Breanna Denney /Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada head coach Brian Polian fires up his team during the Saturday, Oct. 11 game against the Rams. Polian has drawn ire for bickering at officials during games.

by Chris Boline

Following another heartbreaking Wolf Pack loss last Saturday evening, head football coach Brian Polian had to face the members of the Reno media almost immediately after the demoralizing defeat. What gets lost in the commotion following a tough defeat is the fact that, win or lose, the head coach and players will have to answer questions from the media. Obviously this comes with the territory of being a head coach. Many have seen from experience that not being combative with the media is a good idea to minimize potential headaches and negative headlines. Polian is no exception to this rule, but his reactions post-game have taken on a life of their own. While his usual answers to questions might be inferred as “coach-speak” there is a deeper meaning behind many of Polian’s answers.

“There are no moral victories”

Even though current Nevada signal-caller Cody Fajardo passed quarterback David Neil for second all-time in total offense accumulated at Nevada, passing Neil’s mark of 11,145 yards, the Wolf Pack was unable to complete its comeback against Colorado State. Many would say Fajardo’s accomplishment is a notable landmark in Nevada football history, but according to the coach’s logic it is a non-factor. Regardless, there absolutely are small victories that Nevada can build on from week to week, like the one mentioned above. However, Polian understands that even if the 3-3 Wolf Pack achieve numerous statistical records, but can’t get a win, then all the records will be for naught. This is a similar feeling to when you think Taco Bell or Las Trojes sounds like a good idea, but it leaves you empty and dissatisfied.

“It starts with me and the coaching staff”

Of course, Polian is referring to an organizational structure that starts from the top with the coaches and goes on down through each player. However, what many don’t realize is that while the coaching staff should be taking the blame, the players should also be taking up their share of the responsibility. If key members of the team are not on the same page during the week, they are becoming a distraction and are the key components in Nevada’s recent two-game losing skid. The coaching staff can only do so much and while they are certainly responsible for a portion of the blame, it ultimately comes down to the player’s willingness to buy into and execute the system.

“We’re not going to apologize for a win”

This one is a no-brainer. Why would you apologize for doing what you were hired to do? Polian notched his first road victory as head man of the Wolf Pack this year and even though the team has hit a rough patch, they are still in range of garnering a Mountain West divisional crown. Did Michael Jordan apologize for beating the Pistons, Jazz or Monstars? Absolutely not. In fact, Jordan was sometimes a huge jerk in order to secure a victory, but the thing is, he won and this is the kind of mentality Nevada needs. What else is he supposed to say? “Sorry, we didn’t cover the spread?” Give me a break.

“Keep Choppin’’

While it is uncertain whether or not coach Polian was a lumberjack in a past life, it is clear that he has an affinity for the lumberjack lifestyle. Of course, one could simply imply that the head coach is encouraging his team to move forward through whatever internal or external obstacles that are put in their way (wildfires, Nevada’s low athletic budget or Brock Hekking’s mullet detaching from his scalp). However, the flip side of the coin is that he really is talking about his obsession over television series “Swamp Loggers.” This mantra is even more significant now considering the tipping point on whether or not the Wolf Pack’s season will be a boom or another bust like last year.

Inaudible yelling and cursing

If this happens in a press conference, you know things have really gone sour for the Wolf Pack. Usually this occurs on the sidelines during games, at practice or in team meeting rooms. However, to really see what Polian is thinking these reactions are a much better indicator than any other canned response he uses for the media following games. If the head coach is angry on the sidelines, he has all the right to be, because his job depends on the success of a bunch of college students. Which, if you really think about it’s a terrifying thought.

Chris Boline can be reached at cboline@sagebrush.unr.edu.