The sports world echoed yesterday as legend Tom Osborne decided to step down as Nebraska AD after a career filled with impressive achievements.
Yesterday, football legend Tom Osborne announced that he is resigning as Nebraska athletic director. Osborne, now 75, said Wednesday that his retirement will be effective as of Jan 1st 2013, and that’s only 3-4 months for the team to find a good enough replacement.
Even though Tom Osborne spent only five years with Nebraska as its athletic director, the team had a lot to gain from the man’s expertise. The 75-year-old sports legend explained he is making sure that the team won’t be left behind and will be there to help select the best replacement until July 30, 2013.
When news about Tom Osborne’s retirement first hit the media, some voices said it was the athletic director’s health state that made the call. The man is 75 years old, in the end and he already had heart issues before. But although Osborne had a heart intervention almost two decades ago the athletic director said that health issues are not related to his decision and that he is now feeling better than ever.
“At some point, whether you’re able to function or not, just the perception that you’re getting old can get in the way,” explained Osborne. “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? That happens sometimes” said Tom Osborne.
It’s not the first time Osborne is retiring. From 1973 to 1997, Tom Osborne won three national championships as a coach. Then he retired, leaving behind an impressive record, as none of the teams he coached had less than 9 wins.
After his first retirement, Osborne went into politics. However, things didn’t go so well and he even experienced an incredible fail in 2006 when running for Nebraska Governor. It was most likely that stress that had him experience heart issues. For now, at least, Tom Osborne says he feels better than he did before. “I’m probably healthier today than when I was a member of Congress,” he said. “That takes a big toll on you”.
Osborne’s retirement pokes a huge gap in the American sports world. His departure from Nebraska is definitely felt like the sports world is losing one if its pillars.
