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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1989)
Keteyians’s book adds to Osborne’s colorful career It was noon Saturday in the South Stadium Lounge, and Nebraska foot ball coach Tom Osborne was ready to meet the press. Today’s topic: Armen Keteyian’s “Big Red Confidential: Inside Ne braska Football,” the long-awaited “exposfc ”on the Comhusker pro gram. Osborne had taken his usual press conference place at the table in the comer of the red-carpeted room. The portraits of past Nebraska All-Amer ica selections hung on the wall, their faces staring out at the press, emo tionlessly, as if they, too, were hang ing on T.O.’s every word. It was show time. The state’s press corps was about to hear Osborne’s first comments on Keteyian’s work. As soon as Osborne sat down, he spoke. Members of the media were stunned. Mouths opened wide, blank stares were issued and the room fell quiet enough to hear a pin drop. The comment was unexpected. “Personally, I’m pleased with the book,” he said. “I know that sounds strange ...” What?! ror years, Nebraskans have felt 1 was predictable, unimaginative and unemotional,” Osborne explained. ‘‘And here’s this big-time reporter from New York City who says I’m mysterious and a man of conflicting emotions. ‘‘So maybe now, Nebraskans will sit up and take notice that they really have a devious person down here.” When the laughter died down, Osborne went on to say how he really fell about the book. It was unusual to see Osborne so lighthearted "nd loose while discuss ing the book ai.u its author, especially since the publication is a potentially rich source for NCAA investigations, distraction for players and coaches alike, and decreased respect for the Husker program among college foot ball fans all around the country. But Osborne wasn’t thinking about any of that. If he was, he wasn't showing it. The book is yet another gruelling chapter in Osborne’s career, which has been laced not only with Big Eight championships, winning sea sons, bowl games, Kickoff Classics and top-10 rankings, but also with adversity, criticism, finger-pointing and second-guessing. And, at one point, a desire to pack it up and take his coaching expertise elsewhere. It was a umc some Husker tans don’t remember and most would like to forget. It was 1978. Nebraska had just knocked off No. 1-ranked Oklahoma -- a team Osborne had failed to beat in five previous tries - and was headed to the Orange Bowl. All the Huskcrs had to do was beat Missouri, a team four other Big Eight teams had defeated earlier in the season. Final score: Missouri 35, Nebraska 31. Many were saying it was Missouri 35, Osborne 31. Even the Orange Bowl was uncon vinced of Nebraska’s strength. On that cloudy, bitter November eve ning, after Osborne had tried to tell the media just what went wrong against the Tigers, he received the official invitation from the Orange Bowl committee. The Huskcrs were to play Okla homa in a rematch. Osborne sat silently, shaking his head and smiling at nothing in par ticular. Once again, he had gotten the short end of the stick. After the Orange Bowl rematch, which Nebraska lost, Osborne began talking to officials from Colorado. It seemed evident to Husker fans that they may lose their leader. Osborne decided to stay, and fans across the state sighed in relief. Since then, however, Osborne seemingly has been taken for granted. Winning seasons don’t nec essarily add up to national champion ships, or even conference champion ships, and the losses are the games everyone seems to remember. But somehow, Osborne keeps going. Through the 1970s, when Oklahoma was seemingly unstop pable; into the 1980s, with a new quarterback named Turner Gill, a wingback named Irving Fryar and tales of a junior college transfer named Mike Rozier. Into the era after the “Scoring Explosion” team of 1983. Consider what Osborne has had to deal with since the beginning of 1984: - The failed two-point conversion in the 1984 Orange Bowl against Miami, which cost Osborne his first national championship. — The death of his father one month later. - Mike Rozier’s disclosure in the fall of 1984 that he had accepted money from alumni while at Ne braska, and that he had signed a con tract with an agent before his senior season, making him a professional. — Charges by former Southern California lineman Booker Brown that Osborne offered him payments to attend UNL. -- The suicide of tight end Brian Hiemer on Aug. 13, 1985, right be fore fall practices were to begin. - The disclosure that former Out ---— — land and Lombardi Award winner Dean Steinkuhler used steroids while at Nebraska. - A five-month NCAA investiga tion that led to the suspension of 60 Huskers before Nebraska’s season opener against Florida State. - The October 1986 announce ment by the NCAA of a one-year, non-sanction probation for violating the extra benefit rules. - The August 1987 investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer that al leged sports agent Art Wilkenson had an “unusual association” with Ne braska’s football players, including alleged sideline passes to Husker home games to associate with the players. - problems wim players concern ing steroid use, use of street drugs, burglary, assault, breaking windows, slashing tires, taunting opponents on and off the field, and various other things that make most coaches old before their time. And now the book, Much has been written and said about Keteyian’s use of unnamed sources. Osborne ad dressed the subject Saturday. “If someone has something worthwhile to say, they’ll say it,” Osborne said. “But, of course, no one can press sources as to why they said something if no one knows who they _ __ n are. True. But people who go on the record with damaging information about Nebraska football could suffer severe consequences. It’s never hap pened, but one can imagine. To most people, losing a job - or one’s life — is not worth going on the record to expose an alleged wrong. Think about it Then ask yourself why so many unnamed sources were used in Keteyian’s book. “I don’t plan to buy the book, Osborne said. “I didn’t buy Boz’s (former Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth), I didn’t buy Jacki O.’s book, and I don’t buy the National Enquirer.” Maybe so. But those who do have enquiring minds will want to read between lines. Even lines of un named sources. Osborne deserves a break, from fans and the media. Unfortunately for him, this book will postpone it for a while. Green Is a senior news-editorial m^Jor, is a First Down Magazine co-editor and Is a sports senior reporter. Freshmen to play, Petko questionable for Saturday game Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne said Thursday that inside linebacker Mike Petko is question able for Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois. Petko, a sophomore from Anaheim, Calif., sprained his thumb on the turf during a light practice, according to trainer George Sullivan. Despite Petko’s injury, Osborne was pleased with the practice. Osborne said freshmen Will Shields and John Reece will both see some action Saturday. Osborne said he doesn’t plan on holding any players out of Saturday’s game because of disciplinary or aca demic reasons. He said this doesn’t mean that none will be held out. “There still is tomorrow,” Osborne said. " ' ~~i NEED WINNERS THIS WEEKEND? 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I think everybody feels that way.” High school students used to fear the Caliendo twins, he said. “They’d say, ‘Oh no, double trouble’s coming,’” Chris said. “Everybody always warned each other about the Caliendo twins. How crazy we were. How out of control we were.” Now, Chuck said, the two are very close. “When they see each other they hug, kiss. They’re so close it’s unbe lievable,’’ he said. Although Chris and Cary are iden tical, he said, they have different personalities. “Chris is more fun-loving anti easy-going,’’ he said. “Cary’s got a tougher mental attitude. He’s very intense and has a quick temper. Cary would beat up everybody on the field if they would let him. He loves a good fight.’’ 5
