My short Tom Osborne Story/Encounter

[sCrUmptious!]

What the hells that supposed 2 mean?

Look, I'm not trying to say that TO is a bad guy, in fact I think he's a genuinely good human being. However, I made a docile comment about how people in Nebraska talk about Tom Osborne the same way that people in Denver talk about John Elway, and your homeboy hskrdedhed for whatever reason decided to take that statement as an opportunity to paint Elway as a talented creature of pure evil and Osborne as an infallible bastion of unfaltering integrity.

Well, though he is a good man, he has in fact faltered in terms of integrity on more than one occasion, so I pointed these things out as a rebuttal.

In 1990, after his first stringers had been beat at home by CU, and after his third stringers had been beaten at a neutral site by Georgia Tech, Osborne voted GT #1 in the final coaches poll, and CU #3. Not #2, but #3. This is a fact. Number two could have been defensible, but voting them number three was nothing more than a childish move by an obviously still bitter Osborne. Had Osborne voted CU #1, or even if he had voted them #2, CU would have had a unanimous NC.

As far as Phillips is concerned, one cannot deny that Osborne chose to compromise the integrity of his program in exchange for a better chance at a national championship. This is also a fact. He kept Phillips on the field when he wasn't actively in the court room, when even most SEC coaches would have suspended Lawrence for his egregiously bad decisions and actions.

Like I said before, I think Osborne is a very good man, but just like the rest of us, he's not perfect.

 

[AR Husker Fan]

Okay, guys - enough. sCrUmptious! is right - his comment was fine, and he was attacked for it.

We all love and respect Dr. Tom - but that's no excuse for reading more into things than is intended.

This has been a great thread - some wonderful moments recounted. Let's keep it that way, please.

 

[Licensed to Ill]

I'd have to change my pants if Tom Osborne actually spoke in my general direction.

 

[HUSKER 37]

...In 1990, after his first stringers had been beat at home by CU, and after his third stringers had been beaten at a neutral site by Georgia Tech, Osborne voted GT #1 in the final coaches poll, and CU #3. Not #2, but #3. This is a fact. Number two could have been defensible, but voting them number three was nothing more than a childish move by an obviously still bitter Osborne. Had Osborne voted CU #1, or even if he had voted them #2, CU would have had a unanimous NC.

As far as Phillips is concerned, one cannot deny that Osborne chose to compromise the integrity of his program in exchange for a better chance at a national championship. This is also a fact. He kept Phillips on the field when he wasn't actively in the court room, when even most SEC coaches would have suspended Lawrence for his egregiously bad decisions and actions.

Like I said before, I think Osborne is a very good man, but just like the rest of us, he's not perfect.

1) Third stringers wha?

2) Bitter about what?

3) If he was "bitter", he would've voted them twenty-something.

4) Who'd he vote 2nd? and can you supply a link?

5) Phillips wasn't needed.

 

[huskercj]

I was the manager of a local restaurant from 93-97. Every Friday morning they had FCA meetings there. Everyother Friday TO would attend (except for awaygame weekends). It was pretty cool to start off a Friday feeding TO.

Other notables that were there over the years I remember seeing:

-Brook Berringer (yes, he was as genuine as he seemed)

-Ron Brown

-Turner Gill

-Eric Strickland

-and I believe Clester Johnson was there once.

I'm sure there were others, but those were the ones I remember meeting.

BTW....TO's breakfast of choice EVERYTIME.......Oatmeal plain with dry raisin toast. Everytime!!

 

[HUSKER 37]

Figured I might as well switch it to a PM:

1) Third stringers wha?

2) Bitter about what?

3) If he was "bitter", he would've voted them twenty-something.

4) Who'd he vote 2nd? and can you supply a link?

5) Phillips wasn't needed.

1) The 1990 Nebraska team was significantly depleted for their bowl game against Georgia Tech due to injuries and suspensions.

Still not ringing a bell, although 1990 WAS the year I moved from Lincoln to Phoenix and didn't keep up as much with all things Husker.

2) Bitter about the game his Huskers had played against CU that year. At home in Lincoln, the Huskers were up 12-0 going into the 4th quarter against the Buffs, but Eric Bienemy scored 4 touchdowns in the final quarter to get CU the win 27-12. That's a pretty devastating way to lose a game (and a shot at his first NC, Nebraska was #3 before that contest), especially at home, and something that a lot of people would be pretty bitter about.

After the 6 or 7 "Sooner Magic" games where a 2TD lead was never safe, I don't see Ozzy getting bitter about that game..I do remember watching that one and thinking we'd win if we weren't playing our worst game of the season..CU was good that year, but not a better overall season than GT and I tend to agree with the thought of ranking teams at the end of the season based partly on the whole season, and who I'd think would win in a head to head matchup at the end of the season...If it were me, though..even if it meant we'd lose a few recruiting battles with CU..I'd vote CU just to make our conference look better.

3) Voting them 20something would have been too blatant by anyone's standards, let alone TO's. At the end of the year the two clear title options were CU and GT, voting CU third was a pretty hefty slap in the face in the first place.

4) I believe he voted Miami 2nd, I'm working on a link...

At the end of the season, Miami was probably the best..although Six different teams held the No. 1 spot during the season..Colorado's schedule was tougher, but two of their wins were shrouded in controversy. The Buffaloes mistakenly were allowed five downs to score a last minute touchdown to beat Missouri 33-31. In the Orange Bowl, the Buffs were up 10-9 over Notre Dame late in the fourth when speedster Rocket Ismail took a punt and raced 91 yards for an apparent game-winning TD. Officials, however, called a clip on the play and the TD was disallowed, giving Colorado the win..

 

GT did have a tie, but that 5th down thing really hurt your chances..Seems like there were a few more close ones plus the loss to I forget who, although the only team I remember being that dominant toward the end (with a weaker schedule, though) was Miami. Specially after beating Texas 46-3 in the Cotton and GT beating us 45-21

5) So then why play him?

One last attempt to help him turn his life around.

At the time..I was really against it..(although I was more upset with Christian Peter)...But I've come to realize..Tom values the individual more than the "Program"...

You could argue that it shouldn't be left to him to put the program at risk, but he'd probably do it the same way if he had it to do over again.

Sorry..Switching it back

 

[joekun]

This thread is (mostly) great (take the bickering and TO bashing elsewhere, I don't care who started it just stop)! Love reading all the stories from those who have had the privilege.

 

[MCAT800]

I attended one of the Big Red Camps back in the early 90's and on the last day we played a game on the field and I was standing on the sidelines and he just came up to me and started talking to me.

He must of thought I was retarded because I didn't acknowledge anything he said, I just stood there like Ralphie in the Christmas Story trying to talk to Santa but nothing would come out :bang

Flash forward about 15 years and I was back home in SD and went to a republican fundraiser with my parents and TO was there. I had him sign my new copy of the media guide and I was still about as smooth as before :bang

 

[admo]

I know what you meant sCrUmptious. You can relate. So hang in there.

Keep this thread going fellas, this is really positive and enjoyable to read.

 

[Spiderman]

a few years ago at the celebration of the 1995 team he was very very late, but he was gracious to stop and sign a piece of husker memorabilia I have. He was very polite, and you could tell that he didn't want to just ignore anyone....but he had to get up to the game, as it was about to start.

 

[T_O_Bull]

:bonez :hellloooo :hellloooo :bonez

I've been lucky enough to meet Tommie Frazier on several occasions. The last time he was at a fund raiser with Boyd Epley. I had my picture taken with Tommie at a golf course I was running and at the fund raiser he signed the picture. Seemed like a very nice man.

...T_O_B

:bonez :hellloooo :hellloooo :bonez