Loss reveals about Callahan

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.

 

 
I never felt bad for him, he's the one who accepted the job and responsibilites that go along with coaching.

But I highly respect what he said, even though I do like him it was the first time that he showed me any emotion, that wasn't aimed at a ref or OU fans.

He was so robotic since he came here and through that 5-6 season you just didn't know if he gave a sh#t about this program.

Hats off to you BC, your closer and closer to becoming a Husker.

 
I like your coach. I think he is in it for the long haul. Heck at least you guys made it into the Big 12 Championship. You may have lost, but heck people recognized that Nebraska is on it's way back. Bill is doing a great job and needs to continue to expect the best of all the Huskers. I think it shows the great fans you are by backing this coach and sticking with him.

Could be worse, look at Bama's program. LOL I couldn't resist that. LOL Even had a Bama person go into our forum telling us to respect them for their loss. LOL For years Bama pounded on us and Auburn was the joke of the state. Auburn jokes were passed around in churches as well as schools. The TIDE has turned. LOL The other way. Hahahaha!! When I am down on my Auburn Tigers I always think it could be worse and look at Bama.

Anyways I think you guys are very close to gaining that respectabilty back. This bowl game is huge for both of our programs.

WARRRRRR EAGLE!!!!

 
This really was the first time we've seen this type of emotion out of Caly. The past two times he expressed his "emotion", it wasn't good. It's nice to see this from him and pretty much sold me on the idea he has Nebraska's football in his best interest.

Keep it up BC!! I think you're doing a helluva job :w00t :w00t

 
I think it is more the fact that BC has become one of us.It isn't a buisness anymore....it is full of joy and pain.Passion and determination.Remember, he wasn't born into this like most of us, so even though he thought he was 'all in', it wasn't untill just recently (certainly not during and after the USC game) that he felt our pain.It had to astound him that 60,000 crazies followed the team to Arrowhead!

It's only going to get better!

 
Could be worse, look at Bama's program. LOL I couldn't resist that. LOL Even had a Bama person go into our forum telling us to respect them for their loss. LOL For years Bama pounded on us and Auburn was the joke of the state. Auburn jokes were passed around in churches as well as schools. The TIDE has turned. LOL The other way. Hahahaha!! When I am down on my Auburn Tigers I always think it could be worse and look at Bama.
So true.....

 
Despite what other fans from other teams think about Cally I love this guy and I can tell that he is becoming more and more passionate about this program. I can see that he is taking us in the right direction and I can't wait to see where he is going to take us in the future. :worship

 
I love Callahan too. I also think he is a little bitter about his 0-4 record vs teams from Oklahoma.

well shucks maybe im the one who is bitter.

 
I love my wife and family, I respect the sh#t out of BC and where he wants to take the Huskers. I wouldn't want anyone else at his point to finish restoring the order.

GBR

 
I like your coach. I think he is in it for the long haul. Heck at least you guys made it into the Big 12 Championship. You may have lost, but heck people recognized that Nebraska is on it's way back. Bill is doing a great job and needs to continue to expect the best of all the Huskers. I think it shows the great fans you are by backing this coach and sticking with him.

Could be worse, look at Bama's program. LOL I couldn't resist that. LOL Even had a Bama person go into our forum telling us to respect them for their loss. LOL For years Bama pounded on us and Auburn was the joke of the state. Auburn jokes were passed around in churches as well as schools. The TIDE has turned. LOL The other way. Hahahaha!! When I am down on my Auburn Tigers I always think it could be worse and look at Bama.

Anyways I think you guys are very close to gaining that respectabilty back. This bowl game is huge for both of our programs.

WARRRRRR EAGLE!!!!


your guys at Auburn had a great season! you should be pround of them and they will be a very tough opponent for NU...good luck!

 
It had to be tough for him to come into this program and try to keep the tradition going. To have the guts to change the offence and having to replace a favorite son coach, and follow two legends before. Other than that it should have been easy right? :lol:

I think the Husker Nation has finally caught on with Callahan. He seems to work very hard at getting this program back to the top again. The recruits he has been bringing in says some thing about what he wants to do here. They must believe he wants to Restore the Order, because a lot of these kids wouldn't have come here before. I want to believe he's here for the long run, he's going to win some and lose some but it looks like he will be winning a lot more then he loses. Some of the fans are still sitting in the middle of the road and some will never come into the light and back him, but its got to be getting harder not to to want to get behind him as each season go's by. He's our coach and I will back him as long as he wants to coach this team.

GBR!!!

 
Back
Top