Huskers changing defensive lineup

Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska’s defense got a bit of an overhaul.

Embarrassed in blowouts to Penn State and Iowa State and not far removed from the disasters against Colorado and Miami at the end of last season, the Cornhuskers have made a few changes.

Nebraska will have four new starters, including two freshmen, on defense against McNeese State on Saturday.

“It’s not an effort to shake things up. It’s an effort to play our best players,” defensive coordinator Craig Bohl said.

Big Ten dismisses four officials

Park Ridge, Ill. The Big Ten Conference dismissed four college football officials Wednesday after determining they did a poor job during a Sept. 21 game between Wake Forest and Purdue.

“During the course of the game, these officials did not officiate well enough to meet Big Ten standards,” Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. “Therefore, they will forfeit future officiating assignments.”

An eight-man crew worked the game, and four officials are listed on the Big Ten’s officiating staff. They are referee Daniel Capron, linesman Steve Beckman, back judge Scott Buchanan and side judge Don Swanson.

BCS says victory will count for Irish

Notre Dame is 4-0 in the eyes of the Bowl Championship Series after all.

Reversing a decision made less than two weeks ago, the BCS said Wednesday that the win by the Fighting Irish against Maryland in the Kickoff Classic will count toward qualifying for a BCS bowl game.

Until this season, the first 19 Kickoff Classics, along with all the other “preseason classic” games were considered “exempt.”

However, since the date of the Notre Dame-Maryland game was changed to Aug. 31 from Aug. 24, it took place after the NCAA’s window of exempt games.

No fine for JoePa after grabbing official

State College, Pa. Joe Paterno will not be punished for grabbing an official after Penn State’s overtime loss to Iowa.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany determined Paterno’s conduct did not violate the league’s rules against unsportsmanlike conduct, conference spokesman Scott Chipman said Tuesday.

Two calls went against Penn State in overtime Saturday, including a catch by Tony Johnson that was ruled good by the back judge, then overruled and called out by another official.

When the game ended, Paterno sprinted down the field and grabbed the jersey of referee Dick Honig as he was headed into the locker room.

Buckeyes’ Clarett afraid of flying

Columbus, Ohio Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett is inclined to stay close to the ground, even when traveling.

He’s so afraid of flying, he says he’ll drive to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., if Ohio State makes it all the way to the national title game.

“How do they know where they’re going up in the clouds? There ain’t no stop signs, no stop lights, nothing like that,” he said of airline pilots.

“It’s kind of crazy, man. Seriously.”

The freshman has flown only once, to an all-star game in Texas in January. His next flight comes Friday when the fifth-ranked Buckeyes (5-0) travel to suburban Chicago to play Northwestern.