Former Raider head coach enters Huskers' picture

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LINCOLN - Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is out, and the attention in Nebraska's coaching search has turned toward two in-house candidates and another NFL name - former Oakland Raiders head coach Bill Callahan.

Callahan will be in Lincoln to talk to NU officials today, a source close to Callahan told the Journal Star. Bruce Allen, a senior assistant with the Raiders, confirmed that Callahan would be headed to Lincoln today.

The Huskers are also expected to interview interim head coach Bo Pelini and assistant head coach Turner Gill today.

Allen said Callahan and Nebraska might make a good fit.

"Bill's such a great traditionalist," Allen said. "I see him fitting into Nebraska's tradition very well."

What's more, Allen said, Callahan doesn't mind high expectations.

"He's the type of guy who'll embrace those expectations," Allen said. "With the Raiders, high expectations are what it's all about."

Callahan, who was recently fired by the Raiders one year after leading them to the Super Bowl, is represented by Gary O'Hagan, who also represents Zimmer.

O'Hagan declined comment on whether there had been contact with Nebraska. When asked the level of interest by Callahan, he said: "I think he's interested, and I think it's a phenomenal opportunity for Callahan and a phenomenal find for Nebraska."

Raiders offensive lineman Adam Treu, a former Husker, said Callahan would be a great pick for NU.

"I feel really good about that," Treu said.

"If that's the path he chooses, I think that'd be a great fit for him and the university.

"He has a no-nonsense type of attitude. He doesn't have many rules, but the ones he has, he expects everyone to abide by.

"He's real clear-cut. There's no real vagueness of what he expects of you."

A source close to Pelini said that Pelini will interview for the job today. Gill is also expected to interview today, according to the source.

Meanwhile, Zimmer has decided to remain with the NFL's Cowboys after receiving a $1.5 million offer from Nebraska, the Dallas Morning News reported this morning.

"Mike Zimmer is going to be staying with the Dallas Cowboys," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said today. "I think Mike did a good job for us. I am just happy that he is staying here with us. I think he wants to be a pro coach."

Zimmer, who has never been a head coach, was apprehensive about taking the job from the moment he was contacted shortly after the Cowboys' weekend playoff loss because of the location and viability of the program, according to the Morning News' report.

NU athletic director Steve Pederson, who released a statement Tuesday afternoon, said nothing about an offer being made to Zimmer.

"Chancellor Harvey Perlman and I did in fact interview Mike as part of our ongoing search," Pederson said. "We found him to be a terrific coach and a man of great integrity. He was very upfront at the time regarding the fact that his first obligation is to the needs and happiness of his family. Mike and I agreed that he should discuss a potential move to Lincoln before we proceeded with any further discussions.

"After returning home and talking to his family, Mike called me this morning saying that they had decided to remain in Dallas and asked to have his name withdrawn from consideration.

"In the meantime, the process continues to advance with scheduled interviews with Turner Gill and Bo Pelini among other potential candidates."

Others mentioned as possible candidates for the Husker job included Mississippi coach David Cutcliffe and California coach Jeff Tedford.

Cutcliffe, who is attending the AFCA convention in Orlando, Fla., told the Journal Star by phone Monday night that no contact had been made with Nebraska. When asked if he might be interested in the NU opening, Cutcliffe said, "I'm not going to speculate."

Rebels athletic director Pete Boone said Tuesday: "I'm getting a lot of calls, but they're all from reporters. They're not from Nebraska officials. I think what's happened is they've got themselves in a box firing a 9-3 coach. But they'll find somebody." Tedford, who is also in Orlando, told the Journal Star by phone Monday night the rumors about his candidacy for the opening are "absolutely false. I have had no contact with Nebraska whatsoever."

Zimmer reportedly got a significant raise for his decision to remain with Dallas. He is believed to be making between $400,000 and $500,000. Frank Solich, who was fired as NU's head coach Nov. 29, was making about $1.4 million.

That's the amount Pederson has said he was prepared to discuss with Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt, who chose to remain with the Razorbacks after having discussions with Pederson last week. Reports from Arkansas had the figure as high as $2.5 million per year.