The 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

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share