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Charlie McBride: Fan Approval Means More to Players Than Coaches Do

Former defensive coordinator soliloquizes about fan negativity

Ryan Tweedy

Charlie McBride: Fan Approval Means More to Players Than Coaches Do
Charlie McBride: Fan Approval Means More to Players Than Coaches Do /

Charlie McBride might be my favorite part of Husker fandom. He's an enigma. A misunderstood aggressor and overlooked backbone of what Husker tradition came to be.

There is more than meets the eye with Coach "No, Do it Again" as his players would call him. Charlie summons up images of hard-nosed, gritty, in-your-face, old-school football coaches who would just as much love a fight as he would a handshake. 

I don't think that's what he really is, though.

I've spent a few nights drinking with him in Arizona and interviewed him probably a half-dozen times and I think he is one of the most introspective, grateful people I've ever met. Not that he isn't a tough guy. He definitely is. He speaks his truth 100 percent of the time. No doubt about that. However, he also cares deeply about the people around him. Friends, family, colleagues and especially players. He still communicates with a lot of them regularly.

I got to ask him about how fan negativity affects the players and the program and he spoke very eloquently about it. Watch the clip at the top of the article to hear his thoughts.

I'm going to take this opportunity to pigeonhole in my two-cents because I'm self absorbed and I think that I can do whatever I want because I'm a spoiled brat.

EVERYBODY SHOULD JUST CALM DOWN ONLINE.

That's really my only opinion. When you get mad online it's the equivalent of standing in the middle of your neighborhood yelling about how an 18-yearold athlete arm tackles. We can all see you and frankly you're embarrassing yourself. Your wife is ashamed. If you are the wife, your husband wishes you would not yell so much. It's not a good look.

You can thank me for saving your marriage later.

Anyways, watch Charlie above and look out for more snippets from the Husker fan documentary "Through These Gates" every week.

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Ryan Tweedy
RYAN TWEEDY

Ryan Tweedy is the director, producer, and editor of Through These Gates - a documentary about Cornhusker fans. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Ryan now resides in Los Angeles, California and has worked for many companies such as Disney/ABC, College Humor and Sky Bound. He wishes Scott Frost was his father. GBR.

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