No: 16
Date: 9/1/1979
Name: Coach Tom Osborne
When Tom Osborne took over as head coach at Nebraska following Bob Devaney's move to athletic director after the 1973 Orange Bowl, fans were skeptical. They saw him as a bland, straight-arrow guy, nothing like the charismatic Devaney. But Osborne went on to become the first coach to have 250 victories in 25 years and held a record for consecutive bowl trips with 25. His teams won three national championships. In 1995, he became the topic of the Omaha Press Club Show, "The Wizards of Oz." After his retirement, he became Congressman Tom Osborne, easily elected in Nebraska's Third District. The Face was unveiled during a Big Red Party at the club. The buffalo waving a contract and the mountains in the background represent a job offer Osborne was said to have had from Colorado. His shining front tooth represents his squeaky-clean image. Back to Top