Faith Held High

Last week, the Orange County (FL) Public School (OCPS), recently told school leaders and athletic directors last week that chaplains would no longer be allowed after receiving a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In full disclosure, it should be noted that I was educated in the Orange County Public School system and have a child currently in the system.  Upon learning of this decision, I was saddened, embarrassed and offended.  As an athlete many years ago at Orlando Boone, we commonly had prayer ahead of and after games.

Each and every Pop Warner awards banquet for young athletes I have ever attended began with a prayer. Faith, family, friends, food and football; all part of the heritage of life in Central Florida.

And, in sports across the fruited plain.

It certainly is in my home state of Nebraska, where it was an integral part of the storied program ran at the University of Nebraska under legendary coach Tom Osborne.  And it was at my alma mater, Florida State University under the winningest coach in college football history, Bobby Bowden.


Bowden and Osborne formed a fast friendship upon their first meeting, due in large measure to their common membership and leadership in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Their friendship continues today, with both coaches continuing to speak on behalf of Christianity whenever given the chance.

Good on em!

In fact, giving testimony, Bobby Bowden has a new book out, titled "The Wisdom of Faith" and joined the group on the curvy couch over at FOX & Friends earlier this week. In a great interview, Bowden spoke about his life as a Christian, speaking of history in his family which offered him opportunities to expand his faith.

Elisabeth Hasselback asked Bowden about the OCPS decision, and he said about prayer he "would do it anyway" and did so at Florida State, not caring about political correctness.  It may sound like high stakes for a riverboat gambler like Bowden, but when you have his faith it is easy to know what is principled and do the right thing.


The idiots over at OCPS who said no faith in football could learn quite a bit from Coach Bowden and his new book. Georgia head coach Mark Richt sure did.

Coach Bowden will be here in Orlando in September given further testimony. I look forward, as always, to visiting with him and joining him in prayer.

Bo Will Go

This morning, Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst terminated the tenure of Bo Pelini as head coach at the University of Nebraska. Bo Pelini helped restore the order after the disastrous Bill Callahan regime, running the football program adhering to Nebraska principles and no doubt a very good football coach.  A measurement of that can be seen by the reactions of the players who play for him, who are without question hurt deeply by this decision.

Bo Pelini
Photo/Aaron Babcock

While player admiration is an outstanding attribute, the overriding factor at the end of the day is winning football games; not only football games, but key football games of significance versus conference rivals and non-conference top tier teams where glimpses of ascending status can be seen.  Legitimately competing for championships is also important, and for those who coaches who are decent at the former but failing in the latter, tenure is short.

With that stated, Bo Pelini is out at Nebraska. 'Husker AD Shawn Eichorst said Bo Pelini "didn't win the games that mattered the most".  Agreed.

I thought the hire of Pelini was outstanding, and had hoped things would have turned out differently. However, sadly, this was the right decision. Pelini is a good man and good football coach, but Nebraska continued to lose relevancy and should demand more out of the traditionally proud football program than the gridiron company currently being kept.

Many in Husker Nation think the fan base expects too much, viewing Pelini having won nine games in each of his seasons as above average and a new normal of what Husker fan expectations should be.  I find that defeatist.  Although times, and quite frankly, the game, have changed, there is no reason to think the University of Nebraska cannot achieve and maintain greatness; competing for and winning championships.

Under Pelini, the team is stable leaning toward regressing.  Rather than keep Pelini and remain stagnant, the time is now to seek new leadership to take the program higher from the very solid base Pelini built in the aftermath of Callahan.  I for one appreciate very much the job Pelini did in restoring the order.

While the players are venting heavily on social media, and I recognize they are young men, many away from home on a relationship built with Bo who are hurt, Husker fans across the nation have been hurt as well. Getting waxed by Wisconsin on national television repeatedly, losing to Minnesota, failing to score a big win over a top ten team and needing individual player heroics to beat pedestrian Iowa, not to mention McNeese State, is not where this once proud program should be standing.

It is not, and it needs to change.  It will change.

Firing Pelini was the easy decision.  Now comes the hard part, hiring the next coach.

There are many names being thrown about, but it I got a vibe from the Eichorst presser that he has his guy. Lists are popping up everywhere with potential candidates to succeed Pelini, and I do not have a favorite.  I would like a coach that employs a run based open offense and an attacking defensive scheme.

It does not seem you can turn over a program of national historical prominence such as Nebraska to a favorite son former quarterback who is currently in his second season as the offensive coordinator at Oregon. After all, Scott Frost has said that Duck signal caller Marcus Mariota is the best player he has ever seen, and with that the Ducks might be 7-3 without him, which takes some shine off the coaching efforts. Perhaps a better option would be Craig Bohl, a former Nebraska assistant who after directing 1-AA North Dakota State to three consecutive national titles is in his first season at Wyoming. Or, maybe, Jim McElwain at Colorado State.  A seemingly unrealistic candidate who is mentioned that I like is Georgia coach and Nebraska native Mark Richt.  Minnesota coach Jerry Kill is intriguing, with the job he has done for the Gophers eye opening.

Interesting options include Willie Fritz of Georgia Southern and Justin Fuente of Memphis.

Among the candidates I would not support are Greg Schiano, Jim Tressell, Paul Chryst, Al Golden, Pat Narduzzi, Dave Doren and Tom Herman.

Eichorst is on the clock, and this decision had better be a good one. GBR!

All Bark; No Bite

The Nebraska Cornhuskers had by all accounts a difficult season in 2013.

Injuries took a major toll with losing All Big Ten quarterback Taylor Martinez for the season a few weeks in, along with All America guard Spencer Long halfway through. A young defensive unit failed to jell throughout most of the season, and the fundamental principle of protecting the football remained elusive for the Big Red.  Calls were made for changes of the coaching staff, including head coach Bo Pelini.

After a inexcusable home loss to Iowa to close the season, the Cornhuskers were invited to the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl to face the Georgia Bulldogs, themselves injury stricken in 2013, for a rematch of the 2013 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, which the Bulldogs won late 45-31.

The game seemed a downer for both squads given expectations, but Jacksonville, provides a festive atmosphere and a great environment for bowling teams and their fan base, although much closer in proximity for the traveling Junkyard Dawgs.

The weather was suspect, about 55 degrees with intermittent rain showers, and the crowd was very light.  That did not stop us from participating in all the fanfare, inclusive of hanging out with the Husker cheer squad hours before kickoff.

Pre-Game Husker Cheer Pep Rally

Although Georgia was without senior quarterback Aaron Murray, among others, the Bulldogs did have back almost healthy running back Todd Gurley, who has a Sunday career in front of him.  In addition, most felt the Bulldogs had superior talent and should win the game by about 10 points.

But the Cornhuskers seemed in control right from the beginning, with strong running from Ameer Abdullah and sound decision making from freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong II.  After almost fumbling deep in Big Red territory, which would have been game changing, Armstrong II dropped back and found Qunicy Enunwa on a 99 yard touchdown pass, which was ultimately the game winner.



Nebraska held Georgia late, stopping them on downs in the red zone to preserve the victory as Nebraska defeated Georgia 24-19, a win that saw the Bulldogs manage only one touchdown.  Kicking field goals will get you beat, as Mark Richt and Georgia found out.

It was a strong effort for the Big Red, enhanced by winning the turnover battle, one in which Nebraska usually fails miserably at.  Given the wet field conditions, this was extremely important. 

This was a much needed win for seemingly embattled coach Bo Pelini, and those within the Big Red program.  For a young team, this win offers a cornerstone to build upon entering 2014, where continued improvement can lead to an opportunity to win the conference title and perhaps challenge for national honors.

Although it was wet and cold, it was a great experience to be there to see Nebraska break a string of bowl losses dating back to defeating Clemson on the same field on January, 1, 2009.  Much of football is mental, from the coaches to the players, and this game gave the Big Red a glimpse of what can be possible, playing and defeating a top team from the SEC, perceived to be the best.

Nebraska finishes the season 9-4.  Preparation for the 2014 can begin with an advantage in mentality, a visualization of success that help a young team aim for and reach higher goals.  With a mental advantage, sometimes the bark of your opponent does not match their bite.

A Roast for Coach Bowden

A fun time was had in Tallahassee yesterday as a great turned out to roast our favorite Seminole, Coach Bobby Bowden. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend.

Check out some video of the event HERE:



I really wish I could have been there. As FSUHUSKER, I have always appreciated the close relationship between Bowden and former Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne, and when you throw in the Bandit, boy howdy what a day.

Thanks so much Coach Bowden. Hope you enjoyed the roast.

GBR and Go Seminoles! Lets get in high speed pursuit of a National Championship