Pelini's priorities in the right place

Even though I’m a mainstream sports media member by trade and a Nebraska football blogger by hobby, I try not to overanalyze players or coaches statements in the public domain. However, when Husker head coach Bo Pelini put the kibosh on Nebraska rescheduling the annual Red-White game, this statement certainly resonated:

"I don't think that's going to work out," Pelini said of a Sunday scrimmage. "When we met with the team, there's a lot of issues that go with playing (Sunday). When you talk about family issues ... I had a show of hands of guys who had a problem with tomorrow -- you have projects, academic things, a banquet coming up -- it's not going to work."

With most of eastern Nebraska anticipating severe weather and a likely tornado outbreak, NU officials canceled Saturday's annual Red-White Spring Game. Minutes after the scheduled 1 p.m. kickoff time, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne announced the decision on HuskerVision screens, noting that the game would be played Sunday if conditions improve.

A little more than an hour later, Pelini took to the microphone to announce that the game will be canceled instead of the game being rescheduled for Sunday or even a later day.

What truly stands out about Pelini’s statement was how he addressed academics. OK, cynical college football fans will say, “Yeah, right,” but how many college football coaches would have put academic and family conflicts above rescheduling a Spring Game? Though Pelini may have his shortcomings as a coach and fans are frustrated that the team has not achieved that elusive conference title and/or BCS bowl game, Pelini once again is looking out for his players above everything else. That example demonstrates that Pelini’s priorities are in the right place.

Somehow I get the impression a lot of coaches really do not like the spring games. They would probably prefer to have one more practice instead even though the game is a glorified practice. I think most coaches see the game as the dog and pony show that it is. Some coaches relish their roles as ringleader of dog and pony shows and others do not.

I don't think the coaches get nearly as much out of the Spring Game as the fans do.

The spring game was cancelled. We can debate if/when it should have been cancelled/postponed or moved but it is over and the fall can't get here soon enough. Now I will go worry about something important like, like, well nothing is more important than football but that debate is for another day.