Switzer presents former Nebraska rival for honor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Former foe Barry Switzer had plenty of kind words for Tom Osborne as he presented the former Nebraska coach the Jim Thorpe Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. "Of all the

Saturday, February 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Former foe Barry Switzer had plenty of kind words for Tom Osborne as he presented the former Nebraska coach the Jim Thorpe Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. "Of all the great coaches in the game -- Woody Hayes, Bear Bryant, Joe Paterno, Frank Broyles and all of them, Tom Osborne casts a shadow over all," Switzer said as Osborne was recognized Thursday night.

Switzer's Oklahoma teams went 12-7 against Osborne's Nebraskas quads. But Switzer said this award was about much more. "A football coach's job is often judged on wins," Switzer said. "But my definition of the job is preparing a young man for the next 40 or 50 years for a standard of life they wouldn't have been equipped for if they weren't in the program. Osborne has a Ph.D. in front of his name-- Dr. Tom -- because he's done a marvelous job of it. That's enough to win this award, not to even mention his record on the field."

Osborne finished his 25-year coaching career with a 255-49-3record and three national championships. The Cornhuskers won at least nine games every year under Osborne and won 13 conference titles. Osborne's record of 60-3 over his final five seasons is the best five-year run in college history. "The 255 victories in 25 years, that's 10 a year, that just staggers me to think about it," Switzer said. "Those last five years are even more staggering to me, better than even our beloved Bud Wilkinson was able to accomplish winning 47 straight games. "But I marvel at what Tom accomplished off the field as well. His players gave their all on the field, but he gave them an opportunity to do so much more off the field."

Osborne shared top billing with Minnesota's Tyrone Carter, who was presented the Jim Thorpe Award as college football's top defensive back. Carter set an NCAA record for defensive backs with 528 career tackles, 414 of them unassisted.