Sandhusker
Well-known member
LINCOLN — Tom Osborne returned to the NU athletic department Tuesday, charged with uplifting a Husker sports nation down and divided over firings and dismal results on the football field.
"I am very pleased that Tom Osborne has agreed to help bring some leadership and direction to our athletic program," Perlman said in a written statement.
"Tom is committed to making the entire program successful. He brings the right experience, an understanding of Nebraska and our aspirations. I look forward to working with him."
The statement said Osborne, the coach who won three national championships before retiring in 1997, agreed to take the position on an "open-ended arrangement" until Perlman names a full-time successor.
Perlman gave no timetable for his search.
The chancellor also gave no indication of whether Osborne's appointment would affect the status of current Husker coach Bill Callahan or his staff. Perlman was to say more in a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Osborne, 70, who met with Perlman earlier in the day, said he looks forward to the challenge.
"I've spent the majority of my life working with the athletic department at the university and I want to do what I can at this point to continue in the pursuit of excellence that has been previously established," Osborne said.
The Osborne appointment would seem to have been a natural for Perlman.
Osborne, who spent three decades as a coach in Lincoln, obviously is familiar with the department and its functions. His integrity is unquestioned. And he likely would have success raising money for the athletic program, particularly for the $40 million new football complex that now bears his name.
But more than anything that he brings to the table administratively, the former coach gives all Husker fans someone to rally around.
He may be the only figure who can unite a state divided over Pederson's firing of Osborne's coaching successor, the transition to a new regime, on-field disappointments, Pederson's own firing, and questions over what should happen with the current coaching staff.
Osborne has been a fan favorite for the job — many even wanting him to take it on a permanent basis.
Since Osborne's retirement in 1997 at the end of a remarkable 60-3 run that produced three national titles in four years, both Osborne and the football program have had their share of ups and downs.
Osborne, who had retired for health reasons and to spend more time with his family, initially missed the game sorely and on more than one occasion was nearly lured out of retirement by other schools.
He found a new life in politics, elected three times as a Republican congressman from western Nebraska's 3rd District.
But in 2006, he sought to finish off his public career with a run for Nebraska governor. Challenging incumbent Gov. Dave Heineman, he lost in the GOP primary, effectively ending his political career.
He has been a senior lecturer in the UNL College of Business Administration, teaching leadership and business ethics, and worked as a consultant for local college athletic departments.
Over time, Osborne had also become somewhat estranged from the N.U. athletic department. He was particularly embittered with Pederson's November 2003 decision to fire Frank Solich, who in 1997 Osborne had picked as his successor.
The loyal assistant had played for a national title in 2001 but had generally overseen a gradual decline in the powerhouse program Osborne had left him.
Still, Solich's firing, at the conclusion of a 9-3 season, had been seen by many Husker fans as the end of an era. From Osborne predecessor Bob Devaney on to Solich, Nebraska had established a tradition of success built on passion, home-grown talent and a ground-pounding running game.
Pederson's new coach, Callahan cut back on the popular walk-on program Osborne had helped build and installed an offense built primarily on passing. In Callahan's first year, a streak of 35 consecutive bowl appearances came to an end.
After some moderate success in two subsequent years, the Huskers this season are again reeling.
The Huskers are currently 4-3, with back-to-back blowout losses that on Saturday included the biggest setback at home in nearly a half century. That embarrassment may have hastened Pederson's departure— as well as Osborne's return to the athletic department.
"I am very pleased that Tom Osborne has agreed to help bring some leadership and direction to our athletic program," Perlman said in a written statement.
"Tom is committed to making the entire program successful. He brings the right experience, an understanding of Nebraska and our aspirations. I look forward to working with him."
The statement said Osborne, the coach who won three national championships before retiring in 1997, agreed to take the position on an "open-ended arrangement" until Perlman names a full-time successor.
Perlman gave no timetable for his search.
The chancellor also gave no indication of whether Osborne's appointment would affect the status of current Husker coach Bill Callahan or his staff. Perlman was to say more in a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Osborne, 70, who met with Perlman earlier in the day, said he looks forward to the challenge.
"I've spent the majority of my life working with the athletic department at the university and I want to do what I can at this point to continue in the pursuit of excellence that has been previously established," Osborne said.
The Osborne appointment would seem to have been a natural for Perlman.
Osborne, who spent three decades as a coach in Lincoln, obviously is familiar with the department and its functions. His integrity is unquestioned. And he likely would have success raising money for the athletic program, particularly for the $40 million new football complex that now bears his name.
But more than anything that he brings to the table administratively, the former coach gives all Husker fans someone to rally around.
He may be the only figure who can unite a state divided over Pederson's firing of Osborne's coaching successor, the transition to a new regime, on-field disappointments, Pederson's own firing, and questions over what should happen with the current coaching staff.
Osborne has been a fan favorite for the job — many even wanting him to take it on a permanent basis.
Since Osborne's retirement in 1997 at the end of a remarkable 60-3 run that produced three national titles in four years, both Osborne and the football program have had their share of ups and downs.
Osborne, who had retired for health reasons and to spend more time with his family, initially missed the game sorely and on more than one occasion was nearly lured out of retirement by other schools.
He found a new life in politics, elected three times as a Republican congressman from western Nebraska's 3rd District.
But in 2006, he sought to finish off his public career with a run for Nebraska governor. Challenging incumbent Gov. Dave Heineman, he lost in the GOP primary, effectively ending his political career.
He has been a senior lecturer in the UNL College of Business Administration, teaching leadership and business ethics, and worked as a consultant for local college athletic departments.
Over time, Osborne had also become somewhat estranged from the N.U. athletic department. He was particularly embittered with Pederson's November 2003 decision to fire Frank Solich, who in 1997 Osborne had picked as his successor.
The loyal assistant had played for a national title in 2001 but had generally overseen a gradual decline in the powerhouse program Osborne had left him.
Still, Solich's firing, at the conclusion of a 9-3 season, had been seen by many Husker fans as the end of an era. From Osborne predecessor Bob Devaney on to Solich, Nebraska had established a tradition of success built on passion, home-grown talent and a ground-pounding running game.
Pederson's new coach, Callahan cut back on the popular walk-on program Osborne had helped build and installed an offense built primarily on passing. In Callahan's first year, a streak of 35 consecutive bowl appearances came to an end.
After some moderate success in two subsequent years, the Huskers this season are again reeling.
The Huskers are currently 4-3, with back-to-back blowout losses that on Saturday included the biggest setback at home in nearly a half century. That embarrassment may have hastened Pederson's departure— as well as Osborne's return to the athletic department.
