Noteable Quotes from Pelini's Signing Day Press Conference
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February 6, 2008 by
Today's signing day press conference gave Husker fans their second opportunity in as many months to hear Bo Pelini in his own words. Here are some direct quotes from Pelini on topics ranging from the walk-on program to the importance of recruiting high school players instead of junior college players.
On recruiting in Texas
Well we had some ties down there. Obviously Coach (Tim) Beck coming on board was a great resource for us in his ties down there. It was a group effort. Everything is. Coach Watson has great ties down there as does Coach Gilmore. [...] We have to be able to recruit Texas to be able to have success in recruiting and it’s going to be an emphasis for us. It’s one of the secondary areas when you get outside—obviously our primary area is now and always will be the state of Nebraska. That’s where it has to start, begin and end. But then Texas is going to be a primary area outside of the state of Nebraska. Our success there hopefully is just a sign of things to come.
On recruiting for specific needs
I honestly get into that that much. We really don’t know what our needs are at this point. We’re a new staff. We’re still trying to associate ourselves with what we have and what we need and that’s going to be a process that’s going to be ongoing.
On the importance of the walk-on program
The more people you bring into a culture that have strong beliefs about something and have a strong commitment and want-to, it’s going to make you stronger in the future. I’ve heard Coach Osborne talk a number of times about some of the players who came around here from different areas across the nation. When they came in obviously they signed on and they had a belief in where they were coming. But when you surround them with that type of kid, who grew up living or dying whether Nebraska won or lost, and you look around and some of those talented guys and some of those guys from across the nation, they became that much more committed to the program because they were surrounded by people who had an extreme level of commitment. That’s what it’s all about.
On the importance of recruiting high school players instead of junior college players
I believe that there are no quick fixes in life. You are going to get out of something what you put into it. I’m not saying that you can’t ever recruit junior college athletes, but you have to have a specific reason, a specific need. We’re not at that point yet with our program. We don’t even know what we have on campus. Like I said, we were out there recruiting potential and talent. We were able to get that accomplished. I believe we have a top-notch staff. A staff I will put up against anybody in the country. We’re going to take that talent and potential and develop it from the grass roots.
On if there is a limit on the amount of walk-ons he will take each year
I’m not going to put a limit, or put myself hostage to any numbers. We’re looking at adding quality football players to our program. Every year that is going to change, it is going to be different. It depends on what’s out there. If there is somebody that wants to walk-on on our football program, and has the potential to be a tremendous football player, we’re not going to turn anybody away. Where that number goes in the future, I have no idea. I can’t look into the crystal ball and figure that out, but I do know they play great football in the state. There is a tremendous commitment from the people and the state. The more guys we can bring in from this state, the more ownership the people of the state of Nebraska are going to feel for this program. It is extremely important to all of us involved.
On one thing that he needed to focus on this recruiting class
Good football players. Guys that play with passion, play with an attitude. We were looking for the best guys, not necessarily need-oriented, but guys that could come in and play. You have to address it that way when you don’t know what you have, when you don’t know specifically what your needs are. Where we are right now? I’m not sure. We haven’t had much association with the players on campus, so we were just looking at tape and trying to find good football players that we knew were going to help us somewhere.
The one thing I’ll say is walk-ons, scholarship guys, it doesn’t make a difference to us. We’re bringing in good football players. Nobody’s been promised a thing here. It’s the same as the guys who are on campus here, and people that have played in the program. Everybody is going to be given an opportunity, and the bottom line is the best players are going to play.
On if there’s more satisfaction getting an unknown player that they spotted rather than someone everyone else wanted
We don’t really base our assumptions or our evaluations on what other people think. We watch tape and we spend a lot of time looking at tape, and we see how they play football. We’re going to make the judgments. We don’t really get concerned with who else has offered, or what he’s ranked, how many stars he has. We’re concerned with whether he can play football and be successful in our system, and that’s how we approach it.
Related: Read the full transcript, listen to the press conference, view photos from the press conference
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doombob Feb 07 08
I posted this comment over on my own site, but it bears repeating here: Kind of shocked Bo admitted that they are in the ongoing process of evaluating needs. I thought it was pretty clear in what areas leadership and talent needed to be brought in this year. I would venture a guess that they're not expecting true freshmen to come in and make an on-field impact immediately, even though he basically said all positions are an open field right now. He came off as relaxed and laid back in the press conference, but if you read his words without tone in mind, it sounds like the staff just doesn't know what they're doing yet, even with evidence of their actions are speaking to the contrary.
Jason Feb 07 08
Interesting, but I had a different take. Bo strikes me as a guy who doesn't necessarily listen to anyone else's evaluation of the players or state of the program. And I don't mean that in a bad way, but he'd rather see a guy play under his direction before he passes judgment.
He made a few comments in his press conference that alluded to this. He mentioned that he doesn't put any stake in the recruiting services or how other people rate a guy. He also mentioned that the biggest unknown with his recruits is how they will respond to coaching.
Also, it bears keeping in mind that this staff pretty much has a free pass next year. There's no need to run out and get a bunch of JC players who will play from the first snap. So, they can go out and find the best players with raw skills they can develop.
It will be interesting to see how their approach changes over the next few years as pressure to perform increases.
doombob Feb 07 08
I completely agree with you. But I'm not just talking about Bo's evaluation/coaching/recruiting. I'm saying there's a better way to say "We really don’t know what our needs are at this point." Which he went on to clarify in the next sentence "... we wanted to get talented football players, guys that have potential to come in and play winning football and we were able to accomplish that." We know Bo can get results on field, but we also know he's not the greatest with the media. It's like listening to Herm Edwards of the Chiefs. He's quotable, genuine, and knows what he's doing on the field. It's just that Herm can contradict himself from one question to the next. Now, Bo hasn't done that yet, but I think he will sometime next year until he learns the terminology that Nebraska media likes to hear. Maybe Dr. Tom had it down pat. Say as little as possible to get the point across.
Jason Feb 07 08
I hear you. He's going to have to fine tune his skills with dealing with the media. He's a no-B.S. straight talking kind of guy. That's endearing at the moment, but we'll see if it wears thin when times get tough.
Nikko Feb 25 08
Yawn, why don't you guys give the guy a break before they even play a game? Why don't you send him the "doombob, How to Speak to the Media" book? It's easy to be a critic.
Dugger Jul 09 08
Talking to the media has nothing to do with coaching a football team.
If you've paid attention to Bo Pellini's acomplishments, you should get
one thing from it and that he has improved every team he has been with. I'm sure that Doombob is not a Head coach and is more like a arm chair quarterback.