And you thought Brandon was thin skinned?
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/new-husker-p-a-announcer-loses-job-over-fa… By Dirk Chatelain / World-Herald staff writer
Late Monday night, the new public-address announcer at Memorial Stadium received a phone call from a Nebraska official.
Jon Schuetz, a native of North Bend, Nebraska, was about to lose the job he’d landed a week ago.
The Nebraska official began reading a nine-month-old Facebook post in which Schuetz criticized the NU administration after Bo Pelini’s firing. Schuetz hadn’t even thought about the post since last winter. He certainly didn’t remember it when he interviewed for the PA job.
But now, as his own words were read to him, Schuetz said he cringed.
Schuetz didn’t disclose the contents of the message on Tuesday, but a screen grab of a Schuetz Facebook post circulating online and dated Nov. 30, 2014, says this:
Harvey Perlman is as (sic) disgrace. Remember this was the guy who extended Steve Pederson’s contract only to fire him a few months later. When will he be held to account?
Tuesday Schuetz received word from Nebraska that his rant went too far. He won’t call the season opener, or any game after that.
“I probably made some uninformed statements,” said Schuetz, 51, who spent 24 years in broadcasting.
“If I were in their shoes, I would’ve done the same thing. I’ve hired people. I get it. ... If you say something about a prospective future employer, it’s legitimate to say if you’re not on board with what we do here, maybe you shouldn’t be here.”
“I respect the decision. I hold no hard feelings toward anybody down there. The worst part is I feel like I’ve left some great people at HuskerVision in a difficult situation just a few days before the first game of the season.”
The university released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said “after reviewing the post, highly critical of university leadership and, after thorough internal discussion, we visited with Jon, who was extremely apologetic and agreed with our decision that he cannot represent the university in such a public capacity.”
The statement also named Lane Grindle as the new public address announcer. Grindle will continue some of his duties with the Husker IMG Sports Network, which includes doing the pre- and post-game radio shows during home games and serving as the sideline reporter for away games. Former NU quarterback Steve Taylor, also with the Husker IMG Sports Network, will replace Grindle as the sideline reporter for Husker home games.
Schuetz, who’s been a financial advisor since 2010, had no intention of pursuing the public-address job. But when long-time PA voice Patrick Combs was accused of stealing more than $360,000 from two elderly women, Nebraska moved fast to find a replacement.
Schuetz grew up listening to Husker games on radio. Memorial Stadium was a “mythical place.” He still remembers seeing it in person for the first time when he was a 9- or 10-year-old. He was a natural fit to call the action.
“When you grow up in Nebraska, gameday, to just be a small part of that, who wouldn’t want to do that?” Schuetz said.
Schuetz had already started practicing for Saturday. Now he won’t get the chance.
During his broadcasting career, which included being the sports director for KETV in Omaha, Schuetz tried “really hard” to stay out of controversy, he said. He’s an opinionated guy, but he didn’t want to be an opinionated broadcaster.
“One of the lines I frequently use is you don’t always have to voice everything that’s on your mind. That would’ve been good advice for me. Take your own advice. ...
“I don’t want to quote Bo Pelini, but you point the finger at yourself. You have to.”
Schuetz admits that Pelini “didn’t prove worthy of that support” with the way he exited. But back in November, Schuetz didn’t like seeing people lose their job.
Schuetz said he’s always tried to instill in his children that “you stand up for what you believe in and stand by what you say.
“If you make a mistake, own up to it. I’m doing that. Trying to.”
September 1st, 2015 at 8:22 PM ^
That link anchor text just got the entire internet penalized by Google.
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September 1st, 2015 at 8:22 PM ^
HOLY SHIT ITS BLEEDING INTO THE REPLIES!
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September 1st, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^
That is one hell of a link you got there.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
"long-time PA voice Patrick Combs was accused of stealing more than $360,000 from two elderly women"
The article buried the lede!
September 1st, 2015 at 8:31 PM ^
What in the hell Bobby?
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September 1st, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
I may be in the minority, but I love this termination.
People are internet tough guys all the time. If Schuetz truly thought his boss was a "disgrace", he would've either A.) Called him out on it or B.) Refuse to work for said "disgrace"
You are accountable for what you say online, people get fired all the time for running their mouth on social media.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^
Schuetz' comment was directed at the NU chancellor -- Harvey Perlman -- who some believe is on a mission to purge the NU athletic department of all things Tom Osborne.
This action seems comparable to when John U. Bacon lost his press pass.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
Not comparable at all to John U. Bacon. Bacon did investigative journalism on the problems in the AD.
Sure he called Brandon a disgrace, however you are out of your mind if you think Bacon would ever, EVER work for Brandon.
This guy just wanted to run his cocksucker on facebook, but still wanted a job. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:39 PM ^
you called it a cocksucker lol
September 1st, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^
Bacon doesn't work for the AD. This guy is the PA announcer, he does. You can't rip your boss in pubic.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^
To be fair, he got fired because he ripped his boss 9 months before he was hired.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^
I agree. I have eliminated people from consideration after looking at their social media.
Coaches have done the same for recruits. Well mainly the non football and basketball coaches.
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September 1st, 2015 at 9:41 PM ^
Yep, I'm a huge proponent of using people's online postings as a judgement factor for employment. There's a lot to be said for basic decency and respectability. If you are unable to speak decently about people - whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, or real ife - I question how well you would fit in my organization.
That, and there has to be some actual punishment for Internet Tough Guy.
September 1st, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^
I don't know, I am generally respectable to people. But there are a lot of dumb people on the internet, and I don't have a lot of patience for dumb people.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^
100% agree. I do not want that type of person representing the organization especially when it's a public profile job.
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September 1st, 2015 at 10:07 PM ^
'If Schuetz truly thought his boss was a "disgrace", he would've either A.) Called him out on it or B.) Refuse to work for said "disgrace"'
He said he forgot about the post, he probably wrote it while under the influence.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:34 PM ^
Seems fair. Also, dude owned up to it and doesn't blame them for their decision.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:36 PM ^
Maybe a bit petty, but when you publicly call your employer a disgrace, that is usually going to end poorly.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^
Seriously? So anyone who was ever publicly critical of Dave Brandon on social media should be forever barred from being a U-M PA announcer?
September 1st, 2015 at 8:44 PM ^
If someone called Brandon a disgrace while Brandon was still here, it would be pretty understandable if he was fired from his job with UM athletics.
Now, Brandon was a huge disgrace, but the point stands. You just can't do that and expect to keep your job.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:44 PM ^
No, but I bet Brandon won't be hiring them for a very public position.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^
If you aren't smart enough to make your facebook private, maybe you shouldn't be a public figure
Edit: On second thought that's kind of crappy. He posted it before he was hired so I get that he probably had no recollection of posting it.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^
No, more like being critical of Brandon and then expecting to get a job at Toys R Us.
You either think the guy is a disgrace or you don't. But if you do, don't expect to get a job in his organization.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:30 PM ^
Harvey Pearlman is not the AD...he's the freaking chancelor and, yeah, i think that if a new PA announcer had called Mary Sue Coleman a "disgrace" a year or two ago, it would not have gone well for said new Michigan PA announcer, regardless of how much we loathed all things Brandon at the time.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^
That position is doomed - it attracts criminals and freaking idiots apparently.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^
who cares, go blue!
September 1st, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^
The downside of publicizing your opinions via social media is sometimes having it used against you.
Facebook and Twitter are mined extensively by authorities as many folks don't understand the concept of self incriminization.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
You're right. I guess we would have understood if Jim Hackett was unable to forgive Jim Harbaugh for his 2007 public comments.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^
Obviously a great football coach worth millions to the university is going to get more leeway than a PA, but if Harbaugh had said "Jim Hackett is a disgrace" last year, it would have been understandable if Hackett didn't hire him.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
What did JH say at that time that was untrue?
September 1st, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^
The Internet does not forget. Think before posting.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^
said the board in unison.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:59 PM ^
Don't know what you're talking about.
Love,
Ashley Madison
September 1st, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^
On the same page.
Perhaps never post unless it is anonymous.
Ain't life great in this anonymous world?
Who in their right mind would think that you could pursue infidelity without consequences?
Show me the names. I got bridges to sell them.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
I believe Bo Pelini is available.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^
Maybe not pay him for a year. Don't understand why he has to miss any games.
September 1st, 2015 at 8:52 PM ^
I don't agree with the firing. If he is getting fired for publicly voicing his opinion, I am not sure he would received a warm welcome for privately voicing his opinion. This is a public university I believe. He should have the right to voice his opinion.
So, basically he has to shut up if he wants a job there. That sounds like a corporate culture. Not in an university...
September 1st, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^
He did have the right to voice his opinion. He put it out on Facebook. Just because you have the right to voice your opinion doesn't mean there can't be repercussions for said opinion.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:19 PM ^
I understand what you are saying. There is a repercussion, but I don't agree with it.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
He called out his now boss in a public forum. I know if I called out my employer on any form of social media or even a recording I am risking my employment.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:02 PM ^
Why did they hire him in the first place then?
September 1st, 2015 at 10:28 PM ^
Did you not read the guy's post, the AD is a disgrace, he signs people to long term contracts and then fires them months later...
September 1st, 2015 at 9:03 PM ^
...aw fuck it.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^
HEY A HUSKER! Hi Fellow Nebraskan! Go Blue!
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September 2nd, 2015 at 6:44 AM ^
There are quite a few of us on the board.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:48 PM ^
Why are they checking old social media posts right after hiring people? If that stuff is important to them, why not check them beforehand? It's embarrassing, worse PR than just letting those comments surface, if they ever would.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^
Schuetz comes across a lot better than NU from this. His response is all class, and though defensible, their firing seems a bit petty. He wrote it nine freaking months before he had any idea he'd be offered a job by them. Who isn't critical of their school in a fan-like way at times?
This is unfortunate, but I think he proves himself in his exit. I'd rehire after I hear how graciously he's taking it.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
Anyone who fires an otherwise completely good hire because said hire at one point thought the person was a disgrace and said as much is, in my opinion, pretty much what he got called.
It's called letting your oversized ego get in the way of doing the right thing, and that's exactly what got Brandon with his disgraceful "find another team" email.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:55 PM ^
people in leadership hold over people