The Nebraska football program’s decision to fire Bo Pelini is only going to hurt the program more than it can ever help it.
On Sunday morning Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst made the decision that head football couch Bo Pelini was to be relieved of his duties. Eichorst’s reasoning was that Pelini could not win the games that mattered.
Even though he could not win the big games, Pelini still left the season with a 9-3 record that is impressive for any school. This left him with a 67-27 record at Nebraska. Most Athletic Directors would not even consider firing a coach with that type of record.
Firing Pelini has more consequences than benefits. The most noticeable is the financial one as his contract extends into 2018 and just last spring it got the extension. The school will still have to continue to pay him around 7.8 million dollars around according to local news station WOWT.
For a program needing help, that money could have been better used elsewhere. Instead it will be paid to a coach no longer in the program. Not to mention that the Nebraska Athletic Department has to pay for another coach next year.
The other coach next year is a problem as well. It comes to the point that finding a coach is not going to be as easy as fans may think. People will not want to coach for a team that has a record of firing coaches even if they produce a winning season. It is like saying, “if you cannot win a conference championship then pack your bags.”
The problem with that is the Huskers have not won a national conference since 1999. It might just be time for the program to admit the best they can be is under Pelini.
The fan base is not much help either as Twitter was known to erupt with “fire Pelini” tweets after a major loss. With the lack of support, it could be hard to find someone willing to step into that position.
The players are the ones who truly suffer in the end. The current players received word via email about the firing of their coach. Eichorst or his staff should have had the guts to call them. Their cell phone numbers would likely be on file for them. An email stating the coach is fired does not do them justice.
Players ended up going to Twitter to show their support for their coach and voice their opposition to his firing. Former and current players noted how strong a leader he was on and off the field. That is something that is hard
to replace.
Incoming players were not thought of either. Omaha.com reported that at least three players have since de-committed from the program. That leaves the 2015 class at only 11 players total.
This is bad for any football program wishing to compete at a national level. It shows a lack of respect for the team’s newest members, and it discourages future recruiting classes as well.
High school football players are not going to want to join a program that is going through major transitions, and does not even care to personally notify them about said major transitions.
An unknown coach only adds to the confusion. The recruits found out via media as well, which once again, makes the school look bad.
The decision to fire the head coach right before a bowl game is going to hurt the Husker football program. It is doubtful that it could recover and be the great program from the ‘90s. The best option would have been to keep Pelini and address other issues.