Nebraska
Charlie McBride honored in Nebraska nearly 30 years after he tried — and failed — to retire
OMAHA, Neb. — A history lesson from Charlie McBride, who’s back in the state of Nebraska to receive the Tom Osborne Legacy Award on Wednesday night at the Outland Trophy Banquet: Twice during the final 2 ½ years of his 18-season run as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator, McBride walked into the head coach’s office and declared his plan to retire.
Neither meeting went quite as McBride anticipated, which he recalled during a conversation with The Athletic on Wednesday.
The first, in the midst of an undefeated season in 1997 with a team emotionally led by two of McBride’s all-time greats, Jason Peter and Grant Wistrom, McBride sat down with Osborne and told the legendary coach he was ready to “pull the plug” on his career.
McBride’s joints were failing. He was forced to coach and often recruit while sitting in a golf cart. It was a bad look, he said. McBride said he believed he was cheating the university. Time had arrived to bail out.
But Osborne said no.
“Why not?” asked McBride.
“Well, I’m going to retire,” McBride recalled hearing from Osborne, “and we both can’t leave Frank.”
Osborne promised Frank Solich years earlier that he would step down and hand the job to Solich in 1996. After the Huskers fell short of a third consecutive national championship, Osborne extended his stay by one season.
The details remained a secret to McBride, who’d coached at Osborne’s side since 1977. So McBride agreed to stay for one season. In 1998, with McBride at Solich’s side, Nebraska lost four games in a season for the first time in 30 years.
Much like Osborne two years before, McBride came back for another year. And in 1999, with a dominant defense to ease the strain on young quarterback Eric Crouch, McBride knew the time was right. In October came a second meeting with the boss. McBride told Solich, the second-year head coach, that he would announce his retirement after the bowl game.
Two days before the Fiesta Bowl, McBride reminded Solich of their conversation.
“He said, ‘What?’” McBride said. “He told me I didn’t tell him. I’m like, ‘Holy moly, this guy’s got amnesia or something.’”
Solich perhaps figured he could feign surprise and convince McBride to stay — a wise move. McBride’s group in 1999 ranked fourth nationally in total yardage allowed per game, second in passing efficiency and third in scoring.
That was his best defense, McBride said, led by defensive tackle Steve Warren and stars in the secondary Mike Brown and Ralph Brown. It was better than the 1994, 1995 and 1997 groups that won national championships, McBride said.
He announced his retirement in Arizona in the aftermath of that Fiesta Bowl, a 31-21 Nebraska win against Tennessee, the reigning national champ, and QB Tee Martin.
McBride was 60, the same age as Osborne when he retired. While Osborne went on to serve in Congress and run the athletic department at Nebraska for six years after his coaching days, McBride kept a low profile.
He underwent surgeries to replace both knees, a hip and a shoulder and to insert a pacemaker. McBride said he never considered a return to big-time coaching.
At 85, he doesn’t need a golf cart to get around. McBride looks good and still gabs about football as much as when he coached. During a visit Wednesday morning to Omaha’s Boys Town with the 2024 Outland winner, Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, McBride said the award he’ll receive at the banquet comes with extra meaning “because of who it represents.”
Osborne, 87, is scheduled to attend the Outland banquet and no doubt toast to McBride. They directed the Huskers with efficiency and great chemistry despite their differences in personality.
Osborne coached with a conservative style and rarely deviated from an even keel. McBride showed his passion regularly. His voice rose above others on the practice field. In their 16 seasons together at the helm of the Nebraska offense and defense, the Huskers won 171 games — 13 games more than the second winningest program in that span, Florida State.
Players loved McBride for his fire. He took chances. Nebraska opponents, after McBride moved to a four-man front in the early ‘90s, feared his defenses in a way that exceeded even the feelings generated by Osborne’s methodical, power run game out of the option offense.
“I’m a pressure coach,” McBride said. “I love pressure.”
In McBride’s final seven seasons, Nebraska won 81 of 89 games, including bowl victories against Miami, Florida, Virginia Tech and Tennessee (twice).
It was a time far removed from the new 12-team College Football Playoff. Ohio State, in a 30-day stretch that came to an end Monday, beat Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame to win the national championship. The Buckeyes’ run to reach the top rates possibly as the most impressive in college football history.
McBride said his Blackshirts would have held up well under the kind of stress that Ohio State faced in December and January.
Why? Because of how Nebraska applied pressure with its defense.
“This would have been a better (format) for us,” McBride said. “Pressure is really one of the only ways to hurt the offenses today. If you can get to that quarterback fast, you’re doing your job. The way we did it, we would have been fine.”
(Photo of McBride (center) with Outland Trophy winner Kelvin Banks of Texas and Bob Mancuso of the Greater Omaha Sports Committee: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)
I recently read an article by Nate McHugh of SB Nation that stated the last two “sure things” to bring Nebraska football back failed. The first “thing” is back coaching at UCF, and the second “thing” is now wearing an Oregon uniform. Because these two “sure things” failed, McHugh points to them as reasons for Husker fan’s frustration. But did he miss the third reason? If I’m not mistaken, the hiring of Matt Rhule felt like one of those “sure things” as well. But after the ‘mythical’ year three and disappointment it became clear Rhule’s hiring was anything but a “sure thing” for success.
Because of that fans are torn how they feel about Rhule. I’m one of them. I catch myself saying Rhule is the right guy for Nebraska and then quickly point out that his overall record as a head coach is 66-62. Clearly mediocre compared to Kyle Whittingham (177-88) or James Franklin (104-45). But Rhule hasn’t stayed anywhere long enough to truly establish himself like Whittingham or Franklin either.
See what I mean, I’m quick to point out his shortcomings but still believe he can make the Huskers relevant again. Where Husker fans struggle is that Rhule has in fact taken us to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2015-2016 yet allowed his team to get curb stomped by Penn State, Iowa, and Utah to end the season.
So, fans are leery going into the 2026 season. What are we going to get considering the schedule? The Huskers get Indiana, Washington, and Ohio State at home, and Oregon, Illinois, and Iowa on the road. While no game is a sure win, if they can’t notch victories against Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State, Maryland and Rutgers, then we’ll once again question if Rhule is the right man. Simply put, the fan base will be disappointed with another 6-6 season. Personally, with the coaching changes and improvement in talent, my expectation is a record of 7-5 or 8-4 on the season.
Tim Verghese of ‘Inside Nebraska’ got my attention last week when talking about fans giving recruits a negative vibe and possibly influencing their decision to commit to a program. He used Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M as an example. The fanbase was so negative about Fisher that it made recruits question how secure he was at A&M. Obviously recruits had reason to be worried.
Does that affect how I approach what I write or talk about? It does, but then again, I don’t think so much of myself to think it matters. I see myself as your typical fan. I’m just someone who shares their thoughts about Husker football. And frankly, like 50% or more of the fans, I’m torn between being supportive and negativity. We’ve been burned too many times and haven’t seen the things that we need to see to convince us a turnaround is about to happen. Whether it’s offense, defense, or beating the teams they are supposed to beat (Minnesota & Iowa) there just hasn’t been any consistency from Rhule’s teams. As fans we need to see Rhule’s teams win the games they are supposed to, then win the close games, and finally beat the teams they aren’t supposed to. Until we see Rhule’s teams take those steps, there will be doubt and a level of negativity.
As far as recruits are concerned, I don’t see Rhule going anywhere. He’s safe due to his contract, the investment being made on the stadium, and Trae Taylor making it clear he’s all ‘N’ as long as Matt Rhule is the head man. He may just be a senior in high school, but don’t think QB Trae Taylor doesn’t play a role here. He does. And I’m good with that. Taylor has the same expectations as the fans.
And no, those expectations aren’t too high. I’ve been a fan for over fifty years. The standard at Nebraska was set a long time ago. That standard hasn’t changed. Nebraska fans may be up and down on how they feel about Rhule, but they are consistent on their expectations. The standard is the standard and always will be.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photo courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE
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The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on May 8.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 8 drawing
8-0-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 8 drawing
01-03-12-24-26
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from May 8 drawing
Red Balls: 02-20, White Balls: 09-11
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from May 8 drawing
Month: 01, Day: 16, Year: 17
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing
14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska Athletics announced Friday that the expansion of John Cook Arena is in full swing.
The Nebraska Athletics Capital Planning and Facilities Department posted to social media that the effort to modernize amenities and provide new seating options is well underway.
According to the athletic fund, the renovation will enhance Nebraska’s home-court advantage, modernize amenities and provide new premium and general seating options. This includes adding:
- New and improved seats with cup holders in each seat.
- A new centralized student section.
- New and improved courtside seating with both end court and side court locations available. The Courtside Lounge offers access pregame and during intermission and includes private restrooms, televisions and all-inclusive gourmet food, beverage and alcohol.
- New Loge Box seating with hospitality lounge with access pregame and during intermission, including access to private restrooms, televisions and all-inclusive gourmet food and beverage with a cash bar.
- Libero Club seating replaces the VIP seats. Located in the back row of the 100 level, seats include access to the Libero Club Lounge pregame and during intermission complete with televisions and all-inclusive gourmet food and soft drinks with a cash bar.
- Additional ADA seating with new vantage points and easier access from around the concourse.
The Husker Athletic Fund announced the first-ever reseating and parking process in October 2025. It is timed to coincide with the renovation of the arena to increase overall capacity to 10,000.
For more information about the reseating process, click here.
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