And there they were on Monday night, together again.
Each commanded attention. Osborne was reserved. Switzer was anything but.
Both were showered with adoration while being honored at the Tulsa Sports Charities Legends in Sports Dinner at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel.
In a roundabout way, Osborne and Switzer have been close since birth.
They were born less than eight months apart in 1937 -- Osborne in Hastings, Neb., and Switzer in Crossett, Ark.
Both took over their storied programs in 1973.
Switzer won three national titles (1974, 1975, 1985) and left in 1988. Osborne then won three
national crowns of his own (1994, 1995, 1997), thanks in part to Switzer leaving.
"I'm glad I didn't have to go against him in the '90s," said Switzer, who went 12-5 against Osborne. "I don't know if I could have handled him in the '90s."
Their career winning percentages differ by .001338.
Switzer ranks fourth all-time with his shiny 157-29-4 (.837) record in 16 seasons. Osborne ranks fifth with his sparkling 255-49-3 (.836) record in 25 seasons.
If Osborne had one fewer career loss, he and Switzer would swap positions on that all-time list.
Though they haven't battled on a football field in 18 years, Switzer and Osborne haven't lost track of each other.
Each has traveled many times inside the other's state line.
Earlier this year, Switzer ventured to Nebraska to support Rep. Osborne's quest for governor. Osborne said the visit resulted in one of his top fund-raisers.
"He always draws a crowd. People in Nebraska like Barry Switzer," Osborne said. "They respect him, and we've had some great events with him there."
Osborne lost the Republican primary for governor three months ago and is now finishing his third term with the House of Representatives.
Osborne insists he's through with politics.
"The other guy won, and there's not much I can do about it," Osborne said. "I'm done."
Too bad. There could have been an Osborne- Switzer ticket. Or would it be Switzer-Osborne?
Who would be president, and who would be vice president?
"The way I ran as a governor up in Nebraska, I guess I'd have to defer to Barry. Let him take a shot at it," Osborne said.
Switzer countered: "No, I would defer to him. I wouldn't want that responsibility. But who in hell would want to be president today? I'm not sure George Bush wants to.
"Tom's a public servant. He has always been that way. Not me. I'm too selfish. No, I'm serious. I don't mind helping out, being on a (political) team. But I'm going to take my time and go do things on my own, set my own calendar. To be a public servant, you have to be wired differently."
For Osborne-Switzer, their game was football, not politics.
Osborne preferred the rivalries in football more than those in politics.
Though Osborne used option fakes, reverses and the fumblerooski in football, he experienced far more deception as a member of Congress.
"Football is a little more straight-forward," Osborne said. "You know what's expected, and you know who your friends are. Politics is sometimes a little harder to negotiate, harder to figure out what success is and what failure is."
While Osborne endures a life in politics for a few more months, Switzer remains the life of the party.
To each his own.
John Rohde:475-3314, jrohde@oklahoman.com; John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 6-7 p.m. on WWLS-FM 104.9 and WWLS-AM 640, and on KYAL-AM 1550 in Tulsa.
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A true classic TULSA - The original "Game of the Century" will be shown at 9 a.m. Wednesday on ESPN Classic (Cox 255).
Later that same morning, former Nebraska slotback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers expects his cell phone to ring more than once.
"They'll all be calling to tell me they just saw the game again," said Rodgers, who attended Monday night's Legends in Sports Dinner honoring Barry Switzer and Tom Osborne. "It's always a favorite."
The top-ranked Cornhuskers beat No. 2 Oklahoma 35-31 in the 1971 classic played on Owen Field.
One of the game's most spectacular and controversial plays came with Rodgers' captivating 72-yard punt return during which there might -- or might not -- have been a clipping penalty.
Was there a clip?
"Oh, I haven't seen one yet," said a smiling Rodgers.
By John Rohde
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