The fallout from a less than stellar start to the 2017 football season for the Nebraska Cornhuskers has been swift.

According to ESPN, the school has fired athletic director Shawn Eichorst, less than five years after he took over the program in October 2012.

In a statement, University chancellor Ronnie Green, who did not hire Eichorst, said:

Our fans and our student-athletes deserve leadership that drives the highest levels of competitiveness, as well as excellence across all facets of Husker athletics. (Eichorst's) efforts have not translated into on-field performance.

The firing, which is effective immediately, comes five days after the Huskers lost to Northern Illinois 21-17. That following a loss to Oregon the previous week, marked the first back-to-back non-conference defeats for Nebraska since 1957.

Current head coach Mike Riley was hired after Eichorst fired previous head coach Bo Pelini following the 2014 season. Just last week, Eichorst extended Riley's contract through the 2002 season.

In a statement, Eichorst said:

While I am deeply disappointed in the decision today, I am grateful for the wonderful years that my family and I have spent at Nebraska. I am proud of how our student-athletes, coaches and staff represented this great university and state, and I am confident that the future is bright for Nebraska athletics.

The school says a search for Eichorst's replacement is underway.

Nebraska opens Big Ten play at home with Rutgers, Saturday, in a game you can hear on ESPN 99.1.

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