[Husker] 2007 Game plan

[Steve Stone]

Jon wrote:

>Tom Osborne was possibly the greatest game day coach in the history of the
>game if you're counting preparation and practice as part of being a game
>day coach.

Preparation combined with practice is probably more important than 
game-day tactics because much of what takes place on the game lies 
beyond the control or even influence of any coach.

One aspect commonly overlooked is that Osborne and Epply actually 
created the modern practice of weight training for football. It's a 
well-known story with which every HuskerLister is surely familiar. 
That sort of weight training revolutionized college football.

>Osborne did not always have great athletes. He certainly didn't have them
>throughout the 70's and 80's.

If memory serves (and if it doesn't, someone please correct me) seven 
of the '96 Fiesta Bowl starters on the all-time greatest colllege 
team were walk-ons - - Osborne didn't create the walk-on squad 
concept, but he did perfect it. No minor matter, to my way of 
thinking.

>If Osborne would have had the same athletes, say, as those playing 
>at Ohio State, USC, or Alabama, he'd have probably  won about six 
>national titles. In fact, say the same for Oklahoma throughout the 
>Switzer years.

The thing that stands out in my mind is not Osbone's wins or titles 
but the manner in which most of his players, following his example, 
became better students, better persons, and better citizens of their 
communities.

Steve Stone