Did Scott Frost save Nebraska football’s sellout streak?
Former Nebraska football head coach Tom Osborne thinks Scott Frost saved one of the longest-running traditions the Huskers have.
The Nebraska football team has been through some very bad years of late. Two losing seasons out of three had Cornhusker fans more than a little rattled.
Take a broader look and you might find a fanbase that’s been annoyed with the product on the field for over a decade. Former head coach Tom Osborne thinks that frustration was getting closer to boiling over.
“Last year was hard for the people here because we went 4-8. I don’t think the stadium would have been sold out,” Osborne recently told Chris Low of ESPN. “We’ve been sold out for 50-plus years. I think that streak would have gone had Scott not come back, so there’s a significant renewed enthusiasm.”
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Consider those words are about as harsh as you’re ever going to hear from the man affectionately known as “Dr. Tom” about the Husker football program. Osborne, who has also done a stint as the university’s Athletic Director has largely stayed out of things since retiring for the second time.
It appears that the prospect of breaking a streak that spans 361 home games and five decades made Osborne break his silence. It’s not a surprise he is happy to see Scott Frost return to Nebraska.
It might be a bit of a surprise that Osborne has been this vocal in his support. Even when talking about Bo Pelini, whom Osborne hired, the former coach wasn’t this effusive in his praise.
It makes sense that Osborne has a special place in his heart for Frost. The new head man for the Huskers was the quarterback the last time Osborne won the national championship.
The big question is whether or not the Hall of Fame coach is right. If new AD Bill Moos had hired someone like Matt Campbell from Iowa State, or literally anyone not named Scott Frost, would the sellout streak be coming to an end?
I’d say it’s doubtful. At least not right away.
The university has some powerful allies that would likely pay to keep that streak alive, at least for a few more years. At the same time, there is very little doubt Frost has energized the Nebraska football fandom.
It also appears he really is starting to turn this thing around. People outside the state are noticing this as well.
No, the sellout streak likely wasn’t in immediate danger. If this next hire hadn’t been the right one, it is safe to say that the streak would have ended at some point.
Next. Nebraska football is middle of the pack in season’s first Big Ten Power Rankings. dark
So far, it does appear as though Nebraska football does have the right man at the helm … finally.