Letter to the Editor

Shot self in foot

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Dear Editor,

We in Nebraska have shot ourselves in the foot. In our quest to be the best we can, we felt it was OK to give up character building and Christian principles to build men who were also committed football players to hire a professional football coach who has no experience with college athletics and only knows what to do with players who are already developed.

We did this in hopes of gaining new skills that would put us over the top. But in the process, we threw out the baby with the bath water. Commitment to physical training, getting more results from greater effort that wore lesser teams into the ground might not have been pretty, but it was effective. It showed preparedness and preparedness is smart. Try living life without it.

How much talent can it take to make winners of the best professional athletes in the world? Do you really think Callahan knows much about building character or fostering teamwork in college-age players? I’ve heard he doesn’t even know the players’ names! He couldn’t inspire a nosebleed.

We here in Nebraska still believe in Christian values. We know that winning a football game has to do with sacrificing recognition for teamwork, loving the other players, a commitment to physical training and endurance, and creating personal desire. We want to be the best we can be in every way on and off the field.

If this corn fed idea is less intelligent than the West Coast philosophies, I’ll eat my hat. It’s time to admit the foolishness of our mistake, pass the hat to get rid of the coach, and return to Nebraska values, work ethic and commitment to excellence. These are the qualities that produce winners on and off the field and make us champions in life.

Our philosophy is not winning at any price, but having character, always giving our best effort, and never giving up when the chips are down.

It’s the way we live and it’s the way we play. Go Big Red!

Sincerely,

Janine L. Hall,

McCook

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While I agree with most everything in your analysis, I don't agree with the "We here in Nebraska still believe in Christian values" statement. Perhaps everyone you know in McCook is Christian or subscribes to Christian values, but there is no uniformity in the beliefs and behaviors of people in, or from, Nebraska.

I do like your references to character and preparation. But again, not all Nebraskans value those qualities either.

Regardless of faith, religion, economic status, or location, Husker fans all want the best product on the field. Something we can be proud of. That is the tie that binds. That is when the "We" in Nebraska comes to mind.

-- Posted by NC Taurus on Tue, Oct 23, 2007, at 4:35 PM
Do you know for a fact Bill Callahan does not know the players names?

As far as his experience Callahan played at Illinois Benedictine College which is a private Catholic University. He coached at the High School level for two years before moving on to the University of Illinois, Northern Arizona,Southern Illinois, and Wisconsin from 1980 to 1994 before going to the NFL.

-- Posted by edwardmarsh on Wed, Oct 24, 2007, at 3:22 PM

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