They helped make Oklahoma-Nebraska one of college football’s greatest rivalries. And yet there is no spewing hatred between Barry Switzer and Tom Osborne, nor between the teams they so brilliantly coached. Switzer led OU to three national titles and 12 conference championships from 1973-88. Osborne led NU to three national titles and 13 conference championships from 1973-97. Face-to-face, Switzer won 12-5. Switzer and Osborne are opposites, but not oil and water. They mix well together, even off the football field. Example: Although Switzer is a staunch democrat, Osborne called upon Switzer to help raise funds for Nebraska ’s gubernatorial Republican primary three months ago. “It was probably the best fundraiser we had,” Osborne said. “We had two that were equal — Barry’s and one with Speaker of the House Denny Hastert.” Switzer and Osborne posed for pictures and chatted before being honored last Monday night at the Legends in Sports Dinner at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel. Also on hand to pay their respects were Heisman Trophy winners Billy Sims, of OU, and Johnny Rodgers, of NU.
Osborne: We're certainly two different types of personalities. Barry is more flamboyant, more colorful, a really likeable guy. I'm more reserved. Each one of us respected what it takes to make a good football program. We appreciated excellence. When I looked at their film, I realized there were a lot of good things going on there.
Switzer: Somebody asked why (former Cornhuskers coach) Frank Solich got fired for going 9-3. I said, "Because the guy who coached in front of him went something like 60-3
