Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
PRIMARY DEFEAT CAN’T KEEP NEBRASKA LEGEND TOM OSBORNE DOWN
Tom Osborne.
Probably no other name resonates throughout the state of Nebraska quite like his.
That’s because for 25 years, the man known affectionately as “Dr. Tom” spent Saturdays building the University of Nebraska into a football power while at the same time turning Nebraska into a football-obsessed state. Husker fans know the statistics – three national championships, 13 conference championships, a .836 winning percentage plus a whole bunch of other records and awards. After retiring from coaching in 1997, he parlayed his triumphs on the gridiron into a successful political career, representing Nebraska in Washington as a member of Congress for six years starting in 2001.
But when Osborne set his sights on becoming governor of his beloved native state last year – strangely, oddly and incredibly, all of the time he spent working for Nebraska wasn’t enough to get him in to office. He didn’t even make it on to the final ballot. In the May primary, incumbent Dave Heineman won the Republican party’s bid, taking 49 percent of the vote to Osborne’s 45.
To many, the results were surprising. How could a legend like Osborne, the man who earned his reputation by leading the Huskers – the one thing that seems to mean everything – lose anything in this state?
When faced with this question, it’s obvious that Osborne counts himself among the surprised.
“It was disappointing because it indicated that people didn’t have confidence that I could do the job,” he said. “I hoped that they had seen over the course of 25 years enough things that would lead you to believe that I could perform effectively.
“But, having said that, I felt that I articulated what I thought was important, and I gave people a choice, a chance. And they decided to go another direction. So you don’t spend any time worrying about the past. You say, ‘OK, that’s a closed door now. Where do we go from here?’”
It’s not like losing a football game, either, although it would seem obvious to draw the “we’ll get ‘em next year” parallel. Osborne is 70 years old, and when he says that it’s a closed door, he means it.
But that doesn’t mean Osborne is calling it a day. He’s just going back to what he does best, coaching – albeit in a different sense: Osborne is spending this spring teaching a leadership class for UNL’s College of Business Administration.
“I always thought that coaching was essentially teaching, and vice versa,” he said.
Except this time, he’s coaching inside a classroom and there aren’t any national championships on the line.
But after sitting through just one of his classes, it’s obvious Osborne still believes there’s plenty at stake.
It’s the last day of class before spring break, and today Osborne begins class by handing back midterm tests his students took two days earlier.
“I thought the test was a little more difficult for you all than I thought it’d be,” he starts off, “but such is life.”
And such is Osborne’s demeanor, which hasn’t changed much since his coaching days – he’s still stoic and somewhat soft spoken. In fact, today he sounds downright apologetic that he had to hand out so many C’s and D’s. He even expresses concern that he did something wrong when making the test and solicits advice for his next go around.
But these are the things that Osborne says he has always worried about, because his satisfaction comes from seeing others succeed.
Therefore, this leadership course seems to be the perfect platform for the ever-idealistic Osborne to continue directing, to continue influencing, all the while stressing the importance of values and character on youth.
“I’ve been really pleased with the college of business because they are really attempting to emphasize ethics, character issues and values,” he said. Of course, Osborne himself has been challenged on his own ethics before, accused of putting winning ahead of everything, particularly in 1995 when he controversially kept star running back Lawrence Phillips on the team despite an assault charge.
But that all seems like ancient history today. The 40 or 50 students in class aren’t necessarily star struck by the coach, but it’s obvious they grant Osborne more respect and attention than they’d give the TA down the hall.
One by one Osborne goes through the questions, and the concept of the course becomes clear through the subsequent answers: “Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal”… “The three major skills needed by a leader are technical, human and conceptual”… “Transformational leadership is more effective than transactional leadership.”
Yes, he takes time to delve into the finer points of leadership skills, but one major theme seems to come across louder than any other.
“Character. It’s about teaching character and how to go about doing the right thing,” Osborne said after class. “It’s kind of like Warren Buffett says; he looks for three things in a leader: intelligence, energy and character. If you have the first two and not the third, it can get you in all kinds of trouble.”
Another thing also becomes certainly clear as Osborne continues his lecture – the man misses football. When asked about what part of his professional life he’s most proud of, Osborne is quick to point to “the relationships he built with players.” He also can’t help himself from backing up most of his points about leadership with an example from his days on the sideline.
When lecturing his class about prioritizing goals and career choices, he recalls a scary double bypass operation he had to undergo in 1985. It was scary for Husker Nation, anyway; Osborne now considers the surgery a blessing.
“I was so busy (with football) running me in so many directions,” he told the class, noting an overkill of booster-related functions and driving to record a coach’s show in Omaha as things that unnecessarily added to his stress level.
“I had to start cutting out things that didn’t have to with my actual performance or that I wasn’t excited about. Those are choices you all are going to be faced with, too.”
It’s these little things that Osborne can sprinkle in from his life experience – one that was so full of pressure for so long – that makes his class special. But neat stories aside, Osborne continues to pound home his concerns while pulling quotes from a variety of historical figures, ranging from Aristotle to John Gardner (writer of “On Leadership”). Next topic: the direction of America’s value system and what our culture considers the measure of success.
“For the first 150 years of this country, success was measured by your character,” he tells the class. “But about 50 or 60 years ago, there was a switch, and success has become measured by money and power.
“Donald Trump is considered successful today, but maybe not so much 50 or 60 years ago.”
Several of the students nod in agreement. At this moment anyway, “The Apprentice” seems to be lost on them.
Before he dismisses class, Osborne informs the students that the midterm will account for only 25 percent of their grade. A paper and the final test will account for another 50. And, not surprisingly, the final 25 will be surmised from attendance, a very high amount compared to most college courses.
“This is where you can get well or really get hurt,” he tells them. After class, he worries that some of his pupils left feeling discouraged. “You just saw the best and worst of it – I don’t really like to give exams. Hopefully I was able to soften the blow a little bit and they can see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
UNL’s College of Business Administration announced that Osborne would be teaching this semester last November, six months after the primary and just before spring registration. A handful of students were lucky enough to take advantage of Osborne’s return to campus, but the class filled up immediately.
Osborne said he never really thought about taking a permanent vacation after he lost the primary. In fact, he also keeps busy by team teaching another class with College of Business Administration dean Cynthia Milligan in addition to duties at Creighton University, where he works with athletes and coaches on a weekly basis. Osborne has also stayed involved with his TeamMates mentoring program as well as being involved with a new venture capital concept aimed at keeping college graduates in the Midwest after graduation.
“As I read the scripture, I don’t see a whole lot about retirement,” Osborne said. “And I guess that’s just the way I’m put together. As long as you have the energy and the health, and you’re able to make a contribution, you ought to do it in some way.”
For as long as he can, Osborne’s intention is to make his contribution to America’s youth. Today, it was teaching. Tomorrow, who knows?
“I wish there was a way I could see what they’ll really end up getting out of it,” Osborne said, long after his class was finished. Finally, he shared one more ironic thought, at least coming from a man who spent his professional life worrying about votes – either for the Top 25 or the congressional ballot box.
“I’m just not so concerned about answers on a piece of paper.”
Osborne in the NFL
Three national championships. Thirteen conference championships. Two hundred fifty-five wins. But Husker football fans already know all of Tom Osborne’s numbers as a coach.
What about Osborne the player? Not a whole lot is common knowledge concerning Osborne’s NFL career, except that he played four seasons as a wide receiver with San Francisco and Washington. He was selected in the 19th Round of the 1959 NFL Draft after playing for Hastings College in Hastings, Neb.
Here are Dr. Tom’s numbers from the two years in which he recorded statistics:
1960: In 10 games with the Redskins, Osborne caught 7 passes for 46 yards and 0 touchdowns.
1961: In 14 games with the Redskins, Osborne caught 22 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.
Osborne did share this story about his first training camp in the NFL during an interview with Husker “super fan” Web site Huskerpedia.com:
“The odds were pretty slim that you were going to stick around. I remember the first day I was there I went in to see the head coach, Red Hickey, and Red asked me which position I wanted to play. I told him I was a quarterback in my college days and that’s what I wanted to play. He said, ‘Well, we have two quarterbacks here. We have (NFL legends) John Brodie and Y.A. Title and we’re only going to keep two. If you think you can beat one of them out you’re sure welcome to try’… I told them I thought I could be a wide receiver.”
Osborne also mentioned that his salary was $6,500 a year with San Francisco in 1959 and $8,500 during his years with Washington.
Tom Osborne.
Probably no other name resonates throughout the state of Nebraska quite like his.
That’s because for 25 years, the man known affectionately as “Dr. Tom” spent Saturdays building the University of Nebraska into a football power while at the same time turning Nebraska into a football-obsessed state. Husker fans know the statistics – three national championships, 13 conference championships, a .836 winning percentage plus a whole bunch of other records and awards. After retiring from coaching in 1997, he parlayed his triumphs on the gridiron into a successful political career, representing Nebraska in Washington as a member of Congress for six years starting in 2001.
But when Osborne set his sights on becoming governor of his beloved native state last year – strangely, oddly and incredibly, all of the time he spent working for Nebraska wasn’t enough to get him in to office. He didn’t even make it on to the final ballot. In the May primary, incumbent Dave Heineman won the Republican party’s bid, taking 49 percent of the vote to Osborne’s 45.
To many, the results were surprising. How could a legend like Osborne, the man who earned his reputation by leading the Huskers – the one thing that seems to mean everything – lose anything in this state?
When faced with this question, it’s obvious that Osborne counts himself among the surprised.
“It was disappointing because it indicated that people didn’t have confidence that I could do the job,” he said. “I hoped that they had seen over the course of 25 years enough things that would lead you to believe that I could perform effectively.
“But, having said that, I felt that I articulated what I thought was important, and I gave people a choice, a chance. And they decided to go another direction. So you don’t spend any time worrying about the past. You say, ‘OK, that’s a closed door now. Where do we go from here?’”
It’s not like losing a football game, either, although it would seem obvious to draw the “we’ll get ‘em next year” parallel. Osborne is 70 years old, and when he says that it’s a closed door, he means it.
But that doesn’t mean Osborne is calling it a day. He’s just going back to what he does best, coaching – albeit in a different sense: Osborne is spending this spring teaching a leadership class for UNL’s College of Business Administration.
“I always thought that coaching was essentially teaching, and vice versa,” he said.
Except this time, he’s coaching inside a classroom and there aren’t any national championships on the line.
But after sitting through just one of his classes, it’s obvious Osborne still believes there’s plenty at stake.
It’s the last day of class before spring break, and today Osborne begins class by handing back midterm tests his students took two days earlier.
“I thought the test was a little more difficult for you all than I thought it’d be,” he starts off, “but such is life.”
And such is Osborne’s demeanor, which hasn’t changed much since his coaching days – he’s still stoic and somewhat soft spoken. In fact, today he sounds downright apologetic that he had to hand out so many C’s and D’s. He even expresses concern that he did something wrong when making the test and solicits advice for his next go around.
But these are the things that Osborne says he has always worried about, because his satisfaction comes from seeing others succeed.
Therefore, this leadership course seems to be the perfect platform for the ever-idealistic Osborne to continue directing, to continue influencing, all the while stressing the importance of values and character on youth.
“I’ve been really pleased with the college of business because they are really attempting to emphasize ethics, character issues and values,” he said. Of course, Osborne himself has been challenged on his own ethics before, accused of putting winning ahead of everything, particularly in 1995 when he controversially kept star running back Lawrence Phillips on the team despite an assault charge.
But that all seems like ancient history today. The 40 or 50 students in class aren’t necessarily star struck by the coach, but it’s obvious they grant Osborne more respect and attention than they’d give the TA down the hall.
One by one Osborne goes through the questions, and the concept of the course becomes clear through the subsequent answers: “Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal”… “The three major skills needed by a leader are technical, human and conceptual”… “Transformational leadership is more effective than transactional leadership.”
Yes, he takes time to delve into the finer points of leadership skills, but one major theme seems to come across louder than any other.
“Character. It’s about teaching character and how to go about doing the right thing,” Osborne said after class. “It’s kind of like Warren Buffett says; he looks for three things in a leader: intelligence, energy and character. If you have the first two and not the third, it can get you in all kinds of trouble.”
Another thing also becomes certainly clear as Osborne continues his lecture – the man misses football. When asked about what part of his professional life he’s most proud of, Osborne is quick to point to “the relationships he built with players.” He also can’t help himself from backing up most of his points about leadership with an example from his days on the sideline.
When lecturing his class about prioritizing goals and career choices, he recalls a scary double bypass operation he had to undergo in 1985. It was scary for Husker Nation, anyway; Osborne now considers the surgery a blessing.
“I was so busy (with football) running me in so many directions,” he told the class, noting an overkill of booster-related functions and driving to record a coach’s show in Omaha as things that unnecessarily added to his stress level.
“I had to start cutting out things that didn’t have to with my actual performance or that I wasn’t excited about. Those are choices you all are going to be faced with, too.”
It’s these little things that Osborne can sprinkle in from his life experience – one that was so full of pressure for so long – that makes his class special. But neat stories aside, Osborne continues to pound home his concerns while pulling quotes from a variety of historical figures, ranging from Aristotle to John Gardner (writer of “On Leadership”). Next topic: the direction of America’s value system and what our culture considers the measure of success.
“For the first 150 years of this country, success was measured by your character,” he tells the class. “But about 50 or 60 years ago, there was a switch, and success has become measured by money and power.
“Donald Trump is considered successful today, but maybe not so much 50 or 60 years ago.”
Several of the students nod in agreement. At this moment anyway, “The Apprentice” seems to be lost on them.
Before he dismisses class, Osborne informs the students that the midterm will account for only 25 percent of their grade. A paper and the final test will account for another 50. And, not surprisingly, the final 25 will be surmised from attendance, a very high amount compared to most college courses.
“This is where you can get well or really get hurt,” he tells them. After class, he worries that some of his pupils left feeling discouraged. “You just saw the best and worst of it – I don’t really like to give exams. Hopefully I was able to soften the blow a little bit and they can see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
UNL’s College of Business Administration announced that Osborne would be teaching this semester last November, six months after the primary and just before spring registration. A handful of students were lucky enough to take advantage of Osborne’s return to campus, but the class filled up immediately.
Osborne said he never really thought about taking a permanent vacation after he lost the primary. In fact, he also keeps busy by team teaching another class with College of Business Administration dean Cynthia Milligan in addition to duties at Creighton University, where he works with athletes and coaches on a weekly basis. Osborne has also stayed involved with his TeamMates mentoring program as well as being involved with a new venture capital concept aimed at keeping college graduates in the Midwest after graduation.
“As I read the scripture, I don’t see a whole lot about retirement,” Osborne said. “And I guess that’s just the way I’m put together. As long as you have the energy and the health, and you’re able to make a contribution, you ought to do it in some way.”
For as long as he can, Osborne’s intention is to make his contribution to America’s youth. Today, it was teaching. Tomorrow, who knows?
“I wish there was a way I could see what they’ll really end up getting out of it,” Osborne said, long after his class was finished. Finally, he shared one more ironic thought, at least coming from a man who spent his professional life worrying about votes – either for the Top 25 or the congressional ballot box.
“I’m just not so concerned about answers on a piece of paper.”
Osborne in the NFL
Three national championships. Thirteen conference championships. Two hundred fifty-five wins. But Husker football fans already know all of Tom Osborne’s numbers as a coach.
What about Osborne the player? Not a whole lot is common knowledge concerning Osborne’s NFL career, except that he played four seasons as a wide receiver with San Francisco and Washington. He was selected in the 19th Round of the 1959 NFL Draft after playing for Hastings College in Hastings, Neb.
Here are Dr. Tom’s numbers from the two years in which he recorded statistics:
1960: In 10 games with the Redskins, Osborne caught 7 passes for 46 yards and 0 touchdowns.
1961: In 14 games with the Redskins, Osborne caught 22 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.
Osborne did share this story about his first training camp in the NFL during an interview with Husker “super fan” Web site Huskerpedia.com:
“The odds were pretty slim that you were going to stick around. I remember the first day I was there I went in to see the head coach, Red Hickey, and Red asked me which position I wanted to play. I told him I was a quarterback in my college days and that’s what I wanted to play. He said, ‘Well, we have two quarterbacks here. We have (NFL legends) John Brodie and Y.A. Title and we’re only going to keep two. If you think you can beat one of them out you’re sure welcome to try’… I told them I thought I could be a wide receiver.”
Osborne also mentioned that his salary was $6,500 a year with San Francisco in 1959 and $8,500 during his years with Washington.