Any Darn Good?
9 comments so far
October 29, 2007 by
“It’s all your fault if your any damn good� is a quote I’ve heard attributed to Ernest Hemingway. And it’s one that always made a lot of sense. You can let yourself off the hook, you can blame others, but the fact of the matter is when you’re in a position of leadership anything that happens on your watch is your fault, at least if you consider yourself to be an effective leader.
That’s one reason why Bill Callahan’s comments last week that he was doing an excellent coaching job in all areas was both shocking and saddening. It means that he thinks he can be doing his job well, even if the results on the field are lopsided losses. It implies that he’s placing limits on what he holds himself accountable for. And that’s not the mark of the kind of leader you want running your football team.
Granted, there’s a political element to college football. You won’t often hear politician’s admit to any error of any kind at any time. That’s because their words are too often used against them. It’s quite possible that he simply was unwilling to provide his critics with further ammunition (e.g. “see, even he admits he’s not getting the job done!�).
You hope that’s the case. Because if instead, he truly believes he’s doing everything right, then you have to wonder why we’d expect any improvement from the team. Isn’t doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result a definition of insanity? You hope he can approach his circumstances with some humility, that there is still something to be learned and changes to be made. Otherwise, a 4-8 finish may as well be written in stone because the status quo is not producing results. And for that, I can only blame myself.
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OU7times Oct 29 07
It's kind of funny how the coaching problem at Nebraska, to some, was so crystal "clear" to some (for years now)and not for others. On top of the off the field bone headed stunts, Callahans head scratching on the field play calling and now "I'm doing an excellent job" statement. Wow, this guy has the "I'm right, the world's all wrong" syndrom. Talk about throwing the team under the proverbial bus. This guy's through with coaching after Nebraska. Could you imagine anyone else taking a chance on this guy after this fiasco? He should change his name to "F-4 Callahan". I have not seen this much destruction since working the Katrina relief and the Greensburg tornado.
Scott Oct 29 07
The most frustrating thing about all of the hoopla is that I haven't hear Callahan or Cosgrove say they were outcoached. It always seems to be that the players didn't execute or were just a little out of position, or whatever excuse they have used so far. And they have been outcoached on more than one occasion.
I mean, Watson even outcoached Callahan in the one half he had some say in what plays were going to be called.
doombob Oct 29 07
In the NFL, you wait to go for 2 point conversions until the last possible attempt. This is because grown men can be held accountable for dropping the pass that would tie the game to send it into overtime. In the NFL it is acceptable to attribute the cause of a failed game to lack of execution. Employees are supposed to do what the owner says. In college, coaches go for the two early, because it is their decisions that affect the outcome of the game. College players should not be blamed for lacking execution if effort is at their maximum. What if the player's just not good enough to execute? It's Coach's decision to put the right pieces into the field of play. College football losses are always the Coaches' fault.
omarhuskerfan Oct 29 07
hey, I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to those 2 seniors Keller and Bradonburg. I wish them the best.
Tyson Oct 29 07
so doen noone know about keller yet. he injured his shoulder saturday and is out for the rest of the season
Steve Oct 29 07
Hi Tyson,
Thanks for dropping by. On our main page, over to the right we have an area we call "the Wire" which includes hot links to news of interest to Husker fans. You'll see one today there about Keller and Brandenburgh.
Bill in Iowa Oct 30 07
Anyone catch the fruedian slip by Dr. Tom on the "new coaching staff"? Also, I am sure I am reading into it...but he did comment on how he admired the spread option. Hint? Hint?
Really, I think he's too classy to be hinting on any direction as of yet. But I can't help indulge the thought of the spread option at NU. Evidently, a columnist at the Omaha Herald was thinking the same when he printed a list of names of possible head coaching candidates. I counted 3 coaches who run the spread option, 1 the triple option (Navy), and 4 defensive gurus.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10169558
doombob Oct 30 07
The spread set is the new WCO. In 10 years, after everyone else has switched back to the option, Nebraska will start looking for a coach to head up the "latest thing in offensive formations." It doesn't matter what formation you run in. Just be the best at what you do and nobody can stop you, plain and simple.
cvldfg Oct 30 07
When BC was with Oakland he said in an interview "that they had to be the dumbest football team in the NFL". Way to go coach! I am just waiting for him to say that on his way out the door this year. He does however say this without using those exact words everytime they lose. I am tired of it. As far as getting another job, I think he will, but I just can't ever seeing him being a head coach again. I, for one, have never liked him or his coaching methods and I have been against this hire since Day 1. When does BB season start? LOL