[Husker] Michigan

[Steve Reichenbach]

This analogy is really strained.  By this logic, Martinez should leave
because his coach cursed him out and poked him in the chest on national
television.  Carl Pelini should leave because his boss yelled at him on
national television.  Barney Cotton should leave because his boss
yelled at him on national television. Etc. Etc.  Etc.

First, Bo is more than "exuberant".  Whether or not you approve of Bo's
behavior, "exuberant" is hardly the first word that springs to mind.
When I read that characterization, I think that you are being
disingenuous --- pretending to know less than you really do.

Second, if Perlman "lambasted" Bo, what word, rather than "exhuberant",
would you use to accurately describe Bo's public interactions with
Martinez, Carl, Cotton, et al.?  Would it be more accurate to say
Pelini was "exhuberant" with Martinez or to describe it as a
saliva-spewing, profanity-laced, physical confrontation on national
television with a student athlete?

Third, Perlman has criticized, in a public forum, what I've said, but
you know what:  I'm a big boy who can hold opinions without being
overwhelmed by disagreement with my boss.  And, as an employer, I have
more respect for employees who can do the same than those who can't.
Employees who can't handle give and take, even in public, aren't
"highly qualified person[s]" and organizations that expect such
disagreements to be read as pink slips are disfunctional.  Given how Bo
deals with his employees, I'd say he expects them to be able to take
public rebukes without being overwrought and looking for another job.
Similarly, I think Bo is a big boy who can take some.  Is your opinion
on Bo that he is the sort who can dish it out to his players and his
coaches, but he can't take it himself and so wants to pout with hurt
feelings and go work someplace else?  In your mind, is Bo that kind of
small, but exhuberant, man?  Really?

Fourth, Pelini acknowledged in public that he needed to change aspects
of his behavior.  Do you think he was lying because his boss told him
to do so?

I don't think that Bo Pelini is the kind of man who can dish criticism
out to those who work for him but can't take it.  And, I don't think
he's the kind of man who can't examine his own behavior and honestly
acknowledge areas for improvement.

It seems to me that you have a very low opinion of Bo Pelini.

If I were Pelini, I'd be much more pissed off about the sort of wild,
baseless speculation that you and others make about how I think and
feel than I would be about Perlman's limited criticism.


> A previous Email mentioned CEO actions. In the real world, if a CEO
> went on national TV and lambasted one of his best employees for over
> exuberant actions protecting the organization and with no, if any,
> support from the COO for the employee, how long will said employee stay
> with the organization?? In the business world said employee was being
> told to start job hunting. Nebraska football is big business. Along
> those lines, what highly qualified person would want to work for such
> an organization. In other words, said employee will be very hard to
> replace.