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TwitterThe current Sports Illustrated has a story headlined “The Young and the Tactless,'' asking why so many head football coaches in their late 30s and early 40s act like “boorish tyrants.''
This article discusses NFL coaches. But upon first glance at the headline and the topic, I have to admit one name came to mind:
Bo Pelini.
Now, before you Nebraska fans dig out your thesaurus of cuss words and fire up an e-mail, stick with me for a moment.
First, Pelini's passion for what he does is invaluable. Husker fans love it. The players love it. And it's a necessary component for someone involved in repairing a storied football program that was abused by those who ran it before he arrived.
Second, Pelini can deal with the media any way he wants. This isn't some personal plea for nicer treatment of sportswriters and TV guys.
If he wants to butter up the beat writers, he can do it. If he wants to bully reporters and act crabby and play footsie with injury information, we can do it the hard way. Always have, always will.
For the record, I like Bo. I don't pretend to know him well. The time constraints of our jobs prevent that. But in our limited interactions, it's apparent that he is a smart man with good intentions and without a hidden agenda.
Also, let's not forget the electron microscope he is under at age 41. None of us has any idea what that is like.
Yet someone who is paid $1.8 million a year to lead the most visible enterprise in the state needs to show signs, in at least some settings, of having a few charm school credits by now.
One is postgame media sessions. I'm sure that Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy felt really good after his “I'm a Man, I'm 40'' rant, which I witnessed from 20 feet away.
But I also saw the look on OSU Athletic Director Mike Holder's face moments after that outburst, and I can guarantee you that Gundy didn't feel so hot when summoned to Holder's office.
Postgame sessions are difficult. The coach is emotionally wound up, and the media are on deadline. Stupid questions are asked. I know because some are mine.
Still, like it or not, it's a business setting that in the current information age is beamed worldwide in seconds. Perception matters, and uncivil behavior at the podium can easily be misconstrued.
If you doubt that, you should hear other Big 12 writers grill me at nearly every stop about Pelini's apparent ill humor. (And I have mostly defended Bo, though it gets harder by the week).
Pelini's sideline behavior also has regressed after showing improvement late last year.
Saturday's verbal abuse of officials was downright nasty, according to some folks close enough to hear. Just as bad, it often was without a clear point.
Yes, coaches need to stand up for their team. They also need to know where that stops and causing damage starts.
I've been lucky enough to interact with many Big 12 football and basketball officials, all good people. You would hope that they wouldn't tilt calls against coaches who rip them.
But inside those striped shirts are human beings subject to emotions. And just as coaches gossip about which officials they dislike, trust me, the same thing happens in reverse.
That's plenty of free advice for today. This wasn't meant as a cheap shot after a loss, Bo. Just some friendly counsel, something I needed at different points of my career and appreciated receiving.
North needs compass
Think of the money you could have made by taking bets in August that Kansas State would lead the Big 12 North in the third week of October.
“I didn't envision it,'' K-State coach Bill Snyder said Monday. “But I never thought about it. When we chose to come back and do this, it was just trying to piece things together day by day.''
The Wildcats (4-3, 2-1) moved into first by following a 66-14 trouncing from Texas Tech with a 62-14 victory over Texas A&M. What does it say about a team that gives up 60 one week and scores 60 the next?
“It probably means we're a little goofy,'' Snyder said, “and don't know where we are.''
Does any team in the North know where it is?
Listless Colorado (2-4, 1-1) finally changed quarterbacks and upset Top 25 Kansas (5-1, 1-1). Nebraska (4-2, 1-1) likely will change quarterbacks after a stunning home loss to Texas Tech.
Iowa State (4-3, 1-2) came back from crushing losses of one and five points to throttle Baylor. And Missouri (4-2, 0-2) appears headed for a third straight loss considering Saturday's foe is No. 3 Texas.
“It's hard to figure what's going on,'' MU coach Gary Pinkel said. “We're in a real tough stretch. A lot of things are going to happen, and the end of October and November will be interesting.''
Fourth side
You've heard of football coaches talk of doing well on “all three sides'' of the ball — offense, defense and special teams.
At Texas Tech, a “fourth side'' has been added.
“Our sideline is our fourth side,'' Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. “If you participate in sports, having your teammates cheer for you is a big, big deal. And we make a big deal out of it.''
Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach ordered almost all benches removed from the sideline at home so his players would be forced to stand up and watch.
But just watching isn't enough.
“We're traveling with some guys right now who know they're not going to play one second,'' McNeill said. “Their job is to go through pregame and then make sure they cheer the team on.
“That's one thing Mike has done, and we've agreed to it as coaches.''
Contact the writer:
444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
Copyright ©2010 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
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28 Comments
Posted by: Brenda on 10/20/09 @ 10:20 am:
As an outsider and not an NU fan [although I do have respect for the program], I could not agree more with this column. I have watched NU ball for more years than I care to admit. That said, I would like to give you a slight glimpse of what goes on outside of the Husker fanbase. Normally when I watch college ball on Saturdays, it is in a local sports bar. During the recent NU games televised, the camera has panned to Bo on several occasions where his "antics" were on full display. You can't imagine the laughter and in general, the mocking by the patrons at not only Bo, but NU itself. I find it sad. Again, I am not a big NU fan, but I do remember with vivid clarity watching games with Tom on the sideline. I NEVER watched a game in which anyone ever laughed openly at the screen. Yes, it is two different men and two different coaching styles. That said, I don't think anyone would convince me that Bo has a greater passion for the game, just because of his antics. Some of you may disagree with this observation. Again, I am just an outsider witnessing how others react and have made a mental note of HOW NU football is now perceived, as opposed to what I consider a stellar example ALL college programs would have tried to emulate.
Posted by: huskerinaz on 10/20/09 @ 10:33 am:
Classy article Lee. Playing and losing with class is something that is missing from the leader of this team, at least right now. I too love Bo, but am growing weary of his angry, impatient, "What do you think/you watched the game?" retorts when he thinks someone has asked a stupid question. His sideline antics during the TT game served no purpose and likely damaged his ability to have any future positive influence with the officials when a game really is on the line. I am wondering what Dr. Tom is thinking/doing? about this. I do appreciate that he still has the players backs and that he accepted some of the responsiblity for Saturday's loss ("we got outplayed and outcoached in every phase of the game."). Bo would likely tell you that he doesn't read the newspapers but in the case of your column today, I hope he makes an exception. Nice balanced job. GBR!!
Posted by: Stickney on 10/20/09 @ 10:42 am:
Lee,
Thanks for your comments on Bo. He is the $1.8 million leader of a huge organization and his public persona is embarrassing. I love emotion and fire, but you also need to be professional. And you wonder why Steve Pederson didn't hire him in the first place? Bo's rough edges are starting to wear thin my patience for his behavior. Personally, I think you need to address these observations to his boss Dr. Tom. Bo may think he is dealing with the media, but, for many of us fans, the media is our means of hearing Bo, and by not taking the media seriously, my feeling is that he doesn't care enough about fans to answer questions politely and with some depth. Keep up the good work Lee!
Posted by: Jack,AZ on 10/20/09 @ 11:00 am:
Where were you when BO left NU? Writing articles like this...strictly crap! Guess all Huskerfans, media; never have moments when they are upset and the kids aren't behaving. Write better articles or focus on golf. The only boo! Is for you and for the rest of the 'pointing fingers at BO Pelini crew.' He's right, I don't see any headcoach labels on anyone but himself! Funny, how only posts are on here AGREEING with your opinion.
Posted by: Richard on 10/20/09 @ 11:07 am:
Thanks for saying what I've been thinking for months. Bo's a hot-head and needs to act like the head coach of a major university. In addition to berating the officials, his behavior toward players after an error is inexcuseable. Can you imagine TO grabbing a NU player by the shoulder pads and screaming obscenities in his face after a missed tackle or high snap?
Posted by: Pitt on 10/20/09 @ 11:17 am:
A poorly written and researched outline of an article. This is a mindless milquetoast article, hopefully your writing skills will improve during the rest of the season.
Posted by: truefan on 10/20/09 @ 11:17 am:
Lee, I did what you said and waited a day before I posted this comment. Yes it is important to show a strong leader that keeps composure in good times and bad. However I disagree with the idea that only a cool collective coaching style like Tom O. is acceptable for NU standards. Tom coached in a different era of college football and his style should not be compared to todays coaches. I have looked at past scores and read articles from the "glory days" and even then, fans and writers critized how he coached. For example it took him 20 years to win a championship, questioned his character when playing a running back by the name of Phillips. Most people only remember Tom as being carried off the field in glory. Hey, 3 championships in 4 years is great and I have all the respect for him. Even the next guy (Solich) was critized for not having enough passion. But come on Husker fans, what is it that you want. Sorry but the coach that wins every game by 40 points and 10 championships in 10 years does not exist. I was born and raised as a husker fan and will always be but look around the landscape of college football. Its developing. It could be a lot worse, and I mean a lot worse. We have fire, we have passion and if you were coaching and knew that your players could perform better we would be yelling too. So before you critize a man, spend a day in their shoes. And for the love of god don't boo student athletes, especially in their own stadium.
Posted by: Jim on 10/20/09 @ 11:31 am:
Lee, Great job. Unfortunately, there will always be those in the ilk of Jack,AZ and Pitt who just don't get it and never will. Thanks for writing an article that most informed Husker fans understand and appreciate.
Posted by: InBoWeTrust on 10/20/09 @ 11:31 am:
Thank you Pitt! Bo lives in a glass house. Husker fans are never satisfied. They would be complaining if he just stood on the sidelines with a clipboard, showing NO emotion! Always a camera in his face. I have seen Bob Stoops angry plenty of times! How many articles were written about that, and where's his angry pics? Grow up people and focus on the GAME!
Posted by: Rob in CA on 10/20/09 @ 11:46 am:
Get over it!! Bo doesn't owe the referees, sportwriters or the fans anything. If the fans don't appreciate his demeanor then don't watch the games. If enough people feel the same way, the program will lose money and Bo will either change his demeanor or be gone. Until then, his sole purpose is to field a winning team and to ensure that they are given a fair chance during competition. If that doesn't happen, he is well within his "scope of practice" to demand corrective action and in the very least an explanation for any perceived shortcomings. If that happens to include a little lip service to the referees, or his own players for that matter, then so be it.
It's extremely hypocrital for fans to say that they enjoy "emotion and fire," but when Bo displays either they rip him for not being "more like Tom." Sorry folks, but you can't have your cake and eat it too. Osborne was, and still is, a one of a kind individual, just as Bo is but in a much different way. To think Bo needs to, or can, act like Dr. Tom is both naive and completely absurd. Seems to me this is more about losing then it is about Bo's intensity? If Bo had yelled at the refs and the team still would have won, would anybody care? I highly doubt it!!
Posted by: Jim in Nev on 10/20/09 @ 11:49 am:
Lee, thanks for pointing out what many fans with common sense are seeing. What we have is a talented defensive coordinator with maturity issues handed the head coaching job at a major university. Too many fans confuse "passion" and "intensity" for being a solid head coach.
Posted by: sghusk on 10/20/09 @ 11:49 am:
There were some portions of this game when the officiating was just plain bad if not horrible. Some of that led to the final TT TD. I thought Bo should've been chewing on them. He should have been showing some passion because those official made some really bad calls. The man is honest and wears his heart on his sleeve there's no hiding what he's feeling! Its still a heck of a lot better than BC spin doctor double-speak. His job is to coach not cater to the media. IN BO WE TRUST. Good coach, bad article!
GO BO, GBR
Posted by: FloridaHusker on 10/20/09 @ 12:00 pm:
In my profession, I deal with the media on a regular basis. You are absolutely right, Lee. Folks in your profession do ask a lot of silly questions. They also throw tantrums and whine when answers to those ridiculous questions are answered sarcastically. I noticed you seized the opportunity to offer Coach Pelini "friendly" counsel in a public forum. It doesn't seem so "friendly" when you are ambushed in an article open for the public to read. If you want to give some "friendly" counsel, why don't you just pick up the phone? By the way, I love the picture you carefully selected for the article. It really drives your "friendly" counsel point home.
Posted by: Demarrio on 10/20/09 @ 12:05 pm:
Funny how we are limited with disciplining our kids, yet you think Bo deserves a spanking from Tom Osborne? Watch Bo's re-play of Tuesday's press conference! You will ALL have your answers....period!
Posted by: Lil Red on 10/20/09 @ 12:24 pm:
We really need to get back to NU football. Dr. Tom had it right: represent the state with class and dignity, pound the football with "pancake" blocks, and brave QBs running the option. Lead the NCAA in rushing, and use what Nebraska provides: powerfull fullbacks, a ferocious rushing game.
There's really no reason for anything but NU-style football. It appears inevitable that we must return to what NU stands for, our situation is different from other football powers, we need to stand by our tradition and attrack athletes to it, if we lose our tradition we're "just another" program. We must do what NU traditionally stands for.
Remember: Mr. Pelini and Mr. Watson are not NU men, they are aware of the tradition, but not necessarily believers in it ground-oriented attack and its rich option tradition. Right now, its the same offense that Callahan was using, only less effective. Let's get back to Husker football and NU tradition - before we all forget what it was.
Posted by: Over Fifty on 10/20/09 @ 1:17 pm:
Great article. Let's hope that Dr. Tom will impose some of his class and diplomacy on Bo. Bo has a lot of potential but I do agree he is a part of that "me" generation. One should try to work with them on a daily basis; it is not fun. I love how Bo brought back the traditions that have defined Nebraska for years. However, he also needs to realize that he needs to pay his dues and conduct himself like those in front of him. All he needs to do is look at Dr. Tom or Bill Snyder to know how a real man / coach is to conduct himself.
Posted by: weary_husker on 10/20/09 @ 1:46 pm:
I am so tired of hearing lets get back to power I or option football, it got to the point where even a die hard husker like me couldn't stand there ineptitude under FS. You have to have balance in today's game that is something the TO teams of old had that most of you are forgetting. Yes this yr is not as high powered as last yr, but remember we lost our starting QB, 2 of the best WR, and a starting RB that could catch out of the back field to go with our good ground game. I think we need some time to develope and I am still going to support this team and these coaches even if we lose the rest of our games.
As far as this article I would like to see BP turn it down a notch too, but to say he should be more like TO no way. I thought TO needed to turn it up a couple notches so for me it should be somewhere in the middle.
Posted by: Jerry on 10/20/09 @ 1:50 pm:
Watched the press conference and was encouraged by Bo's demeanor. Either someone talked to him or he talked to himself. Let's hope this trend continues for the sake of the team and the fans.
Posted by: Virginia Husker on 10/20/09 @ 1:57 pm:
I agree to a degree. However, Pelini is repsonsible for trying to rebuild Nebraska football and he is an emotional perosn coaching an emotional sport. I'd rather have someone who shows emotion than someone who shows ambivalence. Also, I'm sure no one would like someone showing up at his or her place of work asking how your day went when you just had a lousy day. That is the nature of the coaching profession. Anyone would be angry after losing and then taking questions from reporters who cavalierly ask, "coach, what went wrong today?" T.O. got angry on the sidelines too. Some coaches are more emotional than others.
Posted by: Claude Bawls on 10/20/09 @ 2:32 pm:
All of you finger-waggers and fair-weather goody two-shooers seem to forget what probably set Bo off. No call on a late hit on one of his guys right in front of him? If that was your son, or someone you cared about a lot, wouldn't you get just a little steamed. Must be nice for so many off you to be so much smarter like the author than the rest of us and know what's best. TO had plenty of passion, everybody just has a different style. Maybe one day the rest of us can be as cool and smarmy as the rest of you. GO BIG RED.
Posted by: MR. MOOSE on 10/20/09 @ 3:22 pm:
To Claude Bawls, you hit it on the head baby, right on the head!
Posted by: truefan on 10/20/09 @ 3:51 pm:
One other point I would like to make. If you expect Bo to be more "classy" the how about an article about the fans booing the players off the field. If the fans aren't classy why should the head coach.
Posted by: BigRedFan4Life on 10/20/09 @ 9:11 pm:
I totally agree with truefan!! I could not believe it when our own fans were booing our team and coaches as they left the field at halftime. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN NEBRASKA!! I have been a husker fan all my life (from Bob to the present) and was so disappointed & embarassed with the "CLASSLESS" behavior from the fans! Grow up people!!
Posted by: golfarch on 10/20/09 @ 11:32 pm:
I love the passion and the fire that Pelini shows on the sidelines...but, I'd also like to see him tone it down a bit. I don't expect him to be Tom Osborne, he has to be his own coach and develop his own style. As the head coach of a football team, with young, impressionable 18-23 year olds, he must also LEAD BY EXAMPLE. NU has played fairly undisciplined football under Pelini. 12 penalties for 90 yards against TTech!!! Yes, some of those were borderline calls, and the Crick facemask very easily could have been offsetting or gone the other way, but that is still too many penalties in too many key situations. Nebraska is 108 of 120 in total penalties and 104 in total yards. Not good. Last year we were 102 of 119 in penalties and 98 in yards. One thing that separates Pelini from some of the "top" coaches (Urban Meyer, Pete Carroll, Bob Stoops, Nick Saban, etc.), all of those coaches yell at officials, and show passion on the sidelines....but those other coaches know when to stop.
On your other topic, part of Pelini's job IS to talk to the media, whether he's in the mood or not. He is a passionate head coach, and he cares about winning, and it kills him when he loses, but he's the head coach of a program who's fanbase's passion makes his love of the game look like a hobby. When you sign the contract to be a head coach, you don't just sign up to call the Xs and Os.....you sign up for the weekly press conferences, the post-game conferences, the radio shows, the tv shows, etc. etc. etc. You are a spokeman and representative of the University. That is his job.
Posted by: dtown_sker on 10/20/09 @ 11:38 pm:
I was at the game, and as an ex-employee of the program I was very disappointed in how our fans responded to the play on the field. We are supposed to be the "greatest fans" in college football? All I saw was a bunch of whining when adversity hit. I too would have blown up if my team performed with such a lack of mental fortitude after a defining win. Yes, Bo sometimes over reacts, he's a football coach. It's a violent game just ask Sam Bradford. I love that he shows passion and cares for his players. At least he's not on the sideline with that annoying twitch a la BC.
As for the game this week, I hope our players come out with the same intensity and mentality of our coach. At least we know he's focused on the game. Remember, Dr. Tom retired from coaching. It's a different generation of coach and when Josh McDaniel's got fired up after the win vs. his old team people here finally respected him. Go ahead BO! Get a fire back into the program!!! GBR!!!
Posted by: dtown_sker on 10/20/09 @ 11:40 pm:
I was at the game, and as an ex-employee of the program I was very disappointed in how our fans responded to the play on the field. We are supposed to be the "greatest fans" in college football? All I saw was a bunch of whining when adversity hit. I too would have blown up if my team performed with such a lack of mental fortitude after a defining win. Yes, Bo sometimes over reacts, he's a football coach. It's a violent game just ask Sam Bradford. I love that he shows passion and cares for his players. As for the game this week, I hope our players come out with the same intensity and mentality of our coach. At least we know he's focused on the game. Remember, Dr. Tom retired from coaching. It's a different generation of coach and when Josh McDaniel's got fired up after the win vs. his old team people here finally respected him. Go ahead BO! Get a fire back into the program!!! GBR!!!
Posted by: kansas on 10/21/09 @ 12:15 pm:
We all get tired of hearing after a couple of wins that the Nebraska program is back and the Black shirts are back and then they lose a couple of games they take the black shirts away and they are going to change quarter backs.Come on Nebraska,,, quit acting like the program is a power house and admit you are in a rebuilding process and quit the bull..and P.S. talk to your coach about that gum chewing on national T.V.........PLEASE
Posted by: Gemo on 10/21/09 @ 12:27 pm:
You people in the minority--thankfully--who are calling this article "crap" and "poorly written/researched" are (a) not covering the games yourselves (so who's the poorer researcher? geez, that one was easy) and (b) are too blinded by the RED to view the topic rationally. Bo, whether he likes it or not, is THE most visible figurehead of the state right now. He has to come off better, especially to the free publicty providers--the media. Passion is great and you have to fight for your players. But don't cross the Bob Knight line when you do it. And taking it out on the media, who are truly fans of what you do or else they wouldn't be there, does nothing but make him look like a buffoon who can't handle the diplomacy needed to be something more than a hot-headed D-coordinator. Coming from a state where your coach of THE program is the #1 most viewed representative of your state--Kentucky--I know a few things about boorish coaches. That's one big reason why Billy Clyde Gillispie is no longer the UK coach. Not winning didn't help either. Both arrived at the same time and never left.