To Bo, It Is All About Team
9 comments so far
February 6, 2009 by
Remember the Bad Ole Days? Typically we try to erase those from our memories. Unfortunately, there are records kept for as long as records have been kept. So, when our great-grandkids go through the annals, they will always read about a coach named Callahan. When asked, you’ll have all kinds of things to say about him. We’ll remember that he isn’t fond on hillbillies. We’ll lament on the fact that he humbly said that he excelled in every part of his job. We’ll remember his stunning record as a head coach.
While Bo Pelini’s records are only a year into the making, when the paint has dried on his (hopefully) long career at Nebraska, I think one thing will stick out: his focus on the team being more important than any one individual.
Callahan came from the NFL and practiced like the NFL. And most importantly, he sold kids coming to Nebraska that they could come here to go to the NFL. That is enticing to a 17 year old kid that sees the immediate glow of a dollar sign. And his National Letter Of Intent Day press conference lasted well over an hour, breaking down each individual player and how great of a talent he possessed. It was about the stars, not about the team. The most ironic of it all was during this time period, the Tunnel Walk theme was “I Play For Nebraska� when it seemed as those kids were not even being sold on Nebraska but instead the coach that had been to the Super Bowl and knew what it took to get to the next level.
Enter Pelini.
I’m not going to address any specific kid individually. It’s a group. These guys are now members of our football team and they’ll be coming in and they’ll have the opportunity to compete. Not one of them was promised anything. The only thing I offered them was an opportunity to come in here and play with a great university and to compete for a job.
The old-fashioned-tough-nosed-made-for-college Pelini. Pelini sees the big picture. This program isn’t about any one person, it is about every person. It takes a team effort to win a championship. During Pelini’s press conference, he made it a point to not mention a single player. He brought these guys in to be Huskers. He gets to teach them true technique, build up their strength, and get the most out of them to win while they are at Nebraska. He sees the big picture and this class represents that to the fullest. Many of the players in this class come from prominent high schools with a history of winning. That isn’t coincidence. Pelini wants a kid that is a great athlete and is a proven winner.
As with any recruiting class, the results will not be based on star rankings, team rankings, etc. The proof will be known a few years down the road. But you have to respect the recruiting job Pelini has done so far, and just as important, the philosophy behind it. While I am sure we’d love to hear Pelini’s thoughts on Cody Green, Rex Burkhead, etc., we won’t. Instead, we’ll get to watch these young men get developed from the beginning knowing that they are working together for one goal…the team.
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Greg Morrow Feb 06 09
I read the "Double Extra Point" link before I read Renny's offering.
There's a lot of blogs out there. Complete, current efforts probably number in the dozens (concerning the Corn, of course). You could put in solid part time work, just keeping up with every posted slant on every real (and imagined) topic.
After reading the Double's then Renny's, once again it's comfirmed to me why I like this one. The "vibe." Nice, easy. Perspective and reality in check, veering towards the optimistic.
Fits like a glove.
Regarding Renny's post, you might say Pelini's symbolically removing the name, off the back of the jersey. Like how I vaguely remember games from the mid 1970's. With a preponderance of Callahan recruits still on station, especially must have Ndamukong, Pelini now organizes step two of... "rebuilding the demographically challenged Huskers in an age of espn hype hysterics and over reaching value judgements."
I mean, espn honks think we can't refer to "our" team as "we"?!
D Pape Feb 07 09
Very nice perspective Renny. I agree with Greg, this site has the most intriguing articles by far...
Bill in Iowa Feb 07 09
I have bought into the Pelini philosophy. Somehow, it seems to be similar to the Osborne philosophy. I have not fact-checked this, but my father was telling me that the 1997 championship team ranked 42nd nationally, as a recruiting class. There is no doubt that I would like to see us recruit top tier athletes, but I like the "no promises" no nonsense approach. And I like the fact we are going after high character kids from championship programs. All in all, I think it will pay dividends down the road.
JBLING22 Feb 08 09
Forget Football for 2 mins. Doc Sadler has the the fucking shortest team in the country and they just beat the tallest team statistically in the country averaging 6' 5'' that is usually are tallest guy on the floors hight... I love the football team don't get me wrong, but we need to show this team some respect.. They arn't the most athletic team on the court 60% of the time but they are winning over 60% percent of their game... GO SCARLET ... GO BIG RED.. CORNHUSKER BASKETBALL TILL MARCH!!! FOOTBALL BEGINS RIGHT AFTER!!!
zE bOp Feb 08 09
Currently, when we think of OU, do we think Schnelinberger, Gibbs, Blake? I don't think so. When we think of USC and 'Bama, do the names Robinson and Shula pop up like a pop up add?
Nah.
So, give it a few years, nobody will be referring much to Calli & Co. too much after that. I supported Calli and CO. FTMP, he had 2 good years and 2 bad ones, brought in some very good players; I thought he had good character, whatever, end of story.
But the BO Era is just taking hold and I have little doubt we are going to be in for a long and great ride! BO is like OZ and the Bobfather combined--and that ain't a bad thing.
(Oh yea, Pelini came form the NFL too, for the better part of his career to date. But yea, I think Calli was selling 'NFL' to recruits more, whereas I doubt BO is hyping that much, if at all).
(p.s, Greg M., Damn straight! WE(the fans) ARE the team and the team 'R US'! Any questions? Didn't think so....zE oUt...;) ).
GBR!
zE bOp Feb 08 09
p.s.s.,
JBLing, from you nick I can't tell if you are a rapper or are Chinese, LOL.
j/k, j/k ;)
zE oUt X2...
zE bOp Feb 08 09
'J BLing' or 'JB Ling', that is...;)
JBLING22 Feb 08 09
Thats pretty good zE bop Ill give you that!!
zE bOp Feb 08 09
ha ha ;)