Omaha World Herald Article Tom & Bill Snyder

JAMES R. BURNETT, THE WORLD-HERALD

Bill Snyder, right, went 0-9 against Tom Osborne at Kansas State, but Snyder, the recipient of the Tom Osborne Legacy Award, earned the Husker legend’s admiration for turning the Wildcats into winners. “I’ve always put Bill pretty much at the top of the list of coaching accomplishments,” Osborne said. snyder won games, respect at K-state DIRK CHATELAIN Monday. “The lowest scholarship “Of all the coaches I’ve known, he World-Herald Staff Writer count in the history of college football. probably did about as good of a coach- They are two of the greatest college That’s a record we still hold. ” ing job as anyone ever could, ” Osborne football coaches of all time. But their Snyder pointed to the scoreboard. said. “If you go to USC or Texas and stories? So different. This is not going to define you, he win a lot of games, well, that’s kind of One man, Tom Osborne, took over told players. What will define you is expected. But K- State won some Big a powerhouse and raised the bar, your capacity to improve in all facets 12 championships. ... producing a level of consistency un- of your life, including football, every “I’ve always put Bill pretty much at matched in the sport’s history. Twen- single day. the top of the list of coaching accom- ty-five straight seasons with at least The wins eventually came. Against plishments. ” nine wins. He won three national all odds, Snyder worked 100 -hour Snyder, recipient of the Tom Os- championships and retired at only 60 weeks and produced a contender. borne Legacy Award, will appear with years old. Winning a Big 12 title in Manhattan, Osborne via Zoom during Wednesday The other, Bill Snyder, took over a Kansas? Osborne called it “miracu- night’s Outland Trophy Award dinner laughingstock at Kansas State. A 27- lous. ” in Omaha, which also features Ala- game winless streak. One day during Snyder retired in 2005, watched bama offensive tackle Alex Leather his first year, 1989, Snyder met with Wildcat football slump under his suc- wood, the Outland winner and new his players at the scene of so many cessor, Ron Prince, then returned and national champion. - embarrassments — their home field. built it up again. At 79, he walked away Snyder and Osborne, both north of “This is when you could have 95 on for good, without a national title but

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80 now, have known each other when the Huskers scored a touch- and Bob Devaney and a loyal fan It was kind of amazing in different half their lives, but their friend- down. But once Nebraska kicked base like the 100,000 or so you put areas. Some conferences were able ship has grown the past two de- the extra point, pandemonium in the stadium every single time. to play a larger number of games cades. Their conversations often ensued. When you have to boil it down, than others. And some confer- focus on mentoring; both devel- “They thought that kicking the you have to question whether it ences, wisely so, waited before oped successful mentoring pro- extra point was the whole deal, could happen without those three ” they actually began play. Not to say grams their states. Osborne said. entities. Tom, Bob and the fans. in ” that anybody was right or wrong. “He was more than just a foot- But most notable was the flight Q: What’s been your sense of But it played out OK. ” ball coach, Snyder said. “He the challenge that faces Scott ” is to and from Tokyo. Nebraska on Q: You used to recruit to be admired forever. side of the plane; Kansas Frost in Lincoln? someone ” one State Omaha pretty heavily, espe- Snyder laughs when asked on the other. “The problems they have, Scott cially as an Iowa assistant. about their memorable “I kind of awkward fly games. “It was to didn’t create them. Scott got in What’s your most memorable try to forget them all. ” back with a team you’d just beaten on a downward cycle. He needs a recruiting experience here? It’s true he never beat Osborne and they’re just few feet apart, a ” little time and he will get it done. “Larry Station would be the — 0-9. But the Nebraska/K- State Osborne said. Scott Frost is a quality person and one. And (Central High defen- rivalry intensified during the mid- Scott Frost is quality coach. He’ll Q&A with Bill Snyder a sive lineman) Sean Ridley came 1990s and tipped purple during have the right people with him right along with him. Larry was Q: Have you ever reflected the Frank Solich era. But Osborne and they will be successful. He’s one of the most highly recruited on what made Nebraska’s dy- never worried that Snyder might be an excellent young man. ” nasty? Was there something young people in the nation. And cheating or lying to recruits about Q: How do you feel about Nebraska obviously was high on you considered the overriding the Big Red Giant to the north. college football playing factor? his list. Everybody was persistent “The competition was always through the pandemic? about it, but I was pleased he chose “You’d have to say the two to healthy, Osborne said. “There was sensitivity it, to come with us to the University ” coaches during that time. Tom Not always natural, though. not just from me, but an awful lot of Iowa. Larry Station and is Osborne and Bob Devaney. I think was Osborne’s favorite memory may of people. But I think one of the the Nebraska fan base has been in- just a quality, quality young man. be 1992, when the Huskers and things that it seemed to do is bring Always did things the right strumental. That’s not to exclude way. ” Wildcats agreed to play in Tokyo. a great deal more compliance with players, assistant coaches, per- “I know I would never try that guidelines in order to be protective [email protected], 402-649- sonnel, a lot of wonderful people, to deal again, ” Osborne said. within programs. If you’re going 1461, twitter.com/dirkchatelain many of them I have known. But Among the oddities, the Jap- play, you didn’t want C OVID run- to have a leader like Tom Osborne anese crowd barely made a peep ning around your locker room. ...