Lee Barfknecht - interesting column

[kchusker_chris]

About 6 weeks ago, we were talking about the strength of schedule in 2007, and that being a major difference between why this season won't play out similar. EZ-E brought up the fact that Callahan had lost the team, and that contributed heavily to the losses as well, which I agree with completely. He said he didn't expect that to happen this year which is why Pelini will be fine. I'm wondering how EZ-E, and everyone else feels about that at this point. I don't think he's lost the team, yet...but I'm starting to see some chinks in the armor. What do you all think, is it going to play out similar to 07', which could be even worse considering the schedule?

[presidentjlh]

I think it all depends on how we finish.......but I am sure Pelini knows, he is coaching for his job.

 

Every coach is always coaching for their job.

 

 

The rhetoric being thrown around on this board and others is ignorant and laughable, not pointing any fingers at people individually. All of y'all, myself included, would make absolutely atrocious athletic directors, and clearly have no real clue how this works in real life. It's so much more complicated in various shades of grey then we all seem to want to make it out to be.

 

 

while I agree, it would be hard to argue that how this team plays in their last 5 games will not go a long way in determining Pelini's fate.

He needs another run like last year, I feel, and then a solid performance in the CCG.

[presidentjlh]

About 6 weeks ago, we were talking about the strength of schedule in 2007, and that being a major difference between why this season won't play out similar. EZ-E brought up the fact that Callahan had lost the team, and that contributed heavily to the losses as well, which I agree with completely. He said he didn't expect that to happen this year which is why Pelini will be fine. I'm wondering how EZ-E, and everyone else feels about that at this point. I don't think he's lost the team, yet...but I'm starting to see some chinks in the armor. What do you all think, is it going to play out similar to 07', which could be even worse considering the schedule?

I don't think the record will end as poorly. I think we win this week and even next, although I doubt we win out and make it to the CCG.

[Hunter94]

I don't know much about specific football coaches so I won't say he needs to be replaced now. But, there must be some changes in Lincoln. He is in his sixth year with his selected coaches and all his own players now. For most of his tenure, we have suffered humiliating losses amid some good games. Many of those losses were due a total breakdown of the defence. You can't continue to do things the same way and expect completely different results. So far, Bo has not demonstrated publicly any knowledge of the problem and what to do about it. His usual comment is about not executing, not tackling, missing assignments. His comments and demeanor on TV do not give me an confidence now.

Some changes are needed; new defense scheme, teach more or different fundamentals, more full speed contact scrimmages, change assistant coaches or a new head coach. Player quality is always offered up as an excuse but I don't feel our players are that bad. We have defensive players over running holes, missing tackles, making contact at or behind the line of scrimmage, and giving up too many yards after contact. Does anyone remember when we expected the Blackshirts to make the stop on 3rd and short most of the time?

 

We should be getting more from the players we have. I remember Bill Jennings saying we did not have the talent but Bob Devaney turned the program around the next year with a winning season and bowl game-- with the same players.

 

I don't want Bo fired but we cannot continue down the same road we are on right now. I supported Bo's hiring fully but I was concerned with is assistant coach hirings. In my opinion, they lacked experience. I think Bo is where Frank Solich was near the end of his Husker coaching tenure. He needs to make some changes in the way things are done before Harvey and Shawn find someone else to do it.

 

Bo has said, repeatedly, he wouldn't trade any of his coaches for someone else...he has his guys....this tells me he will be resistant to changing his staff (he must love chewing Pap's ass). Bo is the good captain, he will go down with his ship....he won't make the coaching changes needed to save his job....to say he is stubborn is an under statement.

[knapplc]

About 6 weeks ago, we were talking about the strength of schedule in 2007, and that being a major difference between why this season won't play out similar. EZ-E brought up the fact that Callahan had lost the team, and that contributed heavily to the losses as well, which I agree with completely. He said he didn't expect that to happen this year which is why Pelini will be fine. I'm wondering how EZ-E, and everyone else feels about that at this point. I don't think he's lost the team, yet...but I'm starting to see some chinks in the armor. What do you all think, is it going to play out similar to 07', which could be even worse considering the schedule?

 

I have been curious about Bo's leadership credibility with this team for a while. Publicly they all, to a man, express support for Bo. But if you love that guy as much as they let on, how do you go out there, as a team, and crap the bed like that against Minnesota? Or for the first half of SDSU? Or the second half of UCLA? Or just about all of Wyoming?

 

There seems to be a disconnect between what the team says about Bo and how they fight for him. If they love this guy as much as they claim, they had damned well better fight like hell every game from here on out, or their beloved coach is going to be gone.

 

If they don't love him, tanking to get rid of him isn't a great way to show it. It erodes fan support, which this team seems to count on pretty heavily.

[AgMarauder04]

Bo has been here 6 years. Has he had a year where his team didn't lose a total head scratcher?

[ADS]

Bo has been here 6 years. Has he had a year where his team didn't lose a total head scratcher?

Maybe his first year, since we didn't expect much as far as record goes. But:

 

2009 - ISU (22 turnovers later an we still only lost 9-7)

2010 - Texas, Washington part 2

2011 - Northwestern

2012 - Wisconsin CCG

2013 - Minnesota

[Hunter94]

lack of focus, bad week at practice, guys not giving their all.....this has been a recurrent theme from the mouths of the players all year. THAT is disturbing.

[StPaulHusker]

I wonder if Bo would feel the same way about his coaching staff if he were hired somewhere else. You see that a lot. A coach takes a new job and the majority of the assistants do not follow.

[WAHusker]

Bo has been here 6 years. Has he had a year where his team didn't lose a total head scratcher?

Maybe his first year, since we didn't expect much as far as record goes. But:

 

2009 - ISU (22 turnovers later an we still only lost 9-7) TTech blowout (32-10)

2010 - Texas, Washington part 2, TAMU blowup, and Oklahoma Conf game loss

2011 - Northwestern, Wiscy blowout (48-17), Michigan blowout (45-17)

2012 - Wisconsin CCG , UCLA loss and Ohio State blowout 63-38

2013 - Minnesota and the UCLA game that we just gave up after 1 qtr

 

 

I fixed it for you

[ladyhawke]

Rest assured the calls (to see who is or might be available) have been or are being made. The suits who hired Eichorst did it without TO's input for a reason. The last three hires have all turned out poorly and they want to hit a homerun or at least a stand up triple with the next hire. If Bo wins out he will be staying but two losses might be the tipping point depending how competitive we are. Three losses would probably get him escorted out the door after the last game with an interim for the bowl game. I hate that Bo's career is turning out this way and the players are paying the price.

Source? Just curious. Thanks

[Hunter94]

Rest assured the calls (to see who is or might be available) have been or are being made. The suits who hired Eichorst did it without TO's input for a reason. The last three hires have all turned out poorly and they want to hit a homerun or at least a stand up triple with the next hire. If Bo wins out he will be staying but two losses might be the tipping point depending how competitive we are. Three losses would probably get him escorted out the door after the last game with an interim for the bowl game. I hate that Bo's career is turning out this way and the players are paying the price.'

Source? Just curious. Thanks

 

I don't have a source either, but let's get real....any decent AD would be far along in the process under the circumstances.

The boosters, some I am sure, are still pissed about the Pelini F bombs.

[Hayseed]

Eh, whatever.....I don't see Bo getting fired this year.

[True2tRA]

 

I have been curious about Bo's leadership credibility with this team for a while. Publicly they all, to a man, express support for Bo. But if you love that guy as much as they let on, how do you go out there, as a team, and crap the bed like that against Minnesota? Or for the first half of SDSU? Or the second half of UCLA? Or just about all of Wyoming?

 

There seems to be a disconnect between what the team says about Bo and how they fight for him. If they love this guy as much as they claim, they had damned well better fight like hell every game from here on out, or their beloved coach is going to be gone.

 

If they don't love him, tanking to get rid of him isn't a great way to show it. It erodes fan support, which this team seems to count on pretty heavily.

 

Fantastic post. IVe been struggling with this for awhile now. It just doesn't add up. They don't just lose the games, but they openly admit afterwards that they laid down or weren't focused. So you're telling me this great man you love so much doesn't at least deserve your effort? You can't win them all, and that's okay, but week one, WEEK ONE against Wyoming we had players say they weren't "up for the game". Week one? Then you lose to Minnesota coming off a bye week? You weren't focused? What the hell were you focusing on for two weeks then.

 

I've had it with hearing things like this. Had it. I'm done seeing what I'm seeing and I'm done hearing what I'm hearing, from coaches and players. It's repetitive, it's old, and we fired a pretty damn good one in old Franky Solich for a hell of a lot less than this mess.

[GBR #1]

I think it is interesting that Bo has been behaving like an Eagle Scout on the sidelines and during pressers. Makes me wonder if he knows his fate and is just going through the motions. Personally I think it is time for a change.