Pelini gave Castille chances

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Shatel: Pelini gave Castille chances

I applaud Bo Pelini’s disciplinary stance on Quentin Castille. But I also like to know what I’m applauding.
So I asked Pelini after Monday’s Nebraska football practice if he could expound on his decision to dismiss Castille from the team on Saturday. At the time, Pelini said Castille had not followed team policy and pretty much left it at that.

As a journalist, I wanted more. I wanted Pelini to shed some light on his thought process. I didn’t expect him to disclose which rule Castille broke. He’s going to protect his player. And coaches see team matters as private. That’s understood.

But I was curious: What would a veteran player — and one with a significant impact on the coming season — have to do to get the boot two weeks before the season?

Does Pelini owe us that explanation? No. He was hired to win football games, graduate players, be a role model and win football games.

But I want to learn more about this young head coach, at the dawn of what should be a long career. What are his philosophies? How is he going to run this program? In the ’90s, Nebraskans knew Tom Osborne like the back of their hand. What do we know about Pelini? I’m interested in peeling back a layer.

I wasn’t alone. I received calls and e-mails from several readers who felt Pelini, as a head coach of a public institution, and their favorite team, should explain himself. They see two players who ran afoul of the law in the last year reinstated and ready to play. What did Castille do not to be afforded the same opportunity?

One reader said he was concerned Pelini was a “hothead’’ who just fires players at will. Another wondered if Pelini would have standards too high to win championships; while other national powers find a way to give troubled players chances.

There is a plan. There is a thought process. And Pelini gladly shared it on Monday.

• On whether Castille was given more than one chance to turn things around: “Yes. He had many chances. I’m pretty black and white, and I’m pretty clear with our football team about what’s expected. I think the communication is good. You lay out exactly what the expectations are, you take the gray out of it. And you’re either going to do it or, I’ve said it before, I’m going to show you the door.’’

• On whether players such as Niles Paul and Andy Christensen are under similar scrutiny now: “Yes. Unfortunately, in (Castille’s) case, he did not live up to what he was told. He went against policy. It’s pretty cut and dried. I can’t make decisions based on what’s good for our team short-term. I’m making decisions based on what my vision is for this program as we move forward, this year and beyond this year. I’ve got to be worried about the big picture, too.’’

• On whether he’s concerned that he might be giving up an edge to other programs who give multiple chances to players in order to compete for championships:

“I believe I’m very fair. I think everybody’s a little different. I’m not only concerned about whether we win or not, I’m concerned about how we do it. And my job is not only to win football games, it’s to prepare our guys for the rest of their life. I believe that from the bottom of my heart, and sometimes to do that, it means you’ve got to give them a wake-up call. Whether every coach in the country believes that, I don’t care. They can run their program the way they want it. I’ll run mine my way. If ultimately some day it costs me my job, I can look in the mirror.

“I can tell you this: I have an athletic director who is wholeheartedly behind me. And that’s good.’’

I applaud Pelini even more now. And it’s good to know why.
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http://www.omaha.com/article/20090824/SPOR...773/0/FRONTPAGE

 
Whether Bo turns out to be a good head coach of a program like Nebraska or not in the long run, I have to say I can't imagine being happier with who he shows himself to be right now. We may never win ten games again, we may never vie for a national championship again, but I'd rather have that integrity, that ability to "look in the mirror" than win with a guilty conscience.

Here's to Bo, and here's to doing things the right way. :cheers

 
knapplc said:
Whether Bo turns out to be a good head coach of a program like Nebraska or not in the long run, I have to say I can't imagine being happier with who he shows himself to be right now. We may never win ten games again, we may never vie for a national championship again, but I'd rather have that integrity, that ability to "look in the mirror" than win with a guilty conscience.

Here's to Bo, and here's to doing things the right way. :cheers
Click to expand...


Couldnt agree with you more. Its must be hard dismissing a player with as much promise as Q had, but in the end it was the right thing to do. The HC is setting the table for how things are going to be run at Nebraska. We support BO!

 
What is important too is when Bo meets with recruits in the living room, the parents are going to understand his message about 'life after football'.

 
I read the article and it really didn't say anything that we didn't already know or at the very least suspect.

I'm guessing that QC had many screw ups, that we don't know about, prior to this incident. And it was the most recent situation which was the straw which broke the proverbial camel's back.

In summary: good luck to QC in the future, Bo did the right thing, the case is closed and it's time to move on.

 
"I’m making decisions based on what my vision is for this program as we move forward, this year and beyond this year. I’ve got to be worried about the big picture, too.’"

Best thing ive heard Bo say since he joined the program. BO KNOWS NEBRASKA!

 
Fuzzy said:
"I’m making decisions based on what my vision is for this program as we move forward, this year and beyond this year. I’ve got to be worried about the big picture, too.’"

Best thing ive heard Bo say since he joined the program. BO KNOWS NEBRASKA!
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:yeah

And to the people who think Bo owes us an explanation - grow up!

 
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