Selma - say more on this "unique in-state setup" at Nebraska.
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81 covered it pretty good. But there were two other things in addition to that:
1) the walk on program
This began in 1973 (conveniently Obsorne's first year) in response to the NCAA reducing the number of schollies each school could offer. Decent enough players would walk on at Nebraska at their own expense and hope to make the team. There are two problems now with this that weren't so visible before: a) Title IX means they have to do this with women for their sports; b) the cost of college has skyrocketed, meaning that fewer po' farm boys can do it.
2) Prop 48
How big was this?
Basically, the Big 8 permitted Prop 48 players.....the SWC didn't......and when they merged into the Big 12, the way the JR Ewings deep sixed Nebraska was to impose this rule on them. Plus another rule passed: players went from the minimum standard of at least 11 core curriculum courses (with an 800 on the SAT) and a 2.0 to 13 courses and a 2.5 GPA.
In the postgame interview after Nebraska pulverized Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, Osborne said this (with the first year of Big 12 play just eight months away):
"What we're saying is that players who qualified last year [under Prop 48] might wind up in junior college. We don't have a lot of junior colleges in Nebraska, and Texas does."
So what does he do?
He hangs around while he still has that talent accumulated under the old rules for 1996 and 1997 and wins another title.
And then he rides off into the sunset......and so, too, does Nebraska.
I reiterate - a good coach......NOT an all-time great.
