Mad is not the issue.That's so extremely overblown it's not even funny.That's all well and good, but does any of it really matter?Okay, let's think about a couple of things about this audio tape for a minute before we all go and get our panties in a bunch because Bo Pelini isn't allowed to have feelings:
1) This tape was recorded in 2011. You know, that year when Taylor Martinez was being hounded by the media? You know the year when Dirkity Derp Chatelain was taking his asshattery to a new level? The year when Taylor was called out in Spanish class and was booed off the field at halftime? That year? I'm sorry, but could any of you not have any bad feelings regarding Husker fans then. Even I was saying f*** these fans at that game.
2) I think since 2011, Bo has gotten more comfortable with the media, with the fans, with everybody in general--and the fan support has been there to back him up. So why are we making the assumption that Bo feels the same way about the fans now as he did in 2011.
3) The person who decided to release this just now is an a$$. If you didn't like Bo in 2011 you should've just released it then. Whoever did this is running off an agenda and for all I care they can quit being a fan of this team--there'll be plenty of others who will donate money to the school if it is a booster.
This will hang over the program for at least as long as Bo's here, whether we like it or not. The best thing the university can do is make that time as short as possible.
There really are no other options for NU at this point than to part ways with Bo and clean their hands of this at an appropriate point in time... season's end. Earlier than that may be unreasonable (or may not... depending on variables we know little about)
To not part ways with Bo at this point given this tape would then implicate NU beyond what is the case now. Pelini cannot be connected to NU in any way and have NU not look bad. He is now anathema ... by his own conduct (his performance, or lack thereof notwithstanding)
Oklahoma State has players getting money and sex for playing
Miami has the same thing
USC
Ohio State
Penn State
and we're mad because Bo said f**k the fans when the irritability was the highest.
This....
Is.....
Ridiculous....
Public relations is the issue. The schools you mentioned all had to have public response to the conduct issues at hand --- and most of those responses were straight forward because those implicated were, in most cases, no longer at the school. For each program there was a public relations response and NU will as well have to have one. Now... a difference is that Bo is still currently employed. The PR issue is more sensitive and more complicated. Is the crime as egregious as some you mentioned at the other schools? No. But it is still an image issue and NU does not want (I would think) an image issue by connection to Bo. Breaking that connection gains NU more than retaining him.