AP NEBRASKA SPRING FOOTBALL S FBC USA NE

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini holds a cat as the team emerge from the tunnel prior to Nebraskais Red-White spring, in honor of @FauxPelini.

(Francis Gardler/The Journal Star)

There are many benefits to Big Ten membership for Rutgers. The bigger payday down the road, of course. The added TV exposure. The home games against national powers like Michigan and Penn State, which have bolstered attendance.

But here's another: A reason to follow @FauxPelini on Twitter.

Not familiar with @FauxPelini? You're missing out on one of the best parody accounts out there, one that has become so popular that the man who inspired it – Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini – has used it to soften his imagine.

To say the @FauxPelini is a Twitter celebrity is putting it mildly. He has 138,000 followers, and he treats them with various rants – usually in all caps – about college football and other topics. He's been featured on Sports Center, led the Michigan State punter to pet an imaginary cat on the field, and zinged Iowa fans perfectly with this:

A TORNADO HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN IOWA, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO THE END ZONE IN IOWA CITY WHERE TOUCHDOWNS ARE EXTREMELY RARE — Faux Pelini (@FauxPelini) June 29, 2014

He even targeted Rutgers coach Kyle Flood this week (who, for the record, has yet to respond).

@KyleFloodRU So annoying our game got moved to 7pm on short notice but oh well, guess I'll see you at 7pm — Faux Pelini (@FauxPelini) October 24, 2014

Pelini, meanwhile, even carried a cat out of the Nebraska tunnel during the spring game, which which sent the Cornhuskers crowd into a frenzy.

This will probably be the only spring game where a coach and his cat led their team to the field. @Huskers http://t.co/ad7y0Y002w — Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) April 12, 2014

Q. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy faux schedule. What do people in Nebraska know about Rutgers and New Jersey?

A. We know that your colors are also red and white, and that is very annoying. Seriously, having Wisconsin and Ohio State in the conference is bad enough, but having a fourth red team isn't going to work. You need to figure out a new color scheme by 2015. Purple and orange and black and green and navy and maroon are taken, so I suggest beige or plaid.

Q. I see Nebraska has a pretty long sellout streak going. Did you know that Rutgers has sold out its last two home games?



A. That is adorable! And you shouldn't tell people that.

Q. Based on some of your tweets, I think you'd fit in pretty good in New Jersey. Have you ever considered moving East?

A. If you're saying I'm abrasive and aggressive then you can BITE ME.

Q. Have you met our governor, Chris Christie? I think you'd like him and he's been traveling quite a bit lately.

A. I've coached against him the last couple years, once in Lincoln and once in Ann Arbor, he seems like a good guy although he's going to be fired because of the concussion thing. Maybe once that happens he can concentrate more on his governoring.

Q. Is the real Bo Pelini for real?



A. IS THIS FIST REAL? (I am holding my fist in front of my computer screen in a super intimidating way)

Q. I get that it's Lincoln, Neb., but isn't Lincoln from Illinois?

A. He opened the first Subway franchise in Nebraska, so he was very popular here.

Q. Urban Meyer tried to run up the score on Rutgers. You wouldn't do that, would you?

A. Would I try to do it? No I would just do it.

Q. What the hell is a cornhusker, anyway?

A. Rutgers is the Scarlet Knights, which is somehow both specific and vague at the same time and therefore dumber than "cornhusker" so shut it.

Q. Have you gotten to know Kyle Flood?



A. I sent him a message on Twitter and he hasn't responded. Maybe you could help me with that.

Q. You seem angry. Doesn't the cat help?

A. WHY DOES EVERYONE ALWAYS SAY I SEEM ANGRY??? MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS YOU F$&K*#G A*#%OS

@FauxPelini ok enough is enough... I want my cat back. You've had her long enough! — Bo Pelini (@BoPelini) January 7, 2014

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook.