It would not matter either way of winning or losing but at least give him the honor of leading the team to a bowl. The admin did not let him finish what he started and the new HC is waiting in the wing to take over anyway as the old staff in preparing for the bowl game. Back in a time in college football, they usually wait till after a bowl game to dismiss an HC, not before. The AD jumped the gun.
Do you think Ol Harv and his butt-boy AD wanted to run the risk of Pelini gong 10-4? They were pissed enough that he won the Iowa game.