The startled captain, who hadn't noticed the plane had slowed too much, responded by repeatedly pulling back on the control yoke, overriding two safety systems, when the correct procedure was to push forward.
This doesn't indicate a lack of recent poling of the aircraft to me, more deficient training back in this pilot's early days. If something whacky happens, what's your first response?
Wouldn't any reasonably well trained pilot check attitude, airspeed and power setting and go from there?
Possibly I'm being too judgemental, but I don't think so.