[Husker] Where to start. . .

[jschlechte at usfamily.net]

> [snip stuff]
> >
> > Callahan's attitude at the end of the game was brought up by another
> > post as well.  And that NU is just his experiment in college ball.
> 
> >[snip]
> 
> Yeah, I cut everything else because I want to focus on this comment,
and
> you're not the only one that made it.

Maybe I didn't explain myself well enough, as most of what I do is
experiment - it is my job.  And most of this comes off as rather
negative.  And long.  This comes from the culmination of a frustrating
season (both wins and losses).  So not to pick a battle of words, and
certainly not directed at Jon, but just to elaborate on where I'm coming
from and what I perceived.

> Contrast your view of Callahan with that of the gaffs the previous
years
> where he called the Okies f'in hillbillies, and then had that blow-up
over
> the 'throat slashing' gesture (which was a great load of crap - every
> parent out there recognized it as the international parent symbol for
"I'v
> had it up to HERE!"). We complain if he's too emotional, then complain
if
> he's not. The guy is screwed, eh?

Attitude isn't the same as emotion (see below), so the above commentary
isn't really related to what I perceived about his attitude.  Now
emotion can be a part of that, but how you carry yourself is a lot
different from over-reacting to the situations mentioned above.
>From dictionary.com 
Attitude: 1.	manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with
regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind:
a negative attitude; group attitudes.
2.	position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of
an action, emotion, etc.: a threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.
Emotion:
1.	an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear,
hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and
volitional states of consciousness.
2.	any of the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love, etc.
3.	any strong agitation of the feelings actuated by experiencing
love, hate, fear, etc., and usually accompanied by certain physiological
changes, as increased heartbeat or respiration, and often overt
manifestation, as crying or shaking.

> You really think that he's 'just experimenting' in college? The guy is
a
> competitive guy. 

Competitive at what cost?  Callahan was NOT competitive in his first
year, for what?  Some perceived future benefit?  What does this really
mean?  Does he want to win?  Does he want the players to grade out well
in their play?  I certainly don't know, but just because someone is
competitive, it doesn't make them good at what they do.

> You can see the frustation in his Cotton Bowl post game
> press conference comments. 

Didn't watch it, so I can't comment on anything he said, but what was he
frustrated about?  His horrid clock management, his poor preparation of
the team as to how to manage the clock?  Things like that?  

> The implication is that he doesn't 'really'
> care if he succeeds - that he can just get another coaching job and
we're
> stuck loving Nebraska. You didn't say it, but the other implication is
-
> he's in it for the money.

You think he called Steve Pedersen up and said I want to coach at NU for
a pittance?  You think after Oakland his first thought was I'd like to
coach in college?  You think he would have left Oakland after losing the
Super Bowl if NU had come calling then?  I think he came to Nebraska
because it was an available challenge.  I also think there's prestige to
being the head coach at NU.  He certainly didn't understand what he was
getting himself into and it showed.  He seems to be getting better, but
I'm not paying real close attention.

> Let's say for a minute that you're correct. Nebraska is just a
stepping
> stone to something else. If he fails, you think he's going to get a
better
> job somewhere else? Where's the incentive to fail, then?  If nothing
else,
> the idea that he's in it for the money and experimenting, then there's
> more of an incentive for him to be *very* successful so he can work
his
> way back to the NFL.

I never said anything about wanting him to fail.  Specifically I said I
hope he doesn't get fired.  That would be a failure.  Maybe Callahan
will develop as you said into the coach we want him to be, but I have
severe doubts about that.  That's why from my perspective, him leaving
on his own accord for something that he perceives is better for him,
would be better for NU.  But in the short term it would be nice to see
continued improvement from his teams.  That's where I think the greener
pasture may come calling for Callahan.  So again misunderstanding of
where I'm coming from.  

The game plans, game calling against ISU & OU in 2004 and USC this year
seemed like experiments to me, ie will this work? let's try it and see;
or we'll learn something from this game; or let's try this so we don't
get embarrassed.

> We didn't win the game. We haven't won a big game. Bill Callahan may
not
> ultimately turn out to be the coach we want him to be, but let's not
read
> more into it than already exists.

I am concerned about Callahan being more than just an average or
slightly above average coach.  This was a long season and most games
(all losses and several wins) I came away frustrated with how NU played.
I hope there's improvement next year and the year after that in how NU
plays be it Callahan or someone else as head coach.  NU has lost
something and I don't think Callahan can bring it back.

GBR,

- jay




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