[Husker] Going for 2

[Schammel, Wayne P]

>TO also went for 2 against Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl, when he
should have 
>settled for the tie and the National Championship.

>>I don't post here very often, but this statement really bothers me. As
one of the "older" fans (I remember >>when Devaney came to Lincoln),
I've always felt that the decision to go for two against Miami was a
 >>defining moment in Tom's career and a seminal event in Nebraska
football. He could have taken the easy way >>out and gotten the glory
but he wanted to win it on the field, in my opinion, the honorable way.
That was a >>quality rarely seen in the day and even less now. At the
time, I was disappointed that we lost but I don't >>know if I've ever
been prouder to be a Husker. I think it was viewed as a "heroic
decision" by fans around >>the nation and I've heard more than one coach
say he wished he had the guts to make a decision like that. I >>just
don't understand how anyone could say it was a "bad decision".

>>Dave Melvin
>>Columbus, OH


I also am an old fart (Class of 71) and clearly the 84 OB was the most
disappointing loss I ever experienced as a Husker fan.  I had mixed
emotions about Osborne going for 2 that day.  Clearly, it was gutsy and
heroic and many non-Nebraska fans admired his decision.  On the other
hand, I distinctly recall Tom saying afterwards that he did not realize
that going for 1 and settling for the tie (no OT then) would get
Nebraska the MNC.  Everyone assumes he went for two as some sort of
noble thing but I really believe that, if he had known that a tie would
get him the MNC, he would have kicked it instead of going for it.

I liked the call (although my heart was pounding out of my chest at the
time) but hated the disappointing result; he had to wait another 11
years for his first title when I really believe we could have won at
least two national titles in 81, 82 and 83 but ended up with none.

That said, he was a great coach and did a heck of a job in picking the
new coach, in my humble opinion.  It was quick, decisive and, mark my
words, we will be a top 25 team next year without a doubt, maybe even
top 10.

Wayne