LINCOLN, Neb. -- Two assistants to Nebraska athletic director Bill Byrne will try to succeed him when he leaves to take the same post at Texas A&M next month.

Bob Burton and Joe Selig -- Nebraska's senior associate ADs for internal and external operations, respectively -- announced that they're interested in leading the Cornhuskers' athletic programs.

"I'm interested in becoming AD,'' said Selig, 44, who has spent 26 years working for the athletic department and the last four in his current job. "More importantly, I'm interested in what's best for Nebraska. If the university believes it's in our best interest for me to be in a leadership role, I'd be honored.''

Burton, 39, is in his fifth year at Nebraska. He was associate athletic director for compliance and sports administration before being hired for his current position in 2001.

"It's definitely an interest of mine,'' Burton said. "To have the opportunity to represent the university would be a tremendous challenge and a tremendous opportunity.''

Pittsburgh athletic director Steve Pederson reportedly also is in the running for the job.

Pederson, Nebraska's associate athletic director for football before taking the Pitt job in 1996, said through Pitt's sports information department that he would not comment on speculation regarding him.

Burton and Selig said they had not spoken with chancellor Harvey Perlman and that no interviews had been scheduled.

Byrne announced Tuesday he was leaving for Texas A&M. Just a day earlier, three of coach Frank Solich's assistants were fired following a 7-6 season -- the Cornhuskers' worst regular-season record since they went 3-6-1 in 1961.

Dallas businessman Dan Cook, one of the Nebraska athletic department's most influential donors, said the Huskers would be hard-pressed to find a replacement as capable as Byrne.

Byrne's tenure in Lincoln has been noted for improvements in fund-raising and facilities. Yet vocal fans and boosters dubbed him "Dollar Bill,'' criticizing him for raising ticket prices and tying seat assignments to a person's level of donation.

Byrne also was criticized for phasing out the school's mascot, Herbie Husker, and eliminating the men's swimming and diving team. He offended many fans this fall when he said no "boosters of substance and influence'' that he listened to had complained about the football coaching staff.

Byrne said Tuesday that the public's criticism "had an impact'' in his decision to take the A&M job.

Perlman said Byrne never told him that criticism was wearing on him, but the chancellor sensed that it did.

"We're all subject to criticism,'' Perlman said, "but it's my opinion that the incivility of some of the discourse had to be part of the reason he's leaving.''

Perlman said the next athletic director would need to mend fences with fans and donors.

"It's not a major concern, but it's one of the issues the next athletic director will have to deal with,'' Perlman said. "It happens any time an administrator leaves. An administrator will always win friends, and then there will be some people who are less than satisfied with him.''