Bo Pelini Proves Nebraska Administration Was Right In Firing Him

No two ways about it, former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini was a ‘Player’s Coach.’ Always quick to defend his players, it was apparent when he was fired on November 30th at how many players, both current and former, came to his aid and defense.

Current offensive lineman Matthew Finnin took to Twitter that day:

"This’ll go down as the worst decision Eichorst will make in his career. He don’t care tho. Just biding his time til Wisconsin opens up."

Former Nebraska player and current Detroit Lions DT Ndamukong Suh said via Twitter as well:

"The leadership issues at the University of Nebraska extend above the Head Football Coach’s office."

So what exactly were these players getting at? The hatred instilled by Pelini towards Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst. In a last meeting with his players December 3rd, Bo Pelini made sure every last bridge between himself and Nebraska was not only burned, but that he still had his player’s loyalty beyond that. The audio tape sounded casual, Pelini’s voice like he was giving a lecture and then he started to talk about Shawn Eichhorst (as heard below).

"“I didn’t really have any relationship with the A.D.,” Pelini said. “The guy (Shawn Eichorst), you guys saw him (Sunday), the guy’s a total (bleep). I mean, he is. He’s a total (bleep).”"

Now to be fair to Pelini, did the Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst have a working relationship with the coach, leading to the separation between the two? Indicators say no. Players complained that they received confirmation of Pelini’s firing via email, even furthering the divide between players and administration. But does that give Bo Pelini the right to add anarchy towards that split by making sure his players were firmly on his side, detracting and deriding the offices above him in the locker room even after being fired? No it doesn’t. Player’s coach or not, Bo Pelini wasn’t on an island with just himself and his players. He had a responsibility to the University of Nebraska, its fan base, but more importantly, to bring up the young men Pelini was appointed to coach and for them to be responsible in their actions and words.

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Leadership begins this way. You can’t run in the battle with them, joke and smoke with them and then come down hard when you have to. The player’s won’t take you serious. ‘What happened to my Player’s Coach?’ They’ll ask that when it’s time for discipline. A Player’s Coach can only go so far. Bo Pelini’s expletive laden finale with his players proved that. Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst knew that as well. 8 wins in a season was the hump that Pelini couldn’t get over but the division that he created between the players and the Nebraska Administration was the justification.

With Bo Pelini accepting the head job at Youngstown State, one wonders if Bo will ever be the head man at any major college football program again. Youngstown State even had to come out with a statement, before Pelini even has coached a game, to address the comments made.

“Coach Pelini’s remarks as reported are inappropriate and unfortunate. We have discussed the report with coach. We are confident that Coach will conduct himself accordingly moving forward. We will not be commenting any further on this issue.”

If Pelini does coach at the level that he was with Nebraska, the Athletic Director, Chancellor, President, and fan base should know what they’re getting when it comes to him, his players certainly do.

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