the NU coaching staff could be reserved for Kansas assistant Tim Beck, another Mooney graduate.