:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44219916/459421074.0.jpg)
At his weekly press conference, Bo Pelini got a few questions about what went wrong against Minnesota and some more big picture questions that he really didn't want to answer.
On to Pelini. Rehashing execution problems against Minnesota. "I challenged our guys yesterday to get ourselves ready to play."
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
Pelini on Minnesota: "At the end of the day, we didn’t play well enough. Still could have, should have won the game."
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
Pelini on #NEBvsIOWA: "Our goal is to play better across the board, offensively, defensively and on special teams" http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Pelini on NU mistakes: "At some point you just keep pushing along, keep working hard...& keep coaching (players) up" http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
That sounds dangerously close to the type of things I recall Bill Callahan saying in 2007.
Pelini: "This program's about winning a national championship. Are there challenges here? Yeah." http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Pelini on #Huskers expectations of winning a championship: "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it could be done." http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Pelini cuts off reporter question that begins with "Have you received any feedback from..." with "Can we please talk about Iowa?"
— Brian Rosenthal (@HuskerExtraBR) November 24, 2014
We all know that Shawn Eichorst isn't going to say anything publicly until after the season is over, and depending on his perspective, might not be until January. And if he's said anything to Pelini in private, Bo's not going to leak it in a press conference either. So while I understand that the media has to at least fish for it, they shouldn't be expecting a bite either.
Pelini: I point the thumb, I don’t point the finger at the players. I’m responsible for this thing. … That’s how I’m wired.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 24, 2014
Pelini on #MINNvsNEB. "I'm responsible ... That's how I'm wired. When we don't play well enough that's on me." http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Pelini on #Huskers: "I've made a significant amount of changes (over the past few years)" to help this program grow. http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Anybody who says that Pelini can't/won't make changes simply isn't paying a lot of attention. He's changed his practice routine, for starters. We can argue about whether it's helped the team play better in November or not (I suspect it's "not"), but to paint Pelini as stubborn and inflexible is a manufactured falsehood.
Pelini describes it as "asinine" to believe that Nebraska is not looking at changes in its program to get better. "I turn over every stone."
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
Pelini on the #Huskers' progress: "I'm working to get over the hump. I'll turn over every stone." http://t.co/oKCQv0pTsK
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Pelini on staff change: "Would I fire somebody to save my own job? No. Would I fire somebody who I thought deserved firing? Yes."
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
This is one of the biggies. Not only would he do it, Pelini HAS done it. He sent Corey Raymond back to LSU; he sent Shawn Watson to Louisville. So do I think Pelini has to be told to fire people on his staff? No. If Shawn Eichorst has to say that, then Pelini should be fired first. In fact, I suspect Pelini already has a good idea as to what changes need to be made. They just can't be done on a game week. Probably not until after the bowl game, in fact.
Turning to Iowa (finally)...
Pelini says Iowa's offense looks very balanced and that Rudock looks very improved. #Huskers @HawkeyeInsider
— Josh Harvey (@JoshHarveyScout) November 24, 2014
Pelini says he's got a lot of respect for Iowa OT Brandon Scherff. #Huskers @HawkeyeInsider
— Josh Harvey (@JoshHarveyScout) November 24, 2014
Turning to injuries...
Pelini unsure of Kenny Bell's status, said he felt pretty good yesterday. Suffered head injury against Minnesota.
— Brian Rosenthal (@HuskerExtraBR) November 24, 2014
Randy Gregory was slowed by illness against Minnesota, Pelini says.
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
Other notes...
Pelini on Pierson-El's fumble: "You can get away w/ certain things at the HS level" but "sometimes it takes a situation like that" to learn.
— World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) November 24, 2014
Ameer Abdullah talking for the first time in a few weeks. Said injury has taught him how to be resilient. Said he’s "good enough."
— Samuel McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) November 24, 2014
Abdullah, on how his season has been derailed by injury: "It sucks. It definitely sucks. God does everyting for a reason." #Huskers
— Eric Olson (@ericolson64) November 24, 2014
Abdullah: "I know the character of this team, the resolve of this team. I know we’re going to finish things strong."
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
Abdullah calls Ron Brown "the best position coach I've ever had." Praises Pelini. Talks of friendship with Kenny Bell. #Huskers
— Steven M. Sipple (@HuskerExtraSip) November 24, 2014
Abdullah now talking about ex-Husker classmates Aaron Green and Braylon Heard. Green is in key role for playoff contending TCU.
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 24, 2014
It's a short week, everybody.