Mike Osborne article

[LiLBigRed]

i got this from bestofthebigred.net

 

this is from Tom's son, Mike:

 

We witnessed an impressive 17-3 manhandling of the Spartans last night.

The defense was especially good. And the performance came during a time

of immense turmoil in the program. Coaches coaching with no promise of

a job. Players playing with frustration about recent events and

uncertainty about the future. Fans cheering with a mix of uncertainty,

loyalty and guarded hope. Coach Osborne sitting on his couch

complaining about ESPN's camera work. Coach Solich maybe not even

watching his team win its 10th game of the year. Coach Devaney rolling

over in his grave.

 

Some of us were thinking, "I don't really know who the Husker are

anymore - what do we stand for now and what will be be about next

year?" It used to be we helped the other team up off the turf. Actions

were allowed to speak louder than words. Our coaches yanked players out

of the game who got an unsportsmanlike conduct - no matter what the

circumstances. Our coaches voiced loudly their disagreements with

ref's, but never crossed the line. We were happy to point to most

players and coaches as good examples for our kids to emulate. We

grumbled about imperfections in last weeks performance but pulled

together on the field and in the stands to try for perfection again the

next week.

 

Bo Pelini is a good motivator and leader and maybe a bit unrestrained

in his self expression on the field. With time he will undoubtedly mold

himself into the type of coach we will be proud of. In my opinion,

Turner Gill would be that kind of coach right away.

 

A lot of fans are wondering if we can trust Steve Pederson to bring in

someone who will be the kind of coach we can be proud of and one we

will feel safe to have within ear shot of our children. His search

committee of one has a lot of us nervous. The silent majority has made

it known that our coach need not only to be a winner on the field, but

a winner as a person. He is our ambassador to the world, he represents

Nebraska. And we want a man who will lead our young men on a path that

makes them good ambassador's as well.

 

The class our team has historically displayed on and off the field

reflects on all Nebraskan's. It is part of what makes us different and

special.

 

Steve Pederson's not having hired a coach yet makes me think he is

looking to the fallout from the NFL for our next head coach. He hasn't

interviewed Bo Pelini or Turner Gill. My neighbor says his friend, the

owner of Duncan Aviation, says that Spurrier has flown into Lincoln

twice. Jim Rose (the voice of the Huskers) was supposedly heard on a

Kansas radio station as saying Steve Mariucci is going to be the next

head coach, that it is a done deal. Rumors have been a dime a dozen.

One rumor had my dad on the Army search committee and that he had made

coach Solich promise not to fire any of the Nebraska assistants for

five years - neither of which are true. Your best bet is to not believe

anything you hear second hand, and believe very little of what you hear

first hand.

 

Today Steve Spurrier resigned from the Washington Redskins with no

buyout money (he gave up $5 million per year the next 3 years).

Spurrier doesn't strike me as a person to do something that self

sacrificing. He must have another job lined up. Could it be Nebraska?

Could we possibly learn to love the squinty faced, whining, quipping

scratch golfer? I don't know. Maybe he's the kind of guy that you love

when he's on your team and hate when he's on the other team. I am

familiar enough with the Lincoln golf scene to know that if Spurrier

investigated it at all, he would know that it is unsurpassed around the

country. It is one of the secret treasures in Lincoln.

 

Steve Marriucci is less familiar to most Nebraska fans. He comes off as

a nice man, without a hard edge or foul mouth. He put together a

revived 49ers roster that will be a force to reckon with in the years

to come. He is in his first year at Detroit. They finished the season

in grand style by demolishing NFC leading St. Louis in St. Louis. His

assistant Tom Rathman is the former NU fullback from Grand Island. Tom

has indicated an interest in returning to Nebraska. However, Steve is

quoted on the Lions website today as saying the first step for the 2004

Lions season is to get healthy. He notes the players undergoing surgery

in the near term. He doesn't sound like a guy who is planning to leave.

 

The Lincoln Journal Star had some excellent articles on Steve Pederson's personal and professional background. The articles can help you decide if you have confidence in him making this huge decision:

After College, Pederson Had Many Jobs, One Focus

http://www.journalstar.com/corn.php?story_id=108189

 

Pederson a Good Son, Student, Brother and Friend

http://www.journalstar.com/corn.php?story_id=108190

 

The Lincoln Journal Star's Pelini Post Game Article:

http://www.journalstar.com/latest_spt.php?...story_id=110403

 

by Mike Osborne

 

Go Big Red!

[DaveH]

I wish I was the a former coaches son. Then maybe I could get my own article.

 

So the guy screwed up at his first game at head coach, but at least he won the BOWL

game. Which, if you remember, wasn't a sure think in the early 90's under

Osbourne. Some people aren't used to a coach that shows that much emotion says

more than "We played pretty good." in the after game press conference. Although

he seems to have a problem with the "and ummm's" while talking to the press.

 

Lincoln golf scene? hahaha.

 

Rumors, rumors, rumors. I refuse to believe anything about the coaching decision

unless it is from the horses mouth.

 

I have confidence that Steve only wants the best for the program. Afterall, that's his

job.