BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN — Nebraska turned the page on a season of athletics last week, an annual happening for fiscal and academic purposes as the calendar flips to July.
But for several sports at the school, the page turned long ago — like the day after their final game, match or meet.
A handful of traditionally strong NU programs endured difficult seasons in 2007-08, contributing to the Huskers' lowest point total ever in the Big 12 Conference composite standings, compiled by The World-Herald.
Nebraska finished fourth with 131 points, behind Texas (178), which placed first for the seventh consecutive year, Texas A&M (175) and Oklahoma (135). A&M won a league-high nine championships, followed by UT with seven. The Huskers won only one crown — in volleyball, sharing that with Texas — to match an NU low in the 12-year Big 12 era.
Tom Osborne, though, is not alarmed.
The first-year athletic director said he's pleased with the state of Nebraska athletics. Since his hiring last fall, the legendary former football coach has studied the condition of 24 sports at the school.
Osborne invited all athletic staffers to his North Stadium office for meetings, often in groups of five to 10. NU crafted a new mission statement, Osborne said, focusing it on the welfare of student athletes.
"My assessment of how well we're doing would maybe not translate into wins and losses as much as if we are competitive," Osborne said. "Do our teams play hard? Are we well organized, well coached? Are the coaches working hard and are the student athletes better off for having been here?"
The 71-year-old athletic director appears connected with his entire department and not just football, undeniably the financial engine behind the regular success of non-revenue sports.
Osborne recites with ease the accomplishments in the past year of Nebraska volleyball, which won its 10th Big 12 title in 12 years, men's track and field, wrestling and baseball.
He also noted the success of the women's basketball team, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and the progress of men's basketball.
"Football, we're hoping will be better," Osborne said.
The turmoil of a 5-7 football season, of course, led to the firing of coach Bill Callahan and indirectly to Steve Pederson's exit as athletic director. NU earned just three points in the composite standings for its 2-6 Big 12 finish, tied for 10th place.
Football struggles have not impacted other sports, Osborne said. Inevitably, though, Nebraska needs improvement on the gridiron to fund its department.
"Naturally we want to be prudent and cost effective," Osborne said, "but by the same token, we're full bore."
Like predecessors Pederson and Bill Byrne, Osborne said he wants Nebraska to contend for championships in every sport.
"My feeling is if we're going to have the sport, we're going to give you the facilities and the resources to be competitive at the Big 12 and national level," Osborne said.
"We feel we're investing adequately in every sport. I don't think there's any sport here where you'd say, 'Well, that's not a priority.' It's not going to be perfect every year. That's the nature of athletics. But I think it's possible to have competitive programs in every one of them."
Big 12 standings
Texas
178
Texas A&M
175
Oklahoma
135
Nebraska
131
Oklahoma State
126
Missouri
122
Kansas
105
Texas Tech
103
Baylor
94
Iowa State
88
Coloradao
70
Kansas State
69
Guidelines: Points are based on conference finish: 12 for first, 11 for second and so on.
Regular-season standings are used for football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and tennis. Postseason-meet scoring is used for wrestling, cross country, track and field (indoor and outdoor combined), swimming, women's gymnastics and golf. Schools without representation in a sport receive zero points.
Five bonus points are awarded to the following postseason champions: Oklahoma football, Kansas men's basketball, Texas baseball, Texas soccer, Texas A&M women's basketball and Texas A&M softball.
