North Carolina State University
O'Brien answers criticism of sideline demeanor
By Chris Morris Nov 26, 2009
College football coaches serve as the face of their program, and in many cases, the face of their university.
However, if you look at the expression on Tom O'Brien's face during any given game, you would be hard pressed to know if his team was up by 30, or if they had just thrown a costly interception.
O'Brien's stoic demeanor on the sideline has drawn criticism from some Wolfpack fans, who wish that their head coach would show more emotion.
However, O'Brien says that just because he doesn't wear his heart of his sleeve, don't take that as a sign that his team's struggles aren't effecting him.
"I think I catch a lot of heat because I'm supposedly not emotional," O'Brien told 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio on Wednesday. "As long as you stay the same, I think you can handle things a lot better. You don't get too high and you don't get too low. You have to keep your wits about you.
"Those people that want me to jump off of a building, I'm still not going to jump off of a building. I'm going to keep working and keep moving forward."
It has certainly been an emotional week for the N.C. State program. It was revealed Monday that offensive coordinator Dana Bible is battling leukemia. Bible checked into the cancer center at UNC last Friday to begin treatment, and is expected to remain in the hospital for the next few weeks.
"I wasn't able to speak to him yesterday," O'Brien said of Bible. "He was feeling pretty bad. The positive news is that they have identified what the problem is, so now they know what to fight. We know that he will fight it. He's in the best hospital that our nation has to offer. God willing, he will be home by Christmas."
The loss of Bible is certainly a blow for the Wolfpack, who already have the added pressure of arch-rival North Carolina coming to town on Saturday for the season finale. O'Brien thinks that his team will respond well, despite their thoughts being with their ailing coach.
"At first, I think they were in shock. They'll come out of it as the week goes on," O'Brien said. "They know that they have to play football, and Dana would want them to play football."
Copyright 2012 99.9 The Fan. All rights reserved.
Most Recent Comments
RE: O'Brien answers criticism of sideline demeanor
We had Chuck who was the opposite. TOB is a coach not a cheerleader and he is getting it done. Life is not fair and you can't be #1 every year so us PACK fans have to suck it up and look to next year. STATE can beat UNC just as long as they don't have a bunch of turnovers.
- Posted by ECO
Getting what done? A great leader knows when it's time to change and get emotional so your soldiers will follow.
or in this case, you can't be 1st ANY year! any sport even! hahah
oh yeah! i forgot bass fishing...
Maybe you should change that Panther Pic before mouthin off?
I AM STILL A PANTHER FAN!
before you "mouth off" you should know you're an idiot!
RE: O'Brien answers criticism of sideline demeanor
Sportznut628-Comments like yours are the exact reason this University has become complacent. I have been a NCSU fan for 28 yrs, and have heard the term "patience" used over and over. I am assuming your are not a season ticket holder, or donate any $$$ to this program. If you did I gurantee your feelings would be different. Some changes have got to take place. The first one that needs to go is Fowler. We need a Chancellor that can set attainable goals for it's coaches, and hold them accountable when they don't meet those goals. TOB is getting ready to have 3 losing seasons. I guess you are okay with that? This team is regressing, and next year won't be getting any better.
RE: O'Brien answers criticism of sideline demeanor
"He will get it done" ,"Wait till next year". Sounds so familiar. Those are the same famous quotes by most State fans. Wake up folks! This is not a well coached team.
- Posted by augjsk1974
I don't know but maybe you're right but you get what you pay for. TOB makes less than Davis, Grobes, and even Cutcliffe. As long as Lee Fowler is at the helm this is what we have to deal with.
But it is a young team. And there are a ton of injuries. They aren't excuse and TOB knows this but maybe they make some changes on the Defense end and Special teams when we get or a## handed to us by Carolina this weekend. We have 44 Freshman and 26 Sophomores and they should be redshirted but someone forgot to recruit for awhile and relied too much on Florida recruits and recruiting only key positions.
TOB is not an emotional guy but his past shows he can coach as BC hasn't missed a beat since he left. He left the program in good shape and had consecutive 9 win seasons. I don't think we will be that good next year either but maybe I'm wrong. He does have a top recruiting class coming in next year and will get better. It takes time and we are being too impatient. It's hard to handle but who else are we going to get to come in? I just don't see it.
RE: O'Brien answers criticism of sideline demeanor
Dear Tom,
Please leave while you are ahead. These people are delusional nutjobs, with unattainable goals for you and the Sydney. They even ran off one of their own
who wore ridiculous amounts of Red and said all the right things. You are
too complex for them. Don't wait until you and your family become enemy #1.
Herb
- Posted by sportznut628
So what Herb, you got your a## handed to you again by Duke last night. Keep coaching in the Pac-10. State fans are fanatical and many live in the past, but we have tradition and it's hard to take the past 20 years of meltdowns.
We saw a glimmer with Chuck/Rivers and some with Herb, but it was just a tease. As long as Lee Fowler is in charge we will continue our downfall.
I think many people support TOB and are trying to be patient. Sid has a great recruiting class coming in next year and is playing decent so far but we again are trying to be patient with Sid. Herb did what was best for him. Carolina didn't like Daugherty and Guthridge too much, so why do you care what we do at State. Most have claimed that Duke is your rival so worry about that.
RE: O'Brien answers criticism of sideline demeanor
Dear Tom,
Please leave while you are ahead. These people are delusional nutjobs, with unattainable goals for you and the Sydney. They even ran off one of their own
who wore ridiculous amounts of Red and said all the right things. You are
too complex for them. Don't wait until you and your family become enemy #1.
Herb
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