Bill would change law to put former NU coach in hall of fame now

Gov. Jim Pillen is seeking a law change to allow one of the state’s most well-known and favorite residents to join the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Sen. Dan Lonowski has introduced Legislative Bill 1159, which would update the nomination process for the Hall of Fame.

Currently, the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission may induct no more than one person every five years, following a nomination, review and public hearing process that spans the entire five-year period. And only people who have been dead at least 35 years are eligible to be considered.

LB 1159 would change the law to allow the commission to nominate one living person before Jan. 1, 2027.

Pillen said the bill’s purpose is to allow former Nebraska Football coach Tom Osborne to be nominated.

“It is no secret that this legislation would place Coach Tom Osborne permanently in the halls of the Nebraska Capitol,” Pillen said in a news release. “Our state is indebted to coach and all the great things he has accomplished during his lifetime. It is time we recognize him appropriately and I’m very pleased that an overwhelming majority of the Legislature agrees and that a bi-partisan group is co-sponsoring this truly wonderful, unifying bill.”

Osborne, who is 88, was born in Nebraska and participated in football, baseball and track at Hastings College.

After a short-lived NFL career, Osborne became an unpaid assistant to Bob Devaney at Nebraska. He was named offensive coordinator in 1969 and took over as head coach in 1973 after Devaney retired.

Over 25 seasons as head coach, Osborne led Nebraska to 255 wins and three national championships. Pillen played for Osborne from 1975-1978.

After his coaching career, Osborne served as Nebraska’s 3rd District representative in Congress from 2001-2007. He returned to the university and served as athletic director from 2010-2013.

He and his wife, Nancy, also founded the TeamMates mentoring program.