Will the Blue Jackets Support Rick Bowness After Post-Game Tirade?

“If I’m back, I’m changing this culture,” said Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness on Tuesday night. Clearly emotional and unsure if the organization was going to re-up his contract for next season, Bowness didn’t care. All he seemed to care about was how little effort he said the team put forth to end the season, and he wouldn’t tolerate it.

“These guys don’t care,” he added, “Losing is not important enough to them; it doesn’t bother them.” He went on, “How can you go out and play like that? I should have done this about a month ago. This is why we are where we are. This is why we’re out of the playoffs: that kind of effort. You have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Show up and compete.”

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Bowness was embarrassed by the idea that, in their last chance to prove they cared, the Blue Jackets managed only three hits and 23 giveaways. “All you gotta do is look at the stat sheet,” he said. It was a post-game tirade for the ages. He tore into his team for their shameful effort and looked like he was on the verge of tears at times. When he looked around the room for each follow-up question, he would frustratingly say, “What else do you want to know?”

Finally, when asked if he would want to come back and coach the team next season, he said that this season scratched the itch, but he wasn’t sure Don Waddel (President) would ask him back. That’s when he said again, “I don’t know if I’m back, but if I’m back, I’ I’m changing this culture.”

It will be interesting to see who Waddell sides with. Bowness will clearly expect changes, both in attitude and in likely personnel. Waddel will have to decide if he’s on the same page as the coach, or if a new voice needs to be brought in, given how frustrated Bowness is with the team. Perhaps things are too far gone now. Maybe bringing Bowness back is exactly what the team needs.

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