New athletic director Eichorst confident Pelini is the man who can end Huskers' title drought

In this Jan. 16, 2013 photo, Nebraska Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst mingles with fans at the Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb., where Nebraska played Purdue in an NCAA college basketball game. Eichorst said in an interview with The Associated Press that he admires how Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini runs the Cornhuskers' program and that he's confident Pelini will win championships. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

In this Jan. 16, 2013 photo, Nebraska Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, right, visits with University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken, second left, and with Speaker of the Legislature Greg Adams, left, at the Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb., where Nebraska played Purdue in an NCAA college basketball game . Eichorst said in an interview with The Associated Press that he admires how Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini runs the Cornhuskers' program and that he's confident Pelini will win championships. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini has received a strong endorsement from new athletic director Shawn Eichorst (IKE-horst).

Eichorst said in an interview with The Associated Press that he admires how Pelini runs the Cornhuskers' program and that he believes Pelini is on track to end a conference-championship drought that dates to 1999.

The Huskers were 10-4 this past season, finishing with a 31-point loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game and a 14-point loss to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl.

Eichorst said even though the season ended in disappointment, the Huskers are "not far away" from a Big Ten title.

Eichorst called Pelini "an excellent coach, character-based, fundamentally sound." Eichorst said he's impressed with the discipline and academic achievement of the players.