HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
Pretty good article:
LJS
Steven M. Sipple: Loss reveals about Callahan
Saturday, Dec 09, 2006 - 10:37:18 pm CST
The emotionally spent coach stood in front of his beaten team as players peeled off their pads. It was surely one of those god-awful moments when a coach feels as if the world is crumbling around him.
It’s all on me, Bill Callahan told his Nebraska football players after the Big 12 Championship Game last week.
I take all of the blame, he later told reporters.
In an undertaking as complex as a football game, rare is the case that you can rightly blame one coach or player for a loss, and this certainly wasn’t among those exceptional cases. Nevertheless, Callahan’s ultra-emotional reaction immediately after the game coupled with his public soul-searching in subsequent days showed an intriguing side of the Huskers’ third-year head coach, a side that heretofore had not fully revealed itself.
Let’s face it, we’re still getting to know the guy.
The learning process becomes more interesting all the time.
To be sure, his reaction to Nebraska’s latest loss seemed a departure from his mostly businesslike manner following previous setbacks.
If there were any doubts that he was pouring every ounce of his passion into this Big Red reclamation project, one needed only witness the anguish on Callahan’s face during the postgame press conference or hear the tone of his voice during a Big 12 coaches’ teleconference two days later. Oh, yes, and you’ve probably heard about or watched his weekly television show. I could hardly watch, I felt so badly for the guy.
Callahan, in the wake of the 21-7 loss to Oklahoma, sounded at once weary, disgusted and resolute, saying he would make whatever changes in the program necessary to bring forth a championship (he didn’t specify the nature of the possible changes).
Meanwhile, if there were any doubts about Callahan’s passion for his players, one need only understand that the coach’s unusually downcast demeanor following the defeat was due in large part to his yearning to get his seniors a championship, according to people close to Callahan. Callahan and the seniors endured extremely rugged times, especially during a 5-6 season in 2004, and formed a bond in the process.
“We have a strong relationship with him, and he really wanted for us to go out with a bang,” said senior nose tackle Ola Dagunduro.
Perhaps such a somewhat predictable revelation is relevant only in the context of Callahan’s highly publicized rocky relationships with a few veteran players during his tenure as Oakland Raider head coach. To be sure, his “dumbest team in America” proclamation and documented issues with Raider players have been hard for him to shake.
Or maybe his bond with Husker players is relevant only because Callahan sometimes comes off as cold, aloof, almost machine-like.
Whatever. This past week we learned for certain that Callahan does indeed care deeply for his players, and that the feeling evidently is mutual. We learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that Callahan is consumed with winning a conference title, and that the coach apparently felt a golden opportunity fell by the wayside.
After all, here was Nebraska playing in stadium roaring with 60,000 Big Red fans on hand. The venue was about as neutral as a Ralph Nader rally. The opponent was strong but young and vulnerable in spots. Callahan and company no doubt felt a sense of urgency. A major championship was there for the taking. And the Huskers let it slip through their grasp. Hence the coach’s excruciating pain.
That’s because veteran coaches are acutely aware that such prime title opportunities can be fleeting.
Long gone are the days Nebraska can count on playing for league championships every year. Winning one? Well, that’s going to be difficult every single year in the Big 12.
Consider that Oklahoma featured only six senior starters, and that 10 of the Sooner starters were freshmen or sophomores.
Consider that Texas this season started just eight seniors against Nebraska, and Texas A&M six.
Consider that Nebraska will be the only Big 12 North team that won’t return a starting quarterback next season.
Nebraska, however, also is a relatively young team. The Huskers started eight seniors in the Big 12 title game. In a given game, NU this season has had as many as 36 sophomores and juniors contributing in some fashion.
Nebraska’s 2007 recruiting class entered the weekend ranked No. 10 nationally by Rivals.com, a spot behind Notre Dame and two spots behind Southern California.
The Huskers clearly are making progress as a program, thanks in large part to an emotional head coach’s blood, sweat and tears.
Hard to knock a guy for that.
LJS
Steven M. Sipple: Loss reveals about Callahan
Saturday, Dec 09, 2006 - 10:37:18 pm CST
The emotionally spent coach stood in front of his beaten team as players peeled off their pads. It was surely one of those god-awful moments when a coach feels as if the world is crumbling around him.
It’s all on me, Bill Callahan told his Nebraska football players after the Big 12 Championship Game last week.
I take all of the blame, he later told reporters.
In an undertaking as complex as a football game, rare is the case that you can rightly blame one coach or player for a loss, and this certainly wasn’t among those exceptional cases. Nevertheless, Callahan’s ultra-emotional reaction immediately after the game coupled with his public soul-searching in subsequent days showed an intriguing side of the Huskers’ third-year head coach, a side that heretofore had not fully revealed itself.
Let’s face it, we’re still getting to know the guy.
The learning process becomes more interesting all the time.
To be sure, his reaction to Nebraska’s latest loss seemed a departure from his mostly businesslike manner following previous setbacks.
If there were any doubts that he was pouring every ounce of his passion into this Big Red reclamation project, one needed only witness the anguish on Callahan’s face during the postgame press conference or hear the tone of his voice during a Big 12 coaches’ teleconference two days later. Oh, yes, and you’ve probably heard about or watched his weekly television show. I could hardly watch, I felt so badly for the guy.
Callahan, in the wake of the 21-7 loss to Oklahoma, sounded at once weary, disgusted and resolute, saying he would make whatever changes in the program necessary to bring forth a championship (he didn’t specify the nature of the possible changes).
Meanwhile, if there were any doubts about Callahan’s passion for his players, one need only understand that the coach’s unusually downcast demeanor following the defeat was due in large part to his yearning to get his seniors a championship, according to people close to Callahan. Callahan and the seniors endured extremely rugged times, especially during a 5-6 season in 2004, and formed a bond in the process.
“We have a strong relationship with him, and he really wanted for us to go out with a bang,” said senior nose tackle Ola Dagunduro.
Perhaps such a somewhat predictable revelation is relevant only in the context of Callahan’s highly publicized rocky relationships with a few veteran players during his tenure as Oakland Raider head coach. To be sure, his “dumbest team in America” proclamation and documented issues with Raider players have been hard for him to shake.
Or maybe his bond with Husker players is relevant only because Callahan sometimes comes off as cold, aloof, almost machine-like.
Whatever. This past week we learned for certain that Callahan does indeed care deeply for his players, and that the feeling evidently is mutual. We learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that Callahan is consumed with winning a conference title, and that the coach apparently felt a golden opportunity fell by the wayside.
After all, here was Nebraska playing in stadium roaring with 60,000 Big Red fans on hand. The venue was about as neutral as a Ralph Nader rally. The opponent was strong but young and vulnerable in spots. Callahan and company no doubt felt a sense of urgency. A major championship was there for the taking. And the Huskers let it slip through their grasp. Hence the coach’s excruciating pain.
That’s because veteran coaches are acutely aware that such prime title opportunities can be fleeting.
Long gone are the days Nebraska can count on playing for league championships every year. Winning one? Well, that’s going to be difficult every single year in the Big 12.
Consider that Oklahoma featured only six senior starters, and that 10 of the Sooner starters were freshmen or sophomores.
Consider that Texas this season started just eight seniors against Nebraska, and Texas A&M six.
Consider that Nebraska will be the only Big 12 North team that won’t return a starting quarterback next season.
Nebraska, however, also is a relatively young team. The Huskers started eight seniors in the Big 12 title game. In a given game, NU this season has had as many as 36 sophomores and juniors contributing in some fashion.
Nebraska’s 2007 recruiting class entered the weekend ranked No. 10 nationally by Rivals.com, a spot behind Notre Dame and two spots behind Southern California.
The Huskers clearly are making progress as a program, thanks in large part to an emotional head coach’s blood, sweat and tears.
Hard to knock a guy for that.
