[Husker] A Bob Devaney Story

[Gary Fead]

Greetings:

Since someone mentioned Bob Devaney I have a story....which I've hardly ever talked about (especially in public until now) honest to God I'll never forget this either....

Back in 1993 when the University was getting ready to transition from Coach Devaney to Bill Byrne as the A.D. I commented to someone (and it may have been in print I don't recall now) that it perhaps was time to make the change and bring in someone from outside the program and that Coach Devaney could step into the background gracefully and always be welcome in the Athletic Department. You'll recall that there was quite a split over who should be the A.D. after Devaney, some wanted Al Papik, while others wanted a national search for an outsider and a younger person as well.

Well much to my surprise and actual dismay one day the phone rang in my office and much to my surprise it was none other than Bob Devaney himself. To say he was upset with me for supporting an outsider (in this case Bill Byrne, who I honestly think was a terrific A.D.) would be the understatement of the year. I was first shocked that he called me and second stunned by the verbal tongue lashing I received. I had obviously upset the Irishman and he cussed me out big time for my comments supoprting Bill over Al Papik. 

After the call was over I probably sat in my office for 20 or so minutes in stunned silence trying to figure out what had just happened and why I deserved to be on the receiving end of Coach Devaney's wrath. I never did totally figure it out. Now for those of you who don't know me that well I was heavily involved in the media in Omaha at that time and was also doing some part time work on the Big Eight's syndicated basketball television package, so I became fairly well known around the Athletic Deparment. So I'm guessing that my comments along with being around the campus so much is what landed me on his bad side in that situation.

Oh well -

Gary Fead
Omaha