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Osborne's coaching choice wins over several Husker boosters
BY NICK RUBEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Lee Sapp will tell you he's been in car sales for "over 100 years, it seems like."
And the University of Nebraska donor from Omaha knows a couple of things about what people in the state of Nebraska want.
"Red and white cars still sell off the lot the fastest," Sapp said with a chuckle.
Sapp was one of a handful of donors who spoke highly of Sunday's hiring of Bo Pelini as Nebraska's head football coach. Pelini, the former defensive coordinator at LSU, will excite the state, Sapp said.
Many donors said the move had their full support simply because it came from Interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne.
"We loved it," Sapp said. "As long as Tom did it, I think people were going to support it."
Others such as Jim Ebers, an NU supporter from Fremont, echoed those sentiments.
Osborne, he said, is "probably more qualified than all of us put together to make that kind of decision," Ebers said. "I think we all wished it would have happened sooner, but it had to take its course and we understand that."
Sunday's announcement ended a week of speculation focused around Pelini, Buffalo head coach Turner Gill and Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe.
"I wouldn't have been unhappy if he would have chosen someone else," Ebers said. "I'm happy with the hire, but I would have been happy if Turner would have been named, or Grobe. I think we got a good coach hired today."
Dan Cook, another NU donor, said Sunday from a cruise ship in Panama that Pelini will bring a different attitude to Nebraska football.
"He's an energetic, in-your-face type of guy," Cook said. "I think we got the pick of the litter."
As Pelini fielded questions at his first press conference as head Husker, the conversation eventually turned to recruiting. It's an aspect Omaha donor Howard Hawks said is pivotal in a smooth transition.
"Getting (the hire) done and behind us while there's time to have a recruiting class was critical," Hawks said. "Getting a good candidate was also critical. I think it's great, and I'm glad we're moving forward. It should excite the fans, and I would presume it would excite some donors as well."
Ebers pointed to parity in college football as one of the biggest reasons Pelini's enthusiasm should immediately impact Nebraska. Seven of the 10 teams that will play in BCS games will enter with two losses.
"These days, 11-2 is a great year," Ebers said. "I think you see from the way things are going that parity is here. I know you try to tell an average guy in Nebraska that and he won't understand it, but it's the truth.
"You win championships in this day and age with defense, and Bo's definitely a great defensive coach."
BY NICK RUBEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Lee Sapp will tell you he's been in car sales for "over 100 years, it seems like."
And the University of Nebraska donor from Omaha knows a couple of things about what people in the state of Nebraska want.
"Red and white cars still sell off the lot the fastest," Sapp said with a chuckle.
Sapp was one of a handful of donors who spoke highly of Sunday's hiring of Bo Pelini as Nebraska's head football coach. Pelini, the former defensive coordinator at LSU, will excite the state, Sapp said.
Many donors said the move had their full support simply because it came from Interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne.
"We loved it," Sapp said. "As long as Tom did it, I think people were going to support it."
Others such as Jim Ebers, an NU supporter from Fremont, echoed those sentiments.
Osborne, he said, is "probably more qualified than all of us put together to make that kind of decision," Ebers said. "I think we all wished it would have happened sooner, but it had to take its course and we understand that."
Sunday's announcement ended a week of speculation focused around Pelini, Buffalo head coach Turner Gill and Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe.
"I wouldn't have been unhappy if he would have chosen someone else," Ebers said. "I'm happy with the hire, but I would have been happy if Turner would have been named, or Grobe. I think we got a good coach hired today."
Dan Cook, another NU donor, said Sunday from a cruise ship in Panama that Pelini will bring a different attitude to Nebraska football.
"He's an energetic, in-your-face type of guy," Cook said. "I think we got the pick of the litter."
As Pelini fielded questions at his first press conference as head Husker, the conversation eventually turned to recruiting. It's an aspect Omaha donor Howard Hawks said is pivotal in a smooth transition.
"Getting (the hire) done and behind us while there's time to have a recruiting class was critical," Hawks said. "Getting a good candidate was also critical. I think it's great, and I'm glad we're moving forward. It should excite the fans, and I would presume it would excite some donors as well."
Ebers pointed to parity in college football as one of the biggest reasons Pelini's enthusiasm should immediately impact Nebraska. Seven of the 10 teams that will play in BCS games will enter with two losses.
"These days, 11-2 is a great year," Ebers said. "I think you see from the way things are going that parity is here. I know you try to tell an average guy in Nebraska that and he won't understand it, but it's the truth.
"You win championships in this day and age with defense, and Bo's definitely a great defensive coach."
