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Post by coachmacplains on Mar 10, 2006 12:45:40 GMT -6
In some ways it is tougher to be the successor than the guy who gets the ball rolling. When Devaney retired (and I think he's a fair candidate for the list), Osborne inherited a tough situation; if he doesn't win national titles, he's incompetent. And he took a lot of heat in those early years. By 1990 that his system was obsolete and that he must adapt or lose (read, "They don't pass enough"). If one category of being a great coach is perseverance in the face of criticism, then Tom Osborne is right there at the top. And, three national titles is tough to match. For those who think that he could only win because of great athletes like the Fraziers and Roziers (great players to be sure), it should be noted that 9 of the 11 offensive starters on the '97 co-national champions were from the state of Nebraska, a state with the population about the same size as the DFW area. The guy was a great coach.
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needknowledge
Freshmen Member
"1 good blocker is worth 3 ball carriers" Gen. Robert Neyland
Posts: 27
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Post by needknowledge on Mar 10, 2006 13:47:49 GMT -6
Very true about the 1997 team. Only Witchita, Texas native starting left guard Aaron Taylor and center Josh Heskew of Mustang, Oklahoma were non-Nebraskans on the offensive unit. Osborne's leadership style was so amazing because of the great continuity the coaching staff as a whole had. So many 10 year+ guys around.
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