Pat Forde

[np_husker]

Before we dive into a gluttonously good week, The Dash must note the building acrimony as Nebraska plays its final games as a member of the Big 12. This divorce could be reaching the stage of throwing potted plants at each other in the front yard as the moving vans load up belongings.

 

It was all on display Saturday in Texas A&M's 9-6 victory over the Cornhuskers in College Station -- uncontrolled sideline rage, questionable calls, cheap shots; you name it. Then came the postgame tantrums. And finally the conspiracy complaints from the Corn People, whose big season has been crippled by a Texas two-step of upsets: The officials are out to screw Nebraska on its way out the door to the Big Ten.

 

Here are the facts as The Dash knows them:

 

Penalties in that game were Nebraska 16 for 145 yards, Texas A&M two for 10 yards. The Cornhuskers were hit with five personal fouls and two unsportsmanlike conducts -- one of them on sideline demon Bo Pelini at a critical juncture in a tie game. A roughing-the-passer penalty on the Huskers was a flat-out bad call. And the consecutive 15-yard penalties on Nebraska tight end Ben Cotton in the first half were, as this video shows, an understandable reaction to a disgusting cheap shot by A&M's Tony Jerod-Eddie.

 

Jerod-Eddie should be suspended for this week's game against Texas. Preferably the suspension would be delivered by A&M, but if the school doesn't have the, um, stones to do it, let Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe step in.

 

Beyond that is the bigger picture, which shows that Nebraska is flagged at a much higher rate than its opponents -- the numbers are 86 flags on the Huskers and 48 on the other guys so far.

 

Part of that is the fact that Nebraska tends to play on the edge of mayhem under Pelini -- they are aggressive to a fault and occasionally prone to crossing the line. The number of flags this year on the Huskers falls into line with their first two seasons under Bo.

 

But penalties on opponents are down from the past two years, when Nebraska was a Big 12 member in good standing. As Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel pointed out in his column Monday, Cornhuskers opponents have been penalized 48 times for 420 yards. Last year they were penalized 64 times and the previous year 84. That makes you wonder.

 

Shatel makes a good point: There's a greater likelihood that Big 12 refs are anti-Pelini than perpetrating an orchestrated payback on the school for leaving the league. Fact is, Pelini has surpassed Arizona's Mike Stoops as the worst ref-baiter in college football -- and he embarrassed himself Saturday night in College Station.

 

If Pelini doesn't think spending three hours screaming at officials has any negative consequences, then he must think the "N" on the helmet stands for Nowledge. If he does understand that and persists anyway, he's got an anger issue. Either way, the criticism levied at Pelini by Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman on Sunday was significant and justified.

 

Pelini's sideline demeanor was reprehensible toward the officials (including chasing after one of them postgame before going to shake Mike Sherman's hand). His tirade aimed at quarterback Taylor Martinez was even more distasteful (not surprisingly, there were widespread rumors Sunday night that Martinez quit the team -- rumors later dispelled). His equally hotheaded brother, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, allegedly went after a credentialed videographer postgame and damaged his camera (Carl Pelini disputed the version of events from the videographer, who works for a Texas A&M fan site).

 

Pelini apologized publicly Monday for losing his mind.

 

For the school that gave us the dignified stoicism of Tom Osborne, this is an ironic disintegration of decorum. Dr. Tom needs to have a talk with his head coach, perhaps explaining that Jim Delany is much less inclined than Dan Beebe to tolerate the Linda Blair "Exorcist" routine from a millionaire head coach. Really, what Osborne needs to do is give Pelini a one-game suspension -- but with rival Colorado looming and a chance to win the North Division and play in one final Big 12 championship game, don't expect that to happen.

 

Stay tuned to see whether the Big 12 and Nebraska can be rid of one another without plants flying in the front yard.

 

Full column: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=5841498

[AgMarauder04]

That's a solid column.

 

1. Brings out the fact that the calls were TURRIBLE in some of those instances..The TJE/Cotton debacle and roughing the passer. He acknolwedges the disparity in penalties. It's a good point.

 

2. He also discusses Bo's temperament and that no matter the ref crew in any conference, his antics don't earn him any favors. He needs to learn better self control.

 

Personally, I think it's spot on from all angles.

[knapplc]

Shockingly, I don't disagree with this Pat Forde column hardly at all. I think that's a first.

 

 

I think I need to go lay down for a while.

[np_husker]

That's a solid column.

 

1. Brings out the fact that the calls were TURRIBLE in some of those instances..The TJE/Cotton debacle and roughing the passer. He acknolwedges the disparity in penalties. It's a good point.

 

2. He also discusses Bo's temperament and that no matter the ref crew in any conference, his antics don't earn him any favors. He needs to learn better self control.

 

Personally, I think it's spot on from all angles.

 

I agree that it's spot on. I don't know how anyone could argue with any of it, but I'm certain people will.

[NebHusker72]

And the ISU player who tried to remove Rex's head from his body didn't get suspended either. It's over. Moving on.

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

Forde did a good job of shining the light on Jerod-Eddie and Beebe's office will know there are extra eyes on this. Yet I'd be shocked if anything is done.

[VA Husker Fan]

It was a solid and balanced column until this statement:

 

Pelini apologized publicly Monday for losing his mind.

 

That just goes overboard. Bo apologized and said he could've handled it better, but he did not "lose his mind" and never said he did.

 

Putting that sensationalism aside, there were good points though I don't agree at all that Osborne should suspend him for a game.

[knapplc]

We are not going to turn this into another thread about the Carl Pelini Incident. If you want to discuss that situation, please do so in the other thread.

[AgMarauder04]

We are not going to turn this into another thread about the Carl Pelini Incident. If you want to discuss that situation, please do so in the other thread.

 

 

THIS.

[mmmtodd]

Shockingly, I don't disagree with this Pat Forde column hardly at all. I think that's a first.

 

 

I think I need to go lay down for a while.

 

same.

 

one minor disagreement: that Bo deserves a suspension. Carl, sure. Definitely that douche from aTm. But not Bo.

[holvy83]

Shockingly, I don't disagree with this Pat Forde column hardly at all. I think that's a first.

 

 

I think I need to go lay down for a while.

 

no doubt, usually all i get out of Forde is blah, blah, blah, I'm a dink...

[mmmtodd]

tamu04, our game is over. may i please direct your attention to HERE. They should be more than able to accommodate you.

[knapplc]

Shockingly, I don't disagree with this Pat Forde column hardly at all. I think that's a first.

 

 

I think I need to go lay down for a while.

 

no doubt, usually all i get out of Forde is blah, blah, blah, I'm a dink...

 

This is either a sign that even our worst detractors are beginning to see that we're being screwed here, or it's one of the signs of the Apocalypse. Gotta go re-read Revelations.... BRB

[nowhereman]

I can't disagree that Pelini's raging on the officials ups the penalty count against Nebraska, but therein lies the problem. Refs should be calling the game fairly whether or not one of the coaches is acting like a tool on the sidelines. If they're retaliating against a coach they have a problem with, I don't see how that's any less shady than some hazy conspiracy theory involving orders from the top to screw Nebraska.

 

Either way the officials are targeting one particular team, whether it be for conference politics or manic behavior by its coach. I know the Nebraska haters will counter with "well herp derp he deserves the wrath of the officials!" Right. Gotcha. So what happens when they suddenly find a beef with your coach for whatever reason? Then it probably won't be so awesome for you.

[knapplc]

I can't disagree that Pelini's raging on the officials ups the penalty count against Nebraska, but therein lies the problem. Refs should be calling the game fairly whether or not one of the coaches is acting like a tool on the sidelines. If they're retaliating against a coach they have a problem with, I don't see how that's any less shady than some hazy conspiracy theory involving orders from the top to screw Nebraska.

 

Either way the officials are targeting one particular team, whether it be for conference politics or manic behavior by its coach. I know the Nebraska haters will counter with "well herp derp he deserves the wrath of the officials!" Right. Gotcha. So what happens when they suddenly find a beef with your coach for whatever reason? Then it probably won't be so awesome for you.

 

 

Good post. I've been meaning to post something like this for a couple of days now.