Steven M. Sipple: Rough on the refs

Life in the Red
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Sorting through wreckage of Nebraska’s ugly loss Saturday while wondering whatever happened to Billy Tubbs:

* You surely remember Tubbs, the former Oklahoma basketball coach. He was a quick-witted sort who in 1989 made a memorable public-address announcement to the home crowd: “The referees request that regardless of how terrible the officiating is, do not throw stuff on the floor.”

Memo to Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini: Regardless of how terrible the officiating gets — and it’s often been lackluster this season — berating the guys in stripes is probably doing more harm than good for your team. Bo was in their faces far too often Saturday (though he’s generally cut down on his complaining since last season). 

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Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini (left), and Referee Cooper Castleberry have words as Pelini was still upset over a pass interference call against the Huskers several plays earlier in the fourth quarter, Saturday, October 17, 2009. (Ted Kirk / Lincoln Journal Star)

I admire that Pelini fights for his team. He’s a strong-willed competitor and a passionate person in general. It’s what helps make him an excellent coach and leader. But there’s a difference between “working” the officials and directing tirades against them. I’m uncomfortable with the latter because:

1. It sends a message to players that it’s not necessarily their fault they’re making mistakes — the officials are to blame. As mediocre as the officials were Saturday, they had little to no impact on the outcome. Bottom line, Pelini would be better served directing his energy toward helping fix his team’s issues, starting with its embarrassing number of penalties (24 for 203 yards in the last two games combined).

2. Common sense dictates that a team probably won’t get the benefit of the doubt on too many calls if its head coach is barking profanities at officials. There’s something to be said for diplomacy.

It also might help to sprinkle in a little humor — a la Tubbs.

* Pelini has been mum on the extent of No. 2 running back Rex Burkhead’s foot injury, but a source close to Burkhead told me Sunday the freshman anticipates being sidelined six to eight weeks. In other words, the rest of the regular season.

Meanwhile, starting running back Roy Helu’s aching shoulder is an ongoing concern. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson describes the injury as a “chronic issue.”

Note to self: Any future criticism of Watson — particularly his apparent reluctance to use power running plays — should be made with the understanding that sending Helu between the tackles might not be the best idea given the junior’s shoulder issue.

Adding to Watson’s current dilemma is a struggling offensive line.

Bottom line, Nebraska is in need of a playmaker on offense, especially one who can create big plays with his legs, with emphasis on “create.” The Helu and Burkhead injuries only reaffirm my belief that 6-foot-4, 220-pound Cody Green should get a crack at the starting quarterback job, understanding the risks it poses in the passing game.

* I’ll never get used to “fans” booing college kids.

* Turns out, Frank Solich has a keen eye for future head coaches. Before hiring Pelini as Nebraska defensive coordinator in December of 2002, the former Husker head coach interviewed Paul Rhoads for the same position. Rhoads was Pitt’s defensive coordinator at the time and now is doing an excellent job as Iowa State’s head coach.

“I don’t know if, in seven games in a season, I’ve been around a team that continues to prepare like ours does,” Rhoads told reporters after Saturday’s 24-10 home victory over Baylor. “To do that, and suffer the defeats we did the last two weeks (close shaves against Kansas State and Kansas) and continue to show up is truly hats off to the men we have in that locker room.”

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.