Nebraska Football: Bo Pelini and His Need for "Spread Awareness" in Coaching

You can pretty well mark it down.

Any coach that is ever asked about the point spread before or after any contest will tell you that it has absolutely no bearing on their preparation for a game, much less how they call a game during its progress.

It is simply coach-speak since no coach wants to willingly admit that point spreads can and do have some factor in how their team plays and finishes games.  And anybody that wants to think it doesn't have an impact, needs to learn a thing or two about being a head coach and representing a particular university.  Particularly the aspect of when it comes to rallying support from their almighty boosters.

Like it or not, every big time football program has some wealthy and influential boosters that contribute large sums of money towards the schools and football programs that they support.  Heck, you'll find buildings, athletic fields, and other facilities named after such boosters on nearly any big time program's campus in the entire country.

Not only do these boosters support these programs with their money in influential ways via donations, they also 'wager' upon their schools in large amounts as well.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking for one second that some of these boosters don't make wagers in the 4, 5, and even 6 figure amounts in full support of their beloved school.  In return, they have the full expectation that their head man that they support with their large donations will pull through and give every effort possible to make those 'investments' worthwhile.

This is a factor that I call 'spread awareness'.

A factor that just about every successful big time football coach needs to recognize in order to keep the large support that they have for their program.  While winning is of the utmost importance, one should not believe that 'covering the spread' is of little to no consequence. 

Looking back at last week's contest with Idaho, it is difficult to see that Bo endeared himself to many big time boosters in the results of the 38-17 victory over the visiting Vandals.

In a game that was supremely dominated by the Husker defense that intercepted the respected home state QB Nathan Enderle five times, including two returns for TD's (1st time EVER in school history), the Huskers failed to cover the 28 point impost.

With all the sloppy play of the offense, including 10 penalties for 143 yards and 4 turnovers that cost the Huskers a solid amount of points on offense, the Huskers were still in fine fashion of 'covering' the 28 point spread handsomely while facing a 2nd and goal at the Vandals 1 yard line with all of 6:25 to go in the game.

On that play, the Huskers 3rd string RB fumbled the ball at the Vandals 2 yard line, keeping the Huskers from punching in what looked to be the decisive 'spread covering' TD to put the Huskers up 45-10.

Instead, the Huskers were still in a 'push' scenario as Idaho took over possession on their own 2 yard line with 6:18 to go in the game.

At that point in time, with the game well in hand, Coach Pelini inserted a host of 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th team defensive players to gain valuable game experience in a contest that was still somewhat competitive.

Not a bad idea from a pure coaching standpoint, but to Husker bettors and big time boosters, it was a painful 10 play 98 yard drive to sit and watch as the Husker went from a 'push' status to pure 'losing' status against the 'spread'.

In a game in which the defense brought about two scores of their own, and the offense racked up a substantial amount of yardage (471 yards), the Huskers should have won this contest to the tune of 63-10 or so.  

That didn't happen.

As it ended, the 38-17 score made it seem as if Nebraska 'struggled' with the Vandals, in a game in which the Huskers led 31-3 at halftime after a last second Vandal field goal to end the first half.

In a game in which the Huskers dominated the action on the field of play for 3 1/2 quarters, they were unable to finish off a point spread cover for bettors and boosters alike.

Now for the kicker.

After scoring that 'spread busting' TD, the Vandals attempted an onside kick with 2:31 to go in the game.  A type of play that has a serious risk of injuring a player on either side of the ball for little to no reason.

Bo very well could have taken that attempt as a slap in the face, and attempt to punch in a final score to make a statement to the Vandals head coach, and at the same time at least secure a 'push' for his boosters and Husker bettors alike.

He didn't.

The Huskers were more than willing to simply run out the clock on a drive that started at the Vandals 41 yard line.  A drive that Bo very easily could have aggressively looked to give some payback to the Vandals head coach for calling the unnecessary onside kick.

Looking back at the '70s, '80s, and '90s, even the religiously affiliated Tom Osborne, one can easily see that TO had some true spread awareness.  In a number of contests in which the Huskers were favored by 20, 30, and even 40+ point imposts, you'd rarely see starters get pulled in uncompetitive contests until the 'spread' was well in hand.  Well in hand being a two TD 'cover' in many cases.

Now, I'm not saying this is of huge importance, but when push comes to shove, Bo needs all of the support from his wealthy boosters and supporters that he can get.  He must be aware of not only the significant amount of money that these boosters throw into the program, but also the significant amount that these people put on the mighty Huskers to cover healthy point spreads.

While it may seem trivial, one only needs to take a peek across the country to see big time coaches at big time programs that cover a solid majority of contest in which the 'home team' is favored by double digits or more. 

It wasn't a mere coincidence that Alabama beat Penn State 24-3 on Saturday night.  With the wagering line at 13 1/2 to 14 points, the Tide managed to get up 24-0 with a Trent Richardson TD run in the 4th quarter, and then hold Penn State to a simple field goal in that 4th quarter while playing aggressive defense to keep the Tide 'above' the line. 

While many will gaff at such a concept, it is the reality of big time collegiate athletics.  Particularly college football.

Not only does a coach need to win, he also needs to cover large spreads in 'laugher' contests against overly matched opponents when they have every opportunity to do so.

While it is an off-topic type question for any head coach of a big time school in college football, it also has some very possible and very significant consequences if it continues to be a 'problem' for the large boosters of a school that not only invest in donations but in 'wagering' investments as well.

When push comes to shove, it would definitely be in Bo's best interest to 'cover' these spreads when his team has every opportunity to do so.

Don't take it lightly coach, 'spread awareness' is not as unimportant as anybody would be led to believe.

NOTE:  The poster of this article did not wager on the Nebraska vs. Idaho contest,.