Lawmakers consider bill tailored to get former Husker head coach in Nebraska Hall of Fame

A bill tailored to make former Husker football coach Tom Osborne eligible for the Nebraska Hall of Fame was presented to the legislature Wednesday.

At Gov. Jim Pillen’s behest, Sen. Dan Lownowski pitched a bill Wednesday that would change Nebraska Hall of Fame rules, which currently require hall of farmers to have been dead for 35 years before being eligible for induction. This bill would tailor a path forward, using Osborne’s resume as entry criteria.

“Why wait?” Lownowski asked. “For all the joy and celebration Coach Osborne has brought us, he deserves to enjoy the induction into our great state’s hall of fame.”

Lownowski said Osborne embodies what it means to be a Nebraskan. That's why the bill asks the Hall of Fame to add Osborne, who is a former UNL head coach and athletic director, attended Hastings High School, and was part of the U.S. House of Representatives. He added that Osborne gave Nebraskans reason to celebrate when he won three national championships while serving as head coach.

Nicholas Stefanik, a UNL student, said that even though Osborne was a head football coach in the 1990s, his presence left a lasting mark on the student population.

“For such a man who has dedicated his life to this state and university, it is truly the least we can do,” Stefanik said.

If the bill passes, the Hall of Fame must appoint someone matching the guidelines written for Osborne by Jan. 1. It would make Osborne the first and only living member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame. There are currently 27 members, all of whom have bronze busts displayed in the capitol building. The last inductee was Omaha native Malcolm X.

Several committee members thanked Lownowski for bringing the bill forward. Others checked to make sure that it included funding for his accompanying bronze bust.

But online commenters were less excited about the idea. Several called the bill a waste of time and encouraged lawmakers to pursue more important issues. Others said the law is fine just as it is. Lynn Zeleski called the bill silly.

“Are we seriously wasting session time on the Nebraska Hall of Fame in the middle of our budget crisis?” Gab Rima wrote.

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