Dailey takes everything in stride
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
PITTSBURGH The word around the motel lobby in downtown Pittsburgh was that Friday's deluge would taper off to showers by early this morning, then stop completely by the time Nebraska and Pittsburgh kicked off at Heinz Field.
No word, however, on whether this suddenly-promising forecast was the result of Joe Dailey doing some sort of anti-rain dance.
The last thing Nebraska's sophomore quarterback probably needs is a wet football.
Then again, perhaps Dailey would view such a situation as just another challenge he must overcome in what has already been an up-and-down season.
Dailey, in his first year as starter, learning a new system and playing under a new coach, has thrown six touchdowns and seven interceptions in two games. In last week's 21-17 loss to Southern Miss in Lincoln, he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble on a potential game-winning drive. The Golden Eagles scored 13 points off Dailey's miscues alone.
"It was a tough day," first-year Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. "It was as tough a day as you can go through as a quarterback."
So concerned was Callahan with his young signal-caller that he phoned Dailey the next night.
"I'm sitting there watching the Tennessee game (Sunday night), and I'm thinking, it's not about I how feel, it's about how he feels," Callahan said. "Because I know if my son went through that, I would want someone to call him and see how he's doing."
Dailey was doing fine, thank you.
Not that those who know Dailey well would be surprised to hear that. Coaches and teammates have said all along that Dailey is a level-headed, intelligent person who takes everything in stride.
"He's real even-keel," Nebraska senior offensive lineman Jake Andersen said. "He's going to keep the same temper, no matter what happens, whether good or bad."
Still, many Nebraskans will watch today's game with keen interest, wondering if Dailey, playing his first road game, can bounce back from last week's performance.
Remember, not only is Dailey the quarterback, he's also a team captain. How he handles this situation could affect the rest of the team, and perhaps set the tone for the rest of the season.
That's the opinion of Chad Bohling, director of mental conditioning for IMG Academies.
"He's going to be tested from his team, from his coaches, from the state of Nebraska," Bohling said. "If he's up to the test
that's where we see the true champions rise above."
Bohling, a York native, has worked with many professional athletes, including former Huskers, at the multi-sport training facility in Bradenton, Fla. He makes weekly visits to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"Every champion or elite athlete I've worked with would say you have to handle the adversity in the losses," Bohling said. "If it tests your character and makes you more positive of your character development, it could be good for you and your program."
Bohling, who's never met Dailey, said Dailey must focus on the things he can control and focus on the future, beginning with today's game. Staying cool and remaining positive and optimistic with teammates, with the media, with everyone are keys to Dailey staying on track.
Wes Sime does know Dailey, and he says Nebraska's quarterback is a strong individual, psychologically, and will bounce back.
Sime is professor of health and human services at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and he's a certified sports psychologist with the United States Olympic registry.
"He is very sharp, astute," Sime said of Dailey. "He's read a lot of sports psychology books. He's an extremely sensitive individual. He cares about how his teammates are reacting to him."
Sime, in recent years, has worked with several Husker athletes on an informal basis but wouldn't say whether he's talked with Dailey this week. He said he's gradually phasing out of his undergraduate work, which will allow him to work more with athletes in the future.
In past years, Nebraska football players have turned to Dr. Jack Stark, who served as a team psychologist. Stark, though, resigned after Frank Solich was fired as head coach. The Huskers have no designated team psychologist in Stark's place.
"My general belief in sport psychology is it's more important to have people work with the coaches than it is probably to work with the kids," Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson said. "I'm not saying we won't be doing some of those things in the future, but right now, the work I've had anybody do is with our staff."
Dailey said he's appreciated the support he's received from his teammates, coaches and fans. He also said he's never questions himself.
"Everything stays the same," Dailey said. "It's all business to me. Nothing changes.
"I think I've done everything you can do wrong in a football game. Now, what else can you do but succeed?"
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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