[Husker] Osborne a whisker away from Michigan State

[Steve Reichenbach]

In wondering why TO might have considered going elsewhere in the
early 1990s, consider:

TO was subject to intense criticism in public from fans who believed
his offense was behind the times and boring and that he was unable to
win big games (against Switzer, in bowl games, etc.).

Sports Illustrated ran an article explaining why NU was in the
middle of a slide to mediocrity, including the scholarship limits.

The Daily Nebraskan ran an editorial that Osborne should step down,
concluding that people were tired of 9 win and 10 seasons with 2 or
3 losses and wanted a coach who could win a national title.

In fact, NU wasn't a top-ten program in those years.  NU finished
10th in 1988, but did not finish in the the top ten during the next
four seasons.  Looking back further, for 20 years under TO, NU lost
at least 2 games every year except when Gill was the QB.  For many
NU fans, Osborne just wasn't good enough.

That would be some incentive to look for a place where such a level
of success would be celebrated.


> Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 21:56:11 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Duane Feldman <dlfeldman at ameritech.net>
> Subject: Re: [Husker] Osborne a whisker away from Michigan State
> To: Mike Jaixen <mikejaixen at yahoo.com>, List Husker <husker at tssi.com>
> 
> My recollections are definitely different than the acticle account.  For one, we played FSU after the '93 season, not '94 as advertised.  Didn't Kevin Steele leave before the '93 season?  IIRC, Tony Samuel was the '93 LB coach, not Steele.
>  
> My best guess here is that MSU approached TO at some point during that period.  Rather than say "No" as a direct response, he said he would think about it.  He may even have talked with his wife and his staff before rejecting the offer.  So the elements are there, but I doubt there were serious consideration for the position.  The money may have been a marginal improvement, but even then, his total compensation approached the offer being made.  Furthermore, why would TO consider a turnaround situation over a consistent top ten program?  The AD position offer sounds hokey to me.  Again IIRC, TO had the option of the AD position, but didn't want it.
> 
> Personally, I think the author is trying to put more credibility into this situation than was real.
>  
> Duane Feldman (aka Mr. Husker)
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Mike Jaixen <mikejaixen at yahoo.com>
> To: Rod Wellman <gobigred66 at mac.com>; husker at tssi.com
> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 2:03:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [Husker] Osborne a whisker away from Michigan State
> 
> 
> I had heard part of this story, but I thought it came
> up after Osborne retired.  I know that Osborne also
> debated about the Houston head coaching job a couple
> of years after retiring.
> 
> --- Rod Wellman <gobigred66 at mac.com> wrote:
> 
> > I had not heard this story before.  All I can say,
> > is:  wow.
> > 
> >
> http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060824/
> > 
> > SPORTS0202/608240312/1132
> > 
> 
> 
> Mike Jaixen
> Blog: http://huskermike.blogspot.com
> 
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