[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 3 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S190-S192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. TOM OSBORNE

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, this morning I come to the floor to 
recognize a man who has lived the American ideals of integrity, courage 
and, leadership. This man, Mr. President, is Dr.

[[Page S191]]

Tom Osborne, head football coach of the University of Nebraska 
Cornhuskers.
  My good friend and Nebraska colleague, former Governor of the State 
of Nebraska, Senator Bob Kerrey, joins me in this recognition this 
morning.
  I have also informed my good friends and colleague from the State of 
Michigan, where there seems to be some controversy as to which football 
team really was No. 1 at the end of the season, Michigan or Nebraska, 
that I would welcome their support in recognition as well. Quite 
honestly, and seriously, Mr. President, Senators Levin and Abraham have 
asked me to extend to Dr. Osborne their best wishes as well. Of course, 
with the distinguished Presiding Officer being a leader in the Kansas 
State Wildcats' efforts over the last few years, I, too, will add your 
good wishes for Dr. Osborne, and thank you, Mr. President.
  After 25 years as head coach, Tom Osborne has decided to retire and 
devote more of his time to his family and important voluntary 
organizations. Tom Osborne has been a constant in Nebraska sports 
history. In 1955, as a high school student in Hastings, NE, he was 
named the Omaha World Herald's High School Athlete of the Year. He 
continued his success in athletics at Hastings College where he was a 
starter on both the school's football and basketball teams. Once again, 
in 1958, the Omaha World Herald honored him with the College Athlete of 
the Year award.
  After a stint in the National Football League with the San Francisco 
49ers and the Washington Redskins, he landed at the University of 
Nebraska in 1962. Shortly thereafter, he joined the now legendary 
football coach, the late Bob Devaney, and coordinated the offense for 
Nebraska's national championship teams in 1970 and 1971. In 1973 Tom 
took over from the retiring Devaney as head coach of the Nebraska 
Cornhuskers.
  Tom Osborne made lasting impressions on his players and people of 
Nebraska and all of college football. His resume is unprecedented and 
essentially unbelievable--a 25-year record of 255 wins, 49 losses and 3 
ties. Over the past 5 years, his Cornhusker teams posted an NCAA record 
of 60 wins and 3 losses. Coach Osborne led the Huskers to three 
national championships--1994, 1995 and 1997 in which the Huskers shared 
the title, as I mentioned, with the University of Michigan. Tom led the 
Huskers to 13 Big 8/Big 12 Conference titles, 25 straight 9 win seasons 
and 25 straight bowl appearances.
  With all these accomplishments by his teams on the field, it should 
also be noted that, under Coach Osborne, Nebraska had 46 first team 
academic All-Americans and 201 academic all-conference honorees, and 
the graduation rate of Osborne's players leads and has led the Big 8/
Big 12 Conference and is ranked also as one of the highest graduation 
rates in the Nation.
  Tom Osborne loved coaching. It was his life. But he was more. He was 
more than just a coach. If you would ask any of his players, they would 
tell you that he was a father figure, a good friend. Osborne had many 
opportunities to leave college football and coach in the National 
Football League, but he never did. He had many opportunities to leave 
Nebraska, but he never did. He loved the coaching and the teaching 
associated with college football. But probably more than that, he loved 
the opportunity to help his players grow mentally and spiritually and 
become outstanding citizens. As Coach Osborne has said over his 
magnificent career, that in the end is all that counts. When the game 
is over, it is over. But what that young man does with his life at the 
end of his football career is most important; how he contributes to his 
community, to his family and to his nation is most important.
  The Nebraska football program will continue on successfully. There 
will be more national championships and conference titles, but Tom 
Osborne will not be at the helm. We all know that he will not be far 
away, however. When spring football practice starts, we probably will 
not expect to see Coach Osborne on campus. You might locate Coach 
Osborne at a local fishing hole.
  Tom Osborne will be remembered as one of the greatest college 
football coaches ever to stroll up and down the sidelines. His 
contributions to the University of Nebraska and college football will 
never be forgotten. When the reigning national co-champions run on to 
Tom Osborne Field next fall in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, there will 
be something missing. The stoic figure of Tom Osborne will not be 
roaming the field guiding the Cornhuskers to another victory, but his 
inspiration and his legacy will be present.
  Thank you, Tom, for your leadership and your contributions. Thank 
you, most importantly, for your character, for serving as a role model 
for America's young people. You have inspired us all, and you will be 
missed.
  We all wish you well. We wish Nancy and your family much continued 
success, good health, happiness, and a little rest--and good fishing.
  I thank the Chair.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Tom 
Osborne, the recently retired head coach of the Division I-A collegiate 
football co-national champions--my alma mater--the University of 
Nebraska, Lincoln.
  In 1973, Tom Osborne replaced a Nebraska legend, Coach Bob Devaney. 
As those of us who walk the halls of Congress can attest, succeeding a 
legend is no easy task.
  But Coach Osborne immediately proved himself worthy of the job in his 
rookie year with a sweet victory over UCLA. UCLA had ended the Huskers 
32-game winning streak in the beginning of the 1972 season, and the 
significance of this victory was not lost on the coach or the fans. It 
was a fine start to a remarkable 25-year career that until this January 
had included two national championships.
  In this, his final season, Coach Osborne led UNL to a perfect record. 
His well drilled, well disciplined, well-conditioned team played every 
minute, of every quarter, of every game with pride and determination. 
The 13-0 Huskers played with the guts, grit and determination of a 
champion. They were rightfully honored as co-champions, along with an 
impressive University of Michigan squad, after thoroughly whipping the 
third ranked University of Tennessee and their talented quarterback 
Peyton Manning in the Orange Bowl, on January 2nd. A fitting location 
to end his prestigious career and win a piece of a third national 
championship.
  After the game, when asked about the co-championship possibility, 
Coach Osborne used the class and understatement he is famous for in his 
answer: ``We had 13 games on our schedule and we won 13 games.'' Can't 
argue with that!
  Ironic that he would end his career on the same Orange Bowl field 
that saw the germination of his coaching legend. It was on that same 
field in 1984 that Tom Osborne defied convention and risked the 
national championship by forgoing a virtually guaranteed game tying 
extra point and a lock on the national championship, by electing to 
attempt a more risky two-point conversion for an outright win and an 
outright national title. I will spare the details of the failed 
attempt, and say only this: Tom Osborne gained more respect in defeat, 
than many will ever achieve with victory.
  I am sure I speak for Nebraska fans as well as Michigan fans--and 
indeed all college football fans across the nation--when I say I would 
have loved to see the two teams play one more college football game 
this season. As a banner unfurled by a Nebraska fan at the Orange Bowl 
stated ``Anytime. Anywhere.''
  Through his dedication to the University, his staff and his players, 
Coach Osborne has brought pride and joy to our state, our university 
and to all Nebraskans. His unique qualities as a coach and person are 
his unwavering faith and his dedication to the young men who play for 
him. It is fitting he will be remembered for the man he is, as much as 
for his abilities as a coach.
  Keith Jackson, ABC-TV's legendary football announcer recently told 
the Omaha World-Herald, ``He's a better man than he is a coach. His 
coaching speaks for itself. You can look up his numbers in the record 
books. Less obvious is the way he lives. He's a humanist. Tom Osborne 
always felt he could help people.''
  Thank you, Tom Osborne, for all you have given the people of 
Nebraska. I salute you and applaud the 1997 University of Nebraska 
Football Huskers on a job well done.

[[Page S192]]

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may 
proceed for a period of time not to exceed 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator is recognized.

                          ____________________