Backpacker,
It's a bit more scientific than "stuffing the nose down" after a launch failure and, indeed we make strenuous efforts to ensure that students do not get this as a message.
The words we actually use are "lower the nose to the appropriate recovery attitude". This could be the attitude for normal circuit cruising speed if the launch failure occurs at a height to permit an abbreviated circuit, or it could be the attitude for approach speed if the failure occurs nearer the ground.
Of course if the launch failure occurs just after lift off, stuffing the nose down could literally stuff the nose into the ground. For this reason we demonstrate to students an ultra-low-level launch failure during the training syllabus.
And we train students to have their hand on (not close to) the release during the launch.