A county judge recused herself Tuesday at what was to be Andy Christensen’s first appearance on a sexual assault allegation.

Charges have not been filed yet against the Nebraska offensive lineman who spent the weekend in jail and is scheduled to be in court again on Thursday.

Christensen was set to be released Tuesday evening after posting 10 percent of a $500,000 percentage bond, according to court staff.

Christensen was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior at a downtown bar early Saturday and resisting arrest.

The 23-year-old alleged victim says Christensen approached her at the Brass Rail, 1436 O St., and that when she turned away from him he reached under her skirt and assaulted her.

On Saturday, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini suspended Christensen from the team indefinitely.

In court on Monday, Christensen was brought into court and Judge Lyn White set his percentage bond at $500,000, nearly double the state’s request of $300,000.

On Tuesday, Christensen was set to be in court for a bond review and make his first appearance on the allegations.

Lancaster County Judge Mary Doyle let Brad Roth withdraw as Christensen’s attorney. Bob Creager is his new attorney.

Creager asked Doyle to consider reducing Christensen’s bond to $300,000, an amount the prosecution sought a day earlier. Christensen’s family could post the bond, he said.

Doyle refused and said she was recusing herself and will make no rulings in the case because she knows the alleged victim.

A judge from another judicial district is expected to preside over the Thursday hearing.

Suh and Blue

Ndamukong Suh and Anthony Blue, who underwent knee surgeries last week, should be ready to play “probably in the fall,” Husker coach Bo Pelini said Tuesday.

Blue, a sophomore cornerback, underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL. As for the junior defensive tackle Suh’s surgery, “It was kind of exploratory, but they went in and decided to do something more long-term. It won’t be an issue for his future,” Pelini said.

Living in the fish bowl

Pelini has the family picture behind his desk: him, Mary Pat, three cute kids.

The Pelinis are settled now in this football-crazed place, where every move and word from the head football coach falls beneath a microscope.

To this point, it’s really been no bother, Pelini said from his office.

“We just go about our business. We kind of do our thing and don’t really worry about it,” he said. “We aren’t going to change our lifestyle because I’m in the public eye a bit. I think the more people see us out in public, the more normal it becomes. That’s our attitude.

“We go into a restaurant and people might say ‘hi’ a little. That’s great. I’m not going to all of a sudden crawl in a hole. I know some people go that route. I learned that’s not the way to go, and that’s not who we are.”

Pelini has already played and coached at plenty of places where football is king: Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU.

“There’s attention everywhere,” Pelini said. “I saw Bob (Stoops) go through it at Oklahoma, and obviously Les (Miles), and even I went through it to a certain extent at LSU. It’s just part of it.

“I think it’s great. If there wasn’t interest, it’d be a bad job. That’s just part of the deal. I’ve enjoyed it. Everyone’s been very respectful.”

Pelini laughed.

“I’m undefeated. If we lose a couple, it might get a little hairy.”

How big is your roster?

Pelini said he expects 96 players to take part in spring camp, which begins March 29.

Of course, that number will grow in the fall with the addition of walk-ons and new recruits. Pelini said he believes the roster will have about 140 to 150 players on it when it’s all said and done.

Long hours of coaching

It’s not uncommon these days to find some football coaches who spend 18-hour days in their offices. Bill Callahan had more than a few of those.

Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on the coach you’re talking to.

“Everybody’s different,” Pelini said. “I don’t think there’s a right way or a wrong way. You have to do what you have to do. But you have responsibilities at home, you have responsibilities in the work place, and the ultimate deal is to figure out a way that you can do the best at both.”

Pelini said he isn’t the type that wants to live in his office.

“I’ve never needed to, no, but I’ve worked long days, I’ve worked short days,” Pelini said. “When I have a chance to take time off, I’ll take time off. I work hard at finding the correct balance that works for me, and I believe I’ve found it.”

A new face

It was expected that Ross Watson would be Nebraska’s new graduate assistant. It’s now official. The 24-year-old is already in town and has his own office.

Watson, who was an assistant at the football-proud Division III school Mount Union, takes over the position just vacated by Jon Osterhout, who recently took a job coaching the defensive line at Sacramento State.

Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com. Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.