Calling Out Sean C & Husker Media

Meadiator1794

Redshirt
Dec 4, 2021
1
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Pardon my ignorance on Sean Callahan, but why does he get so offended by the rest of the Nebraska media? Just today, he locked 2 threads on RSS praising Tim Verghese for his new job at Hurrdat. He locks any thread that talks about any site besides HuskerOnline. He gets offended when people say basic criticisms about him.

And I'll say this: what is up with Nebraska media? Why are there still so many terrible reporters employed while our few good ones get canned or leave for greener pastures? Look at 247. When was the last time BC or Bruntz had a scoop about anything? Look at Brian Munson at HuskerOnline. No scoops and no basic insight on anything relevant to Nebraska recruiting. Look at the clowns on 1620 like Bishop and Peterson and Happer and Schafer. How do all these people have jobs? Now I understand they are probably making low 5 figures, at best 60-70k. But still. And yet the few good reporters like Tim Verghese or Steve Marik come and go like the wind.

We don't even have good journalists anymore. People ran them out of town. Shatel is still hanging on barely. Sipple is okay but then you'll listen to one of his many shows and he'll say the dumbest thing you've ever heard. McKewon has went down hill for years. Etc. Pardon my rant, but this is getting ridiculous. I understand the program is declining. But that doesn't mean the media has to be this bad too. I'll hang up and listen to your response.
 
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RikeMiley

Senior
Sep 1, 2022
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Callahan has always had an inflated ego and gets agitated easily at any perceived slight or someone upstaging him. Huskeronline was/is the main podcast I listen to, not as frequently anymore, the post game shows especially him and Sipple would get heated over topics.
 
Dec 2, 2024
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Pardon my ignorance on Sean Callahan, but why does he get so offended by the rest of the Nebraska media? Just today, he locked 2 threads on RSS praising Tim Verghese for his new job at Hurrdat. He locks any thread that talks about any site besides HuskerOnline. He gets offended when people say basic criticisms about him.

And I'll say this: what is up with Nebraska media? Why are there still so many terrible reporters employed while our few good ones get canned or leave for greener pastures? Look at 247. When was the last time BC or Bruntz had a scoop about anything? Look at Brian Munson at HuskerOnline. No scoops and no basic insight on anything relevant to Nebraska recruiting. Look at the clowns on 1620 like Bishop and Peterson and Happer and Schafer. How do all these people have jobs? Now I understand they are probably making low 5 figures, at best 60-70k. But still. And yet the few good reporters like Tim Verghese or Steve Marik come and go like the wind.

We don't even have good journalists anymore. People ran them out of town. Shatel is still hanging on barely. Sipple is okay but then you'll listen to one of his many shows and he'll say the dumbest thing you've ever heard. McKewon has went down hill for years. Etc. Pardon my rant, but this is getting ridiculous. I understand the program is declining. But that doesn't mean the media has to be this bad too. I'll hang up and listen to your response.
He commented on one of the threads before locking it and said he doesn't allow posts about competitors on the board. So for that specific rule, I get it.
 

Walleye 1

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2021
5,167
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Pardon my ignorance on Sean Callahan, but why does he get so offended by the rest of the Nebraska media? Just today, he locked 2 threads on RSS praising Tim Verghese for his new job at Hurrdat. He locks any thread that talks about any site besides HuskerOnline. He gets offended when people say basic criticisms about him.

And I'll say this: what is up with Nebraska media? Why are there still so many terrible reporters employed while our few good ones get canned or leave for greener pastures? Look at 247. When was the last time BC or Bruntz had a scoop about anything? Look at Brian Munson at HuskerOnline. No scoops and no basic insight on anything relevant to Nebraska recruiting. Look at the clowns on 1620 like Bishop and Peterson and Happer and Schafer. How do all these people have jobs? Now I understand they are probably making low 5 figures, at best 60-70k. But still. And yet the few good reporters like Tim Verghese or Steve Marik come and go like the wind.

We don't even have good journalists anymore. People ran them out of town. Shatel is still hanging on barely. Sipple is okay but then you'll listen to one of his many shows and he'll say the dumbest thing you've ever heard. McKewon has went down hill for years. Etc. Pardon my rant, but this is getting ridiculous. I understand the program is declining. But that doesn't mean the media has to be this bad too. I'll hang up and listen to your response.
Soft media “soft team”
 

Man Woman & Child

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2003
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He commented on one of the threads before locking it and said he doesn't allow posts about competitors on the board. So for that specific rule, I get it.

Yeah, this part I get, having worked in a similar situation. This is all a business. Not many businesses on earth that would allow competitors to share in their work. It would literally be like Coke allowing there to be Pepsi products in a Coke commercial. Never going to happen. I've seen companies go to much further lengths than deleting a few threads over much less.
 

Scoop123

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Jan 9, 2026
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My biggest grips is NO ONE (that I have seen) will challenge NU brass. I'm waiting for someone....anyone to ask Dannen about the worst extension of the decade. Instead, he skates free as a bird and gets to beg us for more money.

New York is an extreme opposite market and media. We don't have to become NY but can we at least ASK people in charge why they do stupid things - instead of getting inside scoops from your buddies on staff and spewing the company message.
 

Big bo fan

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Jan 8, 2019
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My biggest grips is NO ONE (that I have seen) will challenge NU brass. I'm waiting for someone....anyone to ask Dannen about the worst extension of the decade. Instead, he skates free as a bird and gets to beg us for more money.

New York is an extreme opposite market and media. We don't have to become NY but can we at least ASK people in charge why they do stupid things - instead of getting inside scoops from your buddies on staff and spewing the company message.
You are comparing apples to oranges. No and i am no local College media asks the tough questions. Ryan Day , Kirby smart Sarc etc.don’t get the tough questions it’s just the way it is .
 

Cruel Halo

All-Conference
Jun 27, 2003
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My biggest grips is NO ONE (that I have seen) will challenge NU brass. I'm waiting for someone....anyone to ask Dannen about the worst extension of the decade. Instead, he skates free as a bird and gets to beg us for more money.

New York is an extreme opposite market and media. We don't have to become NY but can we at least ASK people in charge why they do stupid things - instead of getting inside scoops from your buddies on staff and spewing the company message.
I've been saying that (about the Nebraska media) since someone committed obstruction that included a firearm.

Argue you all you want about the timing of when the charges were filed but the intent was obvious and the lame a$$ excuse was ridiculous.
 
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Scoop123

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You are comparing apples to oranges. No and i am no local College media asks the tough questions. Ryan Day , Kirby smart Sarc etc.don’t get the tough questions it’s just the way it is .
I disagree but it's all subjective - so not a big deal. A lot of college football coaches face tough questions. LSU, Texas, Auburn, etc.
 
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BobVH5150

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Jul 9, 2025
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As a human being, and as a journalist, Sean is truly excellent. I question everything he writes. I don't excuse the approach, but put yourself in his position: Recruiting and "Insider" sites are another form of dying media. Here is a man that paid his dues to work up the ladder in his field who has to compete head on with uncredentialed hacks like Dittman for clicks. Here is a man who nursed his online site into a juggernaut, only to watch membership decline in droves with the performance of the team and the rise of Twitter. He has to write to invite. Dude (and Sip) are trying everything they can to get folks to pay to read articles about a team that's hard to invest in. And for him, its really been that way since the beginning of Riley. I stopped paying in '19, but I stopped taking stock in the articles in 2015. One fan asked Callahan to sum up Mike Riley in one word. He replied, "CEO.". This was the week he fired Banker and replaced him with Diaco. That exchange and the results of the following season are branded into my memory. However, I have to forgive Sean for that. He has to write to invite. This is his livelihood. The market has been down on NU football for years, and he is trying everything he can to attract interest to a slowly dying business model.
 

Big bo fan

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I disagree but it's all subjective - so not a big deal. A lot of college football coaches face tough questions. LSU, Texas, Auburn, etc.
How to you now do you watch Press conference’s from other teams? And you are talking about Troy not Rhule?
 

Zeke Husker

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Aug 23, 2025
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I disagree but it's all subjective - so not a big deal. A lot of college football coaches face tough questions. LSU, Texas, Auburn, etc.
Deion Sanders does not get tough questions….. at least one tried and barred from
Being there anymore
 

Scoop123

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How to you now do you watch Press conference’s from other teams? And you are talking about Troy not Rhule?
I could ask you the same question - you gave a blanket statement about college football coaches getting it easy - How do you know? You watch all college football pressers?

Brian Kelly at LSU was under the heat lamps several times by local media - and even blew a gasket at at a local TV reporter. When will we see anything close to that in Lincoln? Ohio State HC's take massive heat, local media was all over them for losing to Michigan multiple times. And these are not softball questions like I see Nebraska media lob.

Texas media have produced some zingers as well. They lay it out there and ask tough questions. The last several UT coaches have been grilled hard. Rhule gets an informercial most the time.
 
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WTFMatt

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I could ask you the same question - you gave a blanket statement about college football coaches getting it easy - How do you know? You watch all college football pressers?

Brian Kelly at LSU was under the heat lamps several times by local media - and even blew a gasket at at a local TV reporter. When will we see anything close to that in Lincoln? Ohio State HC's take massive heat, local media was all over them for losing to Michigan multiple times. And these are not softball questions like I see Nebraska media lob.

Texas media have produced some zingers as well. They lay it out there and ask tough questions. The last several UT coaches have been grilled hard. Rhule gets an informercial most the time.

Exactly. Big time programs fire coaches for not winning a championship, or making the playoff or at least having double digit wins each year, after about 3 years. The coaches are certainly being asked hard questions by the media the entire way if they are struggling.

The problem is, NU is no longer a big time program.
 
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davecisar

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Jun 9, 2010
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The deal is- once a media person asks a tough question or writes a critical article, access becomes a problem. It’s my understanding Josh Peterson lost his credentials following some critical takes on the program. I’m not a big Josh fan, but I am all for holding coaches and administration accountable.
 
Sep 12, 2020
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You are comparing apples to oranges. No and i am no local College media asks the tough questions. Ryan Day , Kirby smart Sarc etc.don’t get the tough questions it’s just the way it is .
You mean the most successful programs in the game today don’t get grilled? Who is comparing apples to oranges?
 

K Rod

Senior
Oct 1, 2025
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NU has been thin skinned for years. Pretty much fall in line or your shut off. But I have noticed Sipp is starting to take the gloves off more, on his latest Podcast with Carriker he was pretty blunt. My sense is that those guys, and many NU fans feel it is time to produce on the field and stop talking about it. Year 4 should look different.
 
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dinglefritz

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Jan 14, 2011
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NU has been thin skinned for years. Pretty much fall in line or your shut off. But I have noticed Sipp is starting to take the gloves off more, on his latest Podcast with Carriker he was pretty blunt. My sense is that those guys, and many NU fans feel it is time to produce on the field and stop talking about it. Year 4 should look different.
Read this thread. And we wonder why they’re “thin skinned”? This board would ***** about free ribeyes at Misty’s if they weren’t done within a fraction of how they wanted it cooked. We’re such a bunch of whiney little bitches.
 
Sep 12, 2020
494
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NU has been thin skinned for years. Pretty much fall in line or your shut off. But I have noticed Sipp is starting to take the gloves off more, on his latest Podcast with Carriker he was pretty blunt. My sense is that those guys, and many NU fans feel it is time to produce on the field and stop talking about it. Year 4 should look different.
When it is obvious to everyone that there is a real problem, he becomes this guy

President GIF

I’d start getting a little fired up too if I were him, because with the dwindling excitement for football, people stop listening to and reading the slop.
 
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NikkiSixx

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He's not good and knows it

That's not true.. he was always successful running this site.

The current group of guys, not so much. (recent firings and money trouble I believe).

Since Sean bought it back, I am hoping for re-integration of the board again.. as this place has also gone down hill, but is still the best free board out there for ideas and such.
 
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Big bo fan

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I could ask you the same question - you gave a blanket statement about college football coaches getting it easy - How do you know? You watch all college football pressers?

Brian Kelly at LSU was under the heat lamps several times by local media - and even blew a gasket at at a local TV reporter. When will we see anything close to that in Lincoln? Ohio State HC's take massive heat, local media was all over them for losing to Michigan multiple times. And these are not softball questions like I see Nebraska media lob.

Texas media have produced some zingers as well. They lay it out there and ask tough questions. The last several UT coaches have been grilled hard. Rhule gets an informercial most the time.
There is a difference between a tough question and a dumb question. I think some coaches probably get upset because they feel it’s a dumb question on how it’s asked . They feel likes it’s more of an attack on them personally then a criticism of their coaching .
 

Big bo fan

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Exactly. Big time programs fire coaches for not winning a championship, or making the playoff or at least having double digit wins each year, after about 3 years. The coaches are certainly being asked hard questions by the media the entire way if they are struggling.

The problem is, NU is no longer a big time program.
Then you need to go root for a big time program and get your *** out of here.
 
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OxfordComma

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Tough but fair questions that the fans want answers to should not result in a media person losing access. I understand defining, communicating and enforcing the fairness line may not be simple. But when you’ve intimidated all the local media into just pitching softballs, then you’ve gone too far and you’re just soft.
 

OxfordComma

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There is a difference between a tough question and a dumb question. I think some coaches probably get upset because they feel it’s a dumb question on how it’s asked . They feel likes it’s more of an attack on them personally then a criticism of their coaching .
Many good questions are labeled as dumb/illegitimate by people trying to escape scrutiny.
 
Jul 1, 2025
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That's not true.. he was always successful running this site.

The current group of guys, not so much. (recent firings and money trouble I believe).

Since Sean bought it back, I am hoping for re-integration of the board again.. as this place has also gone down hill, but is still the best free board out there for ideas and such.
It's very true, I don't give a flying fck about a free board

He sucks as a journalist
 
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Big bo fan

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Tough but fair questions that the fans want answers to should not result in a media person losing access. I understand defining, communicating and enforcing the fairness line may not be simple. But when you’ve intimidated all the local media into just pitching softballs, then you’ve gone too far and you’re just soft.
Bingo you hit the nail on the head. People on this board complaining don’t understand the difference between tough but fair. I agree the media should not loose access as long as the questions are fair. Unfortunately IMO most in this he media are idiots that don’t know the difference and those are the ones that get blasted by some coaches or the coach ignores them and moves onto the next question.
 
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Big bo fan

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Many good questions are labeled as dumb/illegitimate by people trying to escape scrutiny.
or there just not good questions in the opinion of the person taking them . You may think a question is good and me sitting right next to you may think it’s dumb.
 

norazhusker

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Scoop123

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People on this board complaining don’t understand the difference between tough but fair.

Oh BS - Yes we do know the difference. You have no evidence to this ridiculous statement (at least regarding me as complaining about the Nebraska media).

We want the Nebraska media to ask tough and fair questions - and they don't. Why you are fighting ghosts on this I have no idea. Rhule, Dannen, they face nothing like many top programs. Tough questions can help hold poor performers accountable.
 
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NikkiSixx

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This board is not the problem with Husker football. It never has been, nor will it ever be.

This board, is more of truth teller in whole, than anything else.

That is only a problem, when another party is trying to deceive.. that is when the truth teller is targeted.

So to me, the question is, who's trying to spin a narrative and what do they stand to gain from it?
 

head2383

Heisman
Jan 28, 2007
184,600
32,167
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My favorite thing about Dean is that he will adamantly deny that a rumor is true only when the rumor is proven to be true say he knew all along but couldn't say anything. Why not just say 'we can't have rumors on our site' like a normal person.
 
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Truewooper

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Jun 1, 2022
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Callahan has always had an inflated ego and gets agitated easily at any perceived slight or someone upstaging him. Huskeronline was/is the main podcast I listen to, not as frequently anymore, the post game shows especially him and Sipple would get heated over topics.
Correct he comes off polished but underneath must be a small man. Remember when he dropped that punt and was so whinny about it. Instead of just being like yeah I suck and I'm 50.
 

Truewooper

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Bingo you hit the nail on the head. People on this board complaining don’t understand the difference between tough but fair. I agree the media should not loose access as long as the questions are fair. Unfortunately IMO most in this he media are idiots that don’t know the difference and those are the ones that get blasted by some coaches or the coach ignores them and moves onto the next question.
I get more annoyed when a coach makes a 2/10 joke and everyone in the room laughs like they're at the comedy show.
 
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Truewooper

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My favorite thing about Dean is that he will adamantly deny that a rumor is true only when the rumor is proven to be true say he knew all along but couldn't say anything. Why not just say 'we can't have rumors on our site' like a normal person.
That was my problem with Benning.
 
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