Former Nebraska QB Tommie Frazier calls for Bo Pelini and defensive staff’s dismissal after UCLA loss
Former Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier was honored at halftime of Nebraska's game against UCLA Saturday and obviously didn't like what he saw after he was doused with cheers for his selection to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Frazier took to Twitter after the Huskers gave up 38 unanswered points to UCLA in its 41-21 loss and didn't mince words:
After letting it sink in for about 4 hours I still struggling. It's time to get rid of the defensive play caller, the Dc, lb dl and db coaches. I hate saying this but this crap is getting old. How in the hell do you not make adjustments or put your players in the position to compete? If this is what is going to happen for the remainder of the season, count me out. I don't care if we lose a game but the way we are losing is just not what #Nebraska fans deserve. I have fought, bled, and cried over this program. I didn't do all that for the program to become what it has today. Time for change! I will comment about the offense this week on Tommie's X's and O's. Trust me you don't want to miss it. #Huskers
That defensive play caller is Pelini, who responded on Monday when he was asked about Frazier's comments.
"I didn't read what he had to say, I kind of heard about it. I can say this, we have a staff of players, people, administration, everybody here who is busting their butt to do what they can and win football games and do everything they can for these student athletes," Pelini said. "Since I've came back here, I've embraced the former players. And if he feels like that, then so be it, we don't need him. That's a shame.
"Until you've sat in this seat and done it, anybody can have an opinion. Anybody can do that. But like I said, it's easy to point fingers and stand outside and throw stones. I take it for what it is."
Does it ever turn out well when a famous former great and a current head coach have a public disagreement, especially one of this magnitude? (Frazier did not respond when contacted for further comment by the AP.)
Frazier's frustration is understandable, as the team collapsed at home in the second half in front of the most fans ever at Memorial Stadium, a notoriously tough place to play for visitors. But UCLA is no slouch, and the Nebraska offense, which looked hapless for the second half, also deserves some of the blame.
Pelini was contrite in his press conference Monday, and also said that the team needed to start having more fun, and it started with him. (Maybe that means more movie nights?) But while Nebraska fans have a tendency to react strongly and swiftly, this shouldn't be one of those moments. The loss to UCLA does nothing to affect Nebraska's chances of a Rose Bowl berth. If it's a sign of things to come in a down Big 10, that's different. But as Corn Nation points out, the Nebraska defense is very young, and we're just three games into the season.
Nebraska fans, you need to get in line way behind USC and Texas.
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