LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - 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.