Osborne Has New Mission
9 comments so far
October 17, 2007 by
“We’re getting the band back together” and “We’re on a mission from God” are two phrases that echo through the mind as Tom Osborne signs on as interim Athletic Director. Does NU’s best hope future really lie in its glorious past?
Tom Osborne is the man who recommended Frank Solich and Steve Pederson. How did that work out? Osborne has been out of college athletics for a decade. Joe Gibbs, arguably the greatest head coach of the Super Bowl era (who else could win three Super Bowls with three totally different offensive backfields), made his return to clean up the Redskins both as a coach and administrator after twelve years. How’s that going? The ‘Skins went 6-10 in year one, 10-6 (and 1-1 in the playoffs) in year two, and 5-11 in year three. So far in year four he’s 3-2.
Gibbs admitted in the speech announcing his return that his wife was not in favor of the return. “You idiot, you’ll ruin your good name!” is the exact quote. Similarly, Osborne said his wife Nancy would shoot him if he tried coaching again.
Not every second act is a failure. Dick Vermeil’s return to coaching brought him the Super Bowl trophy that eluded him the first time around. But Vermeil stayed close to football and as a college announcer had scouted much of the college talent which helped him on draft day with the St. Louis Rams. Steve Spurrier has looked good in his return to college football.
Recalling Perlman’s concerns about credibility, no one has more credibility in athletics in the state of Nebraska than Osborne. Osborne equals instant credibility. If he lacks the vision, eye for coaching/administrative talent or energy to really turn things around then the interim label serves the purpose of giving both Dr. Tom and the University a face-saving out. Like Byrne did in tightening the financial belt and Pederson did in building infrastructure for the future, Osborne can serve his purpose and then be replaced. I’m guessing that won’t be the happy day that yesterday was for Nebraskans.
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AustinHusker Oct 17 07
Why not? Why cant Dr Tom come in, instantly gain some credibility to both the University and the football program and then move on. He stated his goal was to work his way out of a job. Dr Tom is not coming back for a second career like the others you mentioned, he enlisted in a second tour of duty because he, like so many of us, is passionate about NU football. His name is made, will always be made, nothing he does in the next two weeks, two months or two years will change that. And I doubt he is around much more than two years at the most. Names like Dave Remington among others are already being discussed. I have no idea if Dave would make a good AD but they will find someone and Dr Tom can ride off into the sunset once again.
We all need a swift kick in the ass every once in a while, maybe BC needs that. He can obviously recruit better than the last guy, he needs to turn it into passion and wins. Some how Dr Tom was able to get the players to play with passion. NU's cupboard is not bare with talent, remember at the beginning of the year we had the best linebacking corp in the big 12 maybe in the nation, no two of them are on the bench.
I have a much brighter outlook on how this plays out, but then I thought we would go 11-1 as well :-).
GO BIG RED!!
Scott Oct 17 07
I think what people need to realize is that this is no quick fix. Things could get a lot worse before they get better.
Yes it seems like a good idea on paper but this has no guarantee of working in our favor. Granted, there is a lot more positive energy in this state now with Pedersen gone but is that enough to save this program? Time will tell. We could limp to the end of the year and it's possible this team may have to start with an entirely new coaching staff which in the first few years may take a little to get used to the change. What if Callahan and Co. get another year to get this right?? And if they do get another year what it it picks up and begins much like this year?
A lot of questions to answer, a lot of problems to sort through. Do these "fans" have the patience?
Darren Oct 17 07
Great take, Steve.
Scott - you are right to point out that things could very much get worse before they get better. Starting over just sucks.
Austin - I think Tom and Bill could be wonderful collaborators if given the chance. That's Pederson's worst legacy, keeping them apart.
Osborne coming in is like having Grandpa babysit for the weekend. You trust him, he passes on the right values, the kids just love him. But, you know he can't go too long with the demands of full time parenting. Osborne's tenure must be a short run transition. Bridge the past and future together *correctly*, and get out with the legacy intact, Tom.
AustinHusker Oct 17 07
Darren, I am sure you get more than your fair share of 'fans' calling for someones head every time we loose. I remember the same thing in the late 70's and early 80's with Dr Tom. But Nebraska Football was not built on wins and losses alone. It was built on dreams of every 10 year old Nebraska boy praying some day he would suit up for the Huskers. Driven by passion. Do you see the passion in this coaching staff? I would say the same thing about the players but one it starts with the coaches and two, I have seen Bo Rudd and his family play football at NU for decades and they have passion. Bo has it, it isn't manifesting itself on the field right now.
The fans have it, hell my 65 year old Mother said it is all her and her friends are talking about, and she went to her first game in 15 years last Saturday. Yes last Saturday. She already asked for tickets next year (I am a season ticket holder). I asked what if they keep playing this bad. She said she still wants them, 'it was amazing seeing the river of red come over that bridge'.
I am sure you know what she is talking about and she didn't leave until the final gun sounded.
We will get there, we have to it is NU football after all.
Keep your head up guys this weekend is an other opportunity to excel.
GO BIG RED
Dave Oct 17 07
2 words...TURNER GILL!!!
He knows the Husker system, he's now had experience as a head coach...team him up with Dr Tom and the Big Red machine will be back...
Callahan has had his chance and has built his own recruiting classes. The system isn't working in Lincoln...let's use what we know works...
TURNER GILL!!! Write your Representatives! :-)
Jason Oct 17 07
Dave, I respect your opinion, but I think it's a bad idea to get too caught up in who should be our new AD (or head coach).
As much as we, as fans, would like to think we have a say in who gets hired, it's not the case. We're not in the tent. We don't get a vote.
So, at this point, getting our hopes up about one candidate or another is just setting ourselves us up for disappointment (and another potential rift in the Husker Nation).
Just get behind the program and cheer like hell on Saturday. Let the healing begin!
AggieCoach.com Oct 18 07
Tom Osborne may have a new mission, but Dennis Franchione has the opposite mission of the Aggie fans: his survival to/through the end of this season. The chant "Fire Dennis Franchione" isn't even necessary anymore. SI rated him the 2nd worst coach for 2007 ... BEFORE the season started! Now our famed "Wrecking Crew" defense has become the "Wrecked Crew" with the 74th total defense and 109th team in sacks ... out of 119 schools! HORRIBLE!
Matthew Mast Oct 18 07
You at Big Red Network do a good job, I enjoy reading your blog and comments, however I think you have swung to far on the pendulum to the defense of Clownahan.
In his 6 years of professional head coaching experience - he has had 3 teams give up on him.
You keep calling for possible defensive coaching changes, but not Clownahan. Do you honestly think next year will be any different than this? Yes, we will probably have a new D-Cordinator, and they will be better. But we will still have a 1st time QB in place. Clownahan gives the starter 90 - 95% of the snaps in practice, so the starter next year will have 0 game experience from this year. Clownahan is 0 - 13 when trailing at half, do you honestly think that stat will suddenly turn around?
I do agree with the fact that we can't become another Alabama. But if we don't do anything, we risk becoming Kansas State or Colorado. Where the fan base is happy with 7, 8, or 9 wins.
The day that Pederson claimed we will not surrender the conference to OU & Texas, is the day that 8 - 4, 9 - 5, 4 - 3 (year to date) just isn't good enough.
Steve Oct 18 07
Matt,
I'm old enough to recall hearing Osborne and McBride ripped to shreds after losses. Fans seem to decide that if you lose (and especially if you lose badly) then the coaches have done everything wrong. If you win (and particularly if you win big) you've done everything right. Seldom is either ever true.
That's what I'm seeing now with Callahan. Nebraska's team was good enough to go 12-2 last year but some breaks (late Nunn fumble versus Texas, Purify fumble and Taylor underthrow versus OU, an interception against Auburn) kept that from happening. I blame the players more than the coaches on those plays. I think Callahan is a fine offensive coach. I've said since we hired him, we were getting a Spurrier. That is a guy so obsessed with offense that he better have good assistants because he ignores defense. I don't think Cosgrove is getting it done and he didn't arrive at NU with a great track record.
I'd love to see Callahan stay long enough to reel in the class of 2008. I want to see Bryce Givens, Blaine Gabbert and Jonas Gray in Lincoln. I don't think that happens if you fire Callahan.
If Gabbert goes to Missouri and lives up to his potential, that's a double whammy as the Huskers might have to face him 4 times. Givens might go to Texas. The whole class is basically done and I really don't want to see another patchwork class (like 2004) due to turnover in the coaches. Let him replace Cosgrove, then give him one more year and with those studs in tow the Huskers will be in good shape for the future whether Callahan stays or not.