[Husker] A Different Take on Tom Osborne

[j j]

Actually Jeff I think from what I've read that most agree with you. Most are not looking at TO as the pemenant answer but a short term fix with great benefits. Most of the post I have read around the internet talk of TO being around for 2-4 years and then moving on after grooming the new AD. So I dont think you will anger as many as you think. 




Jeff Volk <jeffv at alphavideo.com> wrote: Greetings,

 

While I am sure that everyone is thoroughly enjoying the mental stroll
down memory lane that they are taking now that T.O. has been hired as
the interim A.D. let me remind everyone that the A.D. title that he now
carries also includes the word interim. 

 

The move by Perlman to hire T.O. on an interim basis is a very prudent
one. In one simple olive branch gesture he has accomplished quite a bit.
The positives of having T.O. in this interim position as I see them
include:

 

1. Instantly placates a vast majority of the Husker Nation and gets
their collective minds off of the current season's debacle.
2. Indicates the first GIANT step in bringing the Husker Nation
back together again.
3. Instantly appeals to 99.9% of boosters and big money donors. 
4. Provides some stability in the Athletic Department and hopefully
stops the departures of long time, quality personnel in the department. 

 

All of these things are absolute positives and I applaud Perlman for the
swift way in which he got this done. 

 

However, I don't believe that T.O., as much as I love the guy, is a
viable answer as the permanent A.D. at Nebraska. A few things to keep in
mind:

 

1. T.O. is in his late-60's. While not as demanding as being the
Head Coach, being the A.D. at a major D1 school requires a lot of long
hours and long days. Is T.O. really up to that kind of grind over the
long term? 
2. Does T.O. have the business acumen to run a modern D1 athletic
department? My first blush answer is probably not. 
3. Would a young coach really want to come to Nebraska and coach in
the shadow of a legend? Again my guess is probably not. 

 

These are some pretty big questions and are the main reason why I am
guessing that T.O. WILL NOT be named the permanent A.D. at Nebraska. 

 

Think of the Athletic Department as a Fortune 500 company. What Nebraska
needs is a new CEO - someone who is younger, determined and aggressive
with a clear cut vision for the future. I see T.O. as having a permanent
position within the athletic department, but more along the lines of the
Chairman of the Board. He will help sell the CEO's vision to the
business partners (corporate sponsors & boosters) as well as the
investors (the fans). Together the CEO and Chairman will make the very
important decision of hiring a new President (head coach) and Sr. Vice
Presidents (assistant coaches). They hopefully will then all right the
ship and get the business back in the black (winning B12 titles and BCS
bowl appearances).

 

Again, I love the hire of T.O. on an interim basis for all the things he
can have an immediate impact on and believe that he has and deserves a
permanent position in the Athletic Department, just not as the permanent
A.D.

 

I am sure this won't be the most popular of views, but if you really
analyze the situation I think this is a pretty reasonable scenario. 

 

Just my .02 cents. 

 

Jeffrey

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