11.23.2010 / Bo Apologizes for his Actions to Husker Nation and his Players. Blog Posting by Mike Babcock, Huskers Illustrated Magazine.
Bo Pelini apologized for his actions during Nebraskas 9-6 loss at Texas A&M on Saturday night. Those actions included his dealings with players, in particular quarterback Taylor Martinez, as well as game officials, who penalized the Huskers 16 times for 145 yards, both school records.
Pelini’s sideline behavior, captured by television cameras, reflected poorly on the university UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman told the Associated Press. “I believe at times during that game I got too animated and for that . . . I regret that,” Pelini said at the start of his weekly teleconference, held on Monday because of Friday afternoon’s final regular-season game against Colorado at Memorial Stadium. “And I’m sorry about that.”
The disparity in penalties – A&M was penalized only twice for 10 yards – was the reason for his agitation with the officials. “I always believe it’s OK to disagree with a call,” he said. “It’s not OK to make it personal. At times during that game probably in my quest to fight for the kids (on) our football team, I let it get personal.”
His confronting players, however, wasn’t personal, quite the opposite, in fact. “If it has any impact, it’s a positive impact,” said senior safety DeJon Gomes. “If you’re on the sideline and you see the passion and the desire to win that’s in his eyes, then you understand. And you almost want it that much more. If a coach who can’t get on the field and play for himself has that much desire to win, it drives you that much more to go out there and compete at the highest level.”
Junior defensive tackle Jared Crick said Pelini had no reason to apologize. “That’s just Coach sticking up for us,” said Crick. “For those who were there, you gotta be there to really understand what was happening. But that’s just Coach showing his fire. And I was the same way; you didn’t see that. No, I don’t think he should have apologized.”
But Pelini did. “One thing about our players, I promise you, they know this, that I’ve got their back,” he said. “And they understand also that I expect them to have mine. That means to represent this program all the time, no matter what the situation. Once again, when I got animated, I didn’t do that as well as I could have the other night. And once again, I say I’m sorry for that.”
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What did you think of the Huskers game this past weekend against the Aggies? What are your thoughts regarding Bo’s apologizes? Come on Husker fans, post your comments NOW!
