CAFB_04-12 wrote:
geez dave, I really think that no matter what Bronco says you'll find some way of twisting it into something it's not.
Based on just this? You been following my posts and think I have a history of this or something? That's quite the assumption.
Let me be clear here, because I think I've calmed down a little bit since I started this thread.
I don't believe Bronco MEANT to shirk responsibility. That's why he said, "I take responsibility..." He was clearly attempting to do the right thing as a coach in this horrible situation. But I think a lot of coaches make this same mistake. You see, what's going on in their mind is that they are already hating their lives right now, having hit a streak of unexplainable lack of successes. Now they have to talk to the media and they KNOW the media has an opinion on it, and at least ONE of those media guys will have an opinion that reflects negatively on HIM. Now HE knows what he's doing wrong, but he really doesn't have the time or energy to sit down and explain all of the ins and outs to a bunch of media guys, but he knows he needs to take responsibility for what happened. So, feeling desirous on some level to defend himself, feeling very exhausted and unable to really consider the best way to talk to do it, but being aware of this need to take responsibility he says, "I take responsibility for the way our team played tonight."
Now, I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt that he really DOES take responsibility for the loss. I would want that benefit and I'm sure you all would too. So, okay, we'll give him that.
But it's still unfortunate that he said THAT as opposed to what he COULD have said; unfortunate for HIM. Why? Well, because of cause and effect. The effect those words will probably have won't help what Bronco really probably wants to accomplish right now.
And what does he want to accomplish right now? (Aside from actually winning a football game against a D-1 opponent?)
Right now he wants team unity. He wants his players to believe in themselves and step it up. He wants them to continue to trust him as they have in the past. He wants them to WANT to win for HIM.
And he had a great chance at that press conference (mentioned above) to aid in that effort. How? Well, you see, you have to look at it from the players' and the public's perspective (You are the public, so this shouldn't be too hard.) as well as from the sportswriters' perspective. (You want all of these people on your side when things get chippy like they are now.) What he SHOULD have said (and I know some of you might think I'm mincing words here, but words are all the guy has got after an embarrassment like that last game so he needs to use them wisely) was that he took responsibility FOR THE LOSS.
You see, what he SAID was that he took responsibility for HOW THE TEAM PLAYED. There I go, mincing words, but seriously, from a player, fan, and sportswriter perspective, the feelings those two statements evoke are VERY different. As I stated earlier in the thread, it is like the difference between saying, "I'm sorry. I screwed up." And, "I'm sorry that you didn't like what I did."
Look closely and you'll see the insinuation in the second example. That insinuation was that you didn't really do anything wrong, and you're only apologizing to the person for the fact that they got offended. It's a sneaky way of saying, "I'm sorry you're an idiot." So yes, technically you apologized (took responsibility) but nobody with a keen ear will honestly feel apologized to.
So when Bronco said he took responsibility for the way the team played, to me as a fan and if I was a player, I would FEEL like Bronco didn't REALLY accept responsibility for his game-time role in the loss. If I'm a player I'm thinking he's still blaming me. Now, had Bronco done the CUNNING thing, he would have said that he took full responsibility NOT FOR THE WAY THE PLAYERS PLAYED (only THEY can take responsibility for that. He can't rob them of that.) BUT FOR THE LOSS ITSELF. That is a subtle difference, but it would create a TOTALLY different feeling for me as a player.
Had he done that and had I been on the team I would have felt like Bronco, rather than having thrown me under the bus as was his prerogative, instead saved me from the bus and threw himself under instead. Something happens inside a player that feels like a coach just stuck his neck out for him and took all the heat. IT INSPIRES THE PLAYER TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING. And THAT is what Bronco REALLY wants to accomplish right now; getting each and every player to really take personal responsibility for THEIR part in the loss, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Doing that can right the ship maybe faster than anything.
Unfortunately for our current program and for Bronco personally though, what he said MIGHT have been construed by his players as him not REALLY thinking he did anything wrong, which means he really thinks the blame lies squarely with them. Now THAT, as a player, would make me feel DEFENSIVE towards my coach instead. Bronco does NOT want his players feeling that way towards him. He needs them on his side. He needs them to be open to his instruction and his leadership. I simply fear that his words will inhibit that, rather than facilitate it as they could have. Too bad for him. Too bad for all of us, I guess. Let's hope it doesn't wind up mattering :)
