What exactly do you want him to do to embrace the fans? I'm probably not as tuned in to things in Lincoln since I haven't lived there in forever, and I haven't been able to get back for a game in a couple of years (which is hard on me since I used to try to get back for a couple each year at least). I try to stay connected, though, and I read the sports sections of both papers' websites daily, I listen to local radio from Omaha and Lincoln regularly, and I read this forum (and others) every day. That said, I've never felt - even with the audio leaked - that he was hostile to the fans at large in the way that I often see him portrayed. In this regard, he doesn't seem to me to be any different than what I see at other programs.
To be clear, I've been pretty critical of Bo and his staff for the last couple of years, but this just isn't one of the criticisms I have. I've been ambivalent about the coaching situation lately, and see a lot of fair arguments from both sides. A decision has been made to stick with him, though, so all of the arguments for or against him being replaced are irrelevant to me at this point. I'm not asking this as an opportunity for another round of piling on the staff; there are enough of those threads already.
I'm just genuinely curious and would like to know what are your (or anyone else that wants to chime in) expectations of the coaching staff when it comes to "embracing the fans" satisfactorily?
So, the thing about this is that there isn't a dichotomy in the options. It's not either "embrace" the fans or "hate" the fans. There are shades of grey.
What we see with Bo is a mindset that he is putting up with things he doesn't want to do but must for his job. He's the equivalent of the office employee that does the bare minimum to keep his job (probably spending the rest of the time on Huskerboard). He does the fan day, he does the press conferences, he does the tv and radio shows because he has to. No single person can read his two public apologies this season and come away thinking they are heartfelt and genuine, because they are not.
But that's not all you see. You also see him dismiss the fans with a wave when they started booing during Ohio State. They shouldn't boo, but how many times has he contrasted that by applauding us for screaming our voices hoarse? You also see tapegate, and as despicable as the release of that was, and as understandable as his frustration was, you don't vent about things you don't actually feel or think. Throwing the media into this too, because they are the middle link, you also see him close down practices, chastise journalists and generally make their job as difficult as possible with his terse answers, withholding of information (Taylor Martinez' turf toe?) and holding a double standard of accountability.
That's only the explicit stuff. It's hard to quantify or describe the implicit stuff - the bunker that he keeps his team in that puts them at odds with us (see Tim Beck's comments about the players and the fanbase, and Kenny Bell's incessant responding to negative comments on twitter).
What you
don't see Bo Pelini do is take initiative towards the fanbase. I'm not talking about stuff like visiting sick kids or anything like that. I think that falls into a different category. Again, Tim Miles is a good contrast. You don't see Bo using twitter as a positive for his program. You don't see him coming up with an idea that he isn't forced to do of how to give back to the fanbase. You don't see him generally making a point of thanking us or applauding us for filling up the stadium 91,000 strong every week and screaming our heads off. You don't see him having an air of generally enjoying us or being here - I see no joy in his public image.
In fact, the most endearing things, in my eyes, that he has ever done didn't even have anything to do with us - the Harlem Shake video and the cell phone prank. They are evidence that this joyful, enjoyable guy does exist. So why don't we see him? Why don't we get to experience him? That's what we want - we want to enjoy our coach and have our coach enjoy us. Only good things can come from a healthy relationship like that. But he refuses to show us he's human. Maybe that's because he thinks that opens him up to attack, but it couldn't really get any worse than it is right now could it?
