Nebraska's Loss To Texas A&M: Big 12 Officiating Sucks But So Does Bo Pelini's Behavior

From a CU fans perspective, you guys were on the wrong end of most of the bad calls. The roughing the passer call in particular, which was a game changer. The A&M PI was not PI, that was great coverage, but so was the hit on A&M’s QB. That call alone changed the game’s outcome so what else needs to be said. The official, via bad calls, affected the game’s outcome.

But I agree with the author. Pelini looks petulant and completely out of control too many times. How can he not lose his focus when he is storming around yelling at any ref within 20 yards? Very few teams respond to their coaches tirades against officials. In fact, many players follow the coach’s lead and focus their energy and anger at the officials instead of the opponent or situation.

There will be precious few non Nebraska fans out there impressed by what they see from Pelini on the sidelines. There will be fathers and mothers of recruits that feel this same way. I think he’d be better served to tone it down a few notches and try a more stoic approach from time to time.

As a fan of the lone team in the Big XII that never fit into the Bible Belt/Midwestern culture of the Big XII, I know well what it’s like to be on the wrong side of bad calls. It sucks and venting feels like a release, but I think a coach would be better served to do this behind closed doors instead of on national TV.

You guys will still probably win the Big XII anyway.

I think you hit the nail on the head, Jon, with this statement:

If Pelini screaming at a ref causes him to make such a horrible call, he probably shouldn’t be officiating any more games.

It seems clear to most everyone who was watching the game (including the TexAgs radio guys after the game last night) that the refs called a lot of those second-half penalties on Nebraska because they were pissed off at Bo.

There’s two parties that are equally to blame for that scenario: One is Bo Pelini. His methods of “working the refs” are idiotic, classless, and, as we’ve seen over the past three years, they don’t even work at all. Bo, I get that you’re angry at the calls and we all get angry at calls, but we’re fans. You’re a professional. Act like one. You’re hurting your team.

The other party at fault is the referees. If it’s true (as everyone is acknowledging) that the refs made calls out of personal frustration with Pelini, then that’s a terrible way to referee a football game. Like, just about the worst. When you’re making calls out of spite, or to prove a point, or to assert your control over a particular team, you’ve lost control of the game. And you really shouldn’t be refereeing at all. I think that’s what happened in last night’s game, and while it’s not some conspiracy, I also don’t think that type of thing is going to be allowed to happen in the Big Ten.

For the conspiracy claim to be correct, you’d have to get every member of every officiating crew to agree to a conspiracy and remain quiet about it (along with every staffer at the Big XII involved in organizing the conspiracy and scheduling the crooked refs). As much as Nebraska fans like to think that everyone hates them, you aren’t going to find an entire officiating crew caught up in such a Pelinian rage that they’d willingly throw a game or sit silently while someone else does. The logistics simply won’t work.

I completely agree re: Pelini’s demeanor. I’ve only reffed hockey games, but I think Pelini is hurting the team with his temper. When a coach becomes increasingly hostile and apoplectic, the team responds and commits more penalties. If the coach doesn’t respect the officials, they won’t either. Even worse, when a coach shows such an attitude toward the rules, he loses the benefit of the doubt. If the coach is being that much of a jerk, the player probably was too. It’s not something a ref is proud of, but it happens at every level and every league. Going to the Big 10 isn’t going to make the refs less human or make ambiguous judgment calls obvious.

The simple truth is that a coach can’t decide to endlessly harangue the refs and still expect the benefit of the doubt. If Pelini cuts down on his shouted tirades and exaggerated responses to every single call, Nebraska will get the benefit of the doubt and more close calls will go its way. If he continues to act like a child, he will continue to be scolded like one.

Bo Pelini is who he is; a fiery guy who has a quick temper. That being said, Bo has instructed his team to play aggressive, and that explains in part why Nebraska has so many penalties.

Some of the other penalties are simply the result of sloppy play, and that’s inexcusable. The environment might explain some of it, but at Nebraska, we should be used to playing in these types of environments.

That being said, I think Pelini wore out his welcome with that officiating crew last night, and were been looking for any reason to throw a flag on the Huskers. The refs are human too, and they got caught up in the emotion last night. Bo got nailed for one unsportsmanlike penalty, and I think that some of the other penalties can be traced in part to Pelini’s treatment of the refs.

Namely, that “roughing the passer” penalty against Courtney Osborne.

Everything I’ve heard about Pelini says that while Pelini is fiery, he never gets personal with his tirades. The venom is all focused on the mistake, not the individual. I’ve never heard a complaint from a player or former player about Bo, so I don’t think that’s an issue.

I’d suggest that in February, after recruiting is done, Bo sit down with Tom Osborne and work on his demeanor with referees. Maybe bring in Clete Blakeman (former NU quarterback who’s now leading an NFL crew) as well. It’s painfully obvious that this is counterproductive, and frankly, I think Bo knows it is as well. That doesn’t mean Pelini should just sit there and shut up, but that he needs to pick his battles.

Nebraska has a new opportunity next season to start over fresh with Big Ten refs. They may know of Bo’s reputation through the grapevine, but there won’t be a past history. If he manages a “kinder, gentler” approach, the refs may be more accommodating when he does raise a concern.

I was at last night’s game, and I could not have been more impressed by A&M’s fans. They were so much fun to tailgate with before the game (practically begging us Husker fans to grab a brat, sit down with them and watch LSU-Ole Miss).

And during the game, they beat the pants off of Nebraska fans in terms of loudness and being into the game. It kind of made me sad that Nebraska is too beholden to its quieter, more well-moneyed fans to create an atmosphere like that at Memorial Stadium.

So kudos to you, A&M fans – you cheered your guts out, and helped will your team to win. After last night’s game, I won’t miss the Big 12 at all, but I will miss a loyal, passionate, classy fan base like yours a lot.

why Bo was so pissed at Martinez?

First of all, I will preface my take by saying that the “College Station Screwjob” is a given. That being said, I’m going do the Bo Pelini “don’t -point-the-finger-point-the-thumb” for the purposes of this take.

Let’s start with the players. Let’s be honest; most of those penalties, especially in the first half, were self-inflicted. Too many penalties have been an ongoing problem. I have a radical soloution. If it were up to me (and it isn’t) the coaches should say to the players, “from now on, anyone gets flagged, you run gassers after practice the next week.” They’re either going to be well disciplined or well conditioned.

Now, let’s talk about Bo Pelini. This was the THIRD TIME he’s been flagged for a sideline meltdown. Tom Osborne has to be feeling like Dr. Napier in the movie “Lean On Me,” and should act accordingly. “If you’re so hot on discipline, goddammit, start by accepting some of mine!!”(great clip, maybe the best part of the movie). I have a radical solution. If it were up to me (and it isn’t) Tom should suspend Bo for the Colorado game. Bo can be in the locker room and watch from the press box, but he can’t be on the sideline. If it costs Nebraska the game and the Big XII North, so be it. After laying down that edict, Tom should double-down by looking Bo straight in the eye and say, ‘if it happens again, you’re fired.’
 
“If you’re so hot on discipline, goddammit, start by accepting some of mine!!!”

Tony Jerod-Eddie and Ben Cotton made a commercial!

Pelini does need to chill, but no sane person would say that this game was officiated fairly. So I think that refs got sick of him and decided to hose our team. No Big XII conspiracy, but refs getting pissed at our coach. Having said that, the refs should never determine the outcome of a game. Penalize Pelini for a game or two, sure, but don’t actually take a win away.

Our offense does need work though.

Saying the non-call on the PI was the right decision is pure BS. Anytime that hand is over the side like that is always called is CF. I don’t care if Kirk says otherwise. That his Cotton comment was pointless. The argument isn’t that “bad things happen in piles”, its that its probably bad form to twice penalize the player being assaulted.

I hate the Big XII.

Stay in Texas idiot! Congrats on not finding your fan site moron!

The Big XII is dead! Nebraska football is not! Pelini is gonna be a GOD in this state and we need to sign him to a lifetime contract PRONTO! We can take a loss to Bebee and his heard of Zebras. We can’t lose to CU. Friday is coming quick! Be ready Boyz

If they were, they would have helped us (Mizzou) beat you, and I feel like we got the short end of the stick in the officiating that game a little bit. Don’t misunderstand this; you definitely outplayed us and deserved deserved the win.

after next year it will be the Big 10 conspiracy and getting screwed over by the terrible Big 10 officiating.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/25354/team/defense/split01/category14/sort01.html

as evidence for a conspiracy. Nebraska was 11th in 2009 and 12th again in 2008. Clearly there’s other reasons for their consistency.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/news/story?id=5835532

He kept callling the wrong team or pointing the wrong way when announcing penalties. There was something wrong with him.

Royalsooner was banned, and his comments deleted.

He had been removed from the Missouri site, and I trust those guys’ judgement. So – if you’re going to be here, add something to the conversation.

Or be banned.

The calls began in the first half including the double Cotton personal foul. Bo’s job is to not only coach his team but to protect his players. Unfortunately for him, his aggressive demeanor with the refs are great for the TV cameras and nothing else. Years ago, they would have not shown Pelini’s anger as much but today’s media always has to run multiple story lines during the game even though they shouldn’t be brought up.

 Bo’s job is to win games. Telling him to stand idle while his team collects penalty after penalty from the refs (who by the way rarely consulted each other when calling penalties on Nebraska unlike each of the two A&M penalties) is insane! Thats like telling a soldier to win a war by talking over tea. We need to stand behind our coach as he has obviously taken our program into a positive direction.

All Husker fans think the program needs to be run by a calm mannered person. Coach Tom had great success at Nebraska because of his style. He was respected by officials, coaches and players and thats the way it worked for years. Now we’re in a new time and new rules and we shouldn’t expect all of the old ways to work today. Everyone talks about the culture of Nebraska and how it’s changing. Of course it will change. When you change coaches, your culture will change. Nebraska is no longer under the Tom Osborne culture.

Pelini’s culture may be more aggressive and harder for the blue hairs to accept but guess what…it’s working. This Husker team is currently 9 and 2 and hopefully will be 10 and 2 come Friday evening. Assuming the Martinez quitting rumors aren’t true, Nebraska is still a contender for a BCS bowl. How long has it been since we’ve been able to say that (not including last year).

Me personally, the culture I want at Nebraska is a winning one. If yelling at refs and getting pissed on the sideline is how it’s done to have winning seasons then I’m all for it. If Pelini yelling at refs is what is losing games for us then the refs cannot be objective and need to be fired. It’s their job to be hated by fans, players and coaches and some hurt feelings shouldn’t play into a game let alone decide it. This has been long winded but I support Bo for now. I like the fire in him. It shows he won’t be idle when the game is on the line. I think we’re all wondering why he really yelled at Martinez on the sideline but I bet if we did know, we would agree. I know a lot of folks will disagree with me and thats fine.

As a person who has both coached and officiated, you have to remember that officials are humans. If they have spent the better portion of several games involving Nebraska being constantly screamed at by Pelini, as a human being will the be likely to give his school the benefit of the doubt on close calls? I don’t think so, but I also don’t think it has to be intentional. Sometimes such things are completely, or at least mostly, subliminal. Pelini just HAS to calm down on the sidelines. This isn’t basketball, where “working the refs” as he does is acceptable. I mean, what’s more effective, bitching about every call that goes against you (that’s not just like a false start or something) or saving your ire for one or two calls that are the most blatant, and then addressing them in at least a SOMEWHAT controlled manner with the officials? You never saw Coach Osborne behave this way, and I can’t imagine that he’s very happy with the way Pelini is acting on the sidelines.