Osborne and other job offers etc

[cb1954]

I know there was a post about this a few days ago, but I'm getting old and slow. The interest in Michigan State from that post was reported at the time. (Also check out the link below) I went through some books that T.O. wrote etc.

 

Here are some coaching possibilities that would have effected Nebraska football a great deal.

 

First of all starting with Bob Devaney - from the book Devaney by Bob Devaney and Friends

 

He says that he was contacted several times for coaching jobs (while at Nebraska) with other colleges but the only one he considered was Miami in 1965 - think about that a second He visited there while NU was preparing for the Orange Bowl vs. Alabama. I would imagine he would have taken all his staff with him including T.O. One of the quotes that was supposedly from him when he turned it down, was that his wife just bought some new snow tires for her car.

 

Devaney also mentions several pro head coaching offers. The one he says he was tempted the most with was the Los Angles Rams, again in 1965 He didn't think he could go to LA and check it out at the time because NU was in Miami preparing for the Orange Bowl and they didn't wait until after it, and hired someone else. He also mentions a couple offers from the Broncos, and talking to the Steelers. Bob says he came close to taking the New England Patriot job right after he retired from Nebraska (1972) Osborne was already going to be the Huskers head coach so it would not of involved him.

 

There was also a petition started after the 1968 season to have Devaney fired, which would have almost certainly meant T.O. and the rest of the staff.

 

As for Osborne.- from the book More Than Winning

 

(Not from this book but Osborne would have been fired had the Huskers not beat Texas Tech in the bowl game after 1976 season.)

 

Interviewed for U South Dakota head coaching job 1968, they hired Joe Salem instead.

 

Offered Augustana College HC, almost took it but turned it down around 1969

 

Applied for Texas Tech HC job after 1969 season, they hired Jim Carlin

 

After the 1978 season went to Colorado thinking he was "reasonably sure" he would be taking the job, but changed his mind.

 

He says there were other contacts over the years (book was published in 1985) one coming from a "southern school" with a fine football program. He says he was contacted by a very wealthy oil man who was an alumnus of the school, but was not interested even though the money would have been double that at NU

 

Tom says the only pro job he was offered that interested in was the Seattle Seahawks, doesn't name the year.

 

Now this next one you will have to trust me on. About 10 years or so ago I exchanged emails with a sports reporter who said there was contact between Minnesota and T.O. before 1992 season. (don't remember which newspaper) You have to remember this is when Bill Byrne came to Nebraska and there was at least some speculation that he might make a head coaching change. Hard to believe now but at the time Tom had taken over a program that had won NC's in 2 of the previous 3 years before he became head coach, and he had not won one in his 19 season at NU, and the Huskers had slipped a bit in 90-91. Minnesota hired Jim Wacker starting with the 92 season so that checks out.

 

Finally there was a rumor that Tom was checking out Houston job after leaving Nebraska but the link below says he was just there as a consultant.

 

CLICK HERE

 

Oh and in Devaneys book he talks about how he Mike Cogran and 2 players ended up over night in jail in Denver, after a game there while he was HC had Wyoming. Imagine that happening today.

[ronsss]

interesting stuff, sort of surprised that devany has some much atttention on being hired by others.......thought it would have been osborn.

[ronsss]

i remember when osborn allmost bolted to colorado during his stormy days at nu... but i believe he did it to calm the crictics at nu.

[zoogs]

Wow, good research! Neat stuff.

 

Almost looks like Osborne was trying to get the heck outta town in the late 60s.

[Blaze1up]

I never understood the close call with Colorado, what was the draw ? The Challenge, I know it wasn't money.

[flatwaterfan]

T.O likes the outdoors and fly fishing. Colorado = fly fishing, Seattle = fly fishing. Just a theory.

[druski_2k5]

Great information, although it's scary to think how things could have turned out, we should just be thankful that it turned out good for us the way things seemed to happen and discussed.

 

Wow, good research! Neat stuff.

 

Almost looks like Osborne was trying to get the heck outta town in the late 60s.

 

The other angle is that you could also say that he was just looking to get a head coaching job as opposed to just getting out of town. Seeing how most coordinators look for head coaching jobs which would be the next step up on the ladder, but I'm sure you know that zoogies.

[cb1954]

Great information, although it's scary to think how things could have turned out, we should just be thankful that it turned out good for us the way things seemed to happen and discussed.

 

Wow, good research! Neat stuff.

 

Almost looks like Osborne was trying to get the heck outta town in the late 60s.

 

The other angle is that you could also say that he was just looking to get a head coaching job as opposed to just getting out of town. Seeing how most coordinators look for head coaching jobs which would be the next step up on the ladder, but I'm sure you know that zoogies.

 

Looking back at the book again, Osborne said he gave himself until he was 35 to get a head coaching job or he would maybe go to teaching full time instead of coaching. He was born in 1937 and Devaney picked him to succeed him in 1972 so he just made it. I believe Devaney talked him out of the Augustana job.

 

As far as going to Colorado in 1978, he said he thought maybe winning 9+ games a year might be appreciated more there than in Nebraska.

 

Younger fans might not realize how different the feelings were for Osborne in the 70s compared to his last 5 years at NU. In his first 6 seasons vs OU he was 1-6 (counting Orange Bowl - the rematch with OU in 78 really got him down) In those 6 seasons he shared 2 Big 8 titles with OU, 1975 - NU lost to OU 35-10 and 78 when the Huskers finally beat the Sooners 17-14 but lost the rematch in the Orange Bowl. NU lost to MIzzu after OU that season , had they won that game they could have played for the NC.

 

All this following Devaney who most Nebraska fans thought was the second coming. Bob had won a NC 2 of the 3 previous seasons and a Big 8 Champ. 3 of the previous 4, when T.O. took over. It was a lot like when Solich followed Osborne. T.O. also mentions fishing as a plus for CU. At the time he would not of had a problem finding Nebraskans who would of been happy to help him move.

[T_O_Bull]

Interviewed for U South Dakota head coaching job 1968, they hired Joe Salem instead.

 

T.O. and the Huskers would meet up with Coach Salem, who had a successful time with USD and had been hired by the University of Minnesota. The 3rd game of the 1983 season UNL traveled to Minneapolis and beat the (not so) Golden Gophers 84 - 13. It would be Salem's last year of coaching as Minnesota won only one game that year. Salem moved back to SD and was General Manager of a liquor distributorship in Sioux Falls until he retired.

T_O_B

[corncraze]

Great work! Some very interesting info!