Some called it gutsy. Others called it stupid. For Tom Osborne, it was the right thing to do. Trailing Miami 31-30 in the Orange Bowl, Osborne kept his offense on the field and went for two. Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill looked to Jeff Smith but a Hurricane defender knocked down the pass, ending the 12-0 Cornhuskers’ bid for a national title.
Osborne could have kicked the extra point, and that would have been enough for at least a share of the 1983 national title, if not owning it outright. “I don’t think any of our players would be satisfied backing into it with a PAT,” the coach told reporters. “I don’t think that’s the way to do it.”
For 25 seasons, Osborne coached the Cornhuskers the right way, and for the past five has served as athletic director the right way. His way didn’t get it done in the 1984 Orange Bowl, but it earned the respect of his peers and helped lay the foundation for the title-winning Cornhusker teams of the mid-1990s.
Osborne announced this week that he would step down as AD effective January 1, 2013. “At some point, whether you’re able to function or not, just the perception that you’re getting old can get in the way,” the 75-year-old Osborne said. “I don’t want to be one of those guys everybody is walking around wringing their hands trying to figure out what are we going to do with him?”
His relationship with the University of Nebraska is one of the great marriages in the history of college athletics. Few men are as revered as Osborne on their home turf; even fewer are as respected off it.
Many college football coaches admit they would win however possible, within the rules. We remember Osborne for having the courage to risk everything in order to win a certain way – the right way. That’s not stupid or gutsy, just a reflection of Osborne’s integrity.
— Big Ten Notes —
• Not enough has been made about Michael Mauti’s successful return to the gridiron. Mauti tore his ACL last September (second ACL surgery in three seasons) and missed the rest of the Nittany Lions 2011 campaign. Through four games the linebacker has averaged 10.5 tackles, second most in the Big Ten.
• This weekend will pit the conference’s top offense (Nebraska) against the lowest-ranked unit (Wisconsin). The Badgers have averaged just 312.8 yards per contest, as compared to the Cornhuskers’ 541.8. Nebraska has the top rushing unit and most efficient passer, and also leads the Big Ten in scoring. Revenge could be in store for a Cornhuskers club that lost 48-17 in Madison last year.
• Illinois’ Josh Ferguson is making a case for freshman of the year honors. He has caught 14 passes, gained a combined 272 yards from scrimmage, and returns kicks for the Illini.
— This week’s schedule —
Saturday, Sept. 29
Indiana at Northwestern, 11 a.m.
Penn State at Illinois, 11 a.m.
Minnesota at Iowa, 11 a.m.
Marshall at Purdue, 2:15 p.m.
Ohio State at Michigan State, 2:30 p.m.
Wisconsin at Nebraska, 7 p.m.
**all times CT
— Spotlight —
RB Jordan Hall, Ohio State
With Carlos Hyde’s status still up in the air, the Buckeyes will rely on Hall against the Spartans’ top-ranked run defense this weekend. The Buckeyes cannot put the entire gameplan on QB Braxton Miller (their top rusher) and must find more help on the ground. In Hyde’s absence Hall has gained 192 yards rushing over the past two weeks. But this is a much greater challenge; Michigan State has allowed 2.5 yards per carry this season and just one rushing score.
–– He Said It (quote of the week) —
Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin commenting on his diving first-half touchdown – carrying two defenders on his back – in last week’s win over Temple:
“It’s all those squats (training coaches) were making me do in the summer.”
— Big Ten Mailbag —
Brian from Minnesota: Which quarterback has been the biggest disappointment so far?
Wisconsin’s Danny O’Brien lost his starting job after three starts, so he’s a candidate. But I think most would agree Denard Robinson has not elevated Michigan in the way fans expected he would. Robinson threw six interceptions in the Wolverines’ two losses and was limited as a rusher in those games. He’s the key player for the team many picked to represent the Big Ten in the BCS this year; so far he’s come up short.
Tweet your questions to Mike Beacom @mikebeacom, or email him at [email protected]. Each week one question will be selected for this column. Be sure to include your first name and city/state.
Mike Beacom is the Big Ten football editor for Lindy’s. Follow him on Twitter @mikebeacom