The Nebraska football team practiced for just over two hours on
Wednesday on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields in preparation for its Big
Ten opener against Wisconsin.
The Huskers (3-1) enter the game coming off a 73-7 victory over
Idaho State at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin (3-1) defeated UTEP 37-26 in its
most recent outing. NU is looking to avenge a 48-17 loss to the Badgers in
Madison, Wis., last season.
On Wednesday, Athletic Director Tom Osborne announced that he will
retire from that position effective Jan. 1, 2013. Running Backs Coach Ron Brown
talked about his relationship with Osborne following practice. Brown served as
an assistant on Osborne's football coaching staff for 11 seasons from 1987 to
1997.
"I'm sad to see Coach Osborne retire, but I'm sure he's thought
about it a lot and prayed about it a lot and is operating under what he thinks
is the best interests of the athletic department, his family and what the Lord
has called for his life," Brown said. "He's been an amazing guy. He's one of
those guys who has maximized as much as he could with what he was given. He's
covered a lot of bases and a lot of ground."
Brown added that the announcement surprised him when he heard it
today.
"It caught me off guard a little bit," Brown said. "I kind of knew
at some point it was going to happen, because he's not the type of guy who
wants to overstay his welcome. If anything, he kind of left the coaching ranks
early when he was 60 years old. I knew at some point he'd want to retire, but I
didn't expect it to be today."
The Huskers and Badgers face off Saturday at 7 p.m., at Memorial
Stadium. The game will be televised on ABC-HD.
