As legendary Nebraska sports information director Don Bryant used to say, you’ve got to be a “tough SOB” to get old … the late Don Bryant.
His insight involved not only the aches and pains, and other more significant things, of aging but also the pain of the passing of those around you, such as Bryant.
Rewind to early September 1978, the Tuesday following the Nebraska football team’s season-opening, 20-3 loss to Alabama in Birmingham.
The Extra Point Club luncheon in Lincoln’s now-gone Brandeis building, typically held on Mondays, was moved back a day because of the Labor Day weekend. The luncheon structure, as I recall (I don’t always trust my memory), included Coach Tom Osborne talking about the previous game, a grad assistant giving a scouting report on the upcoming opponent, and an assistant showing film of the game.
George Darlington was the assistant that week.
I was writing for the Lincoln Journal and Star, just one month into my dream job after seven years teaching at Parkland Community College. The Alabama game was my first.
Randy York, who also worked for the Journal and Star, accompanied me to the luncheon. The Journal wanted a story for the afternoon’s city edition. Randy would write it. I would write for The Star Wednesday morning. We had to hustle back for Randy’s story.
After Osborne spoke and we got a preview of California, the next opponent, George took the podium to discuss film of the Alabama game. Before he began, however, he suggested a “certain sportswriter” who had cost Nebraska the game leave. He looked at me briefly, but it seemed like forever.
Then he said OK, he would show the film, as long as that sportswriter didn’t quote anything he said. There was emphasis on “he,” or so I recall.
Rewind to the Huskers’ final scrimmage two weeks before the Alabama game. Afterward, Osborne called the team to the south end zone and said, among other things, “Alabama shouldn’t score more than one touchdown against us if our defense plays the way it should.”
I used that quote in my Sunday story … and apparently cost Nebraska the game.
Osborne’s career record was 255-49-3. One month on the job and I had done something Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State couldn’t do, defeat an Osborne-coached team.
So much for my dream job, I thought.
Osborne told me after practice that Tuesday media could attend practice and scrimmages but not report what they saw or heard. They could ask questions about what they saw or heard, and he would answer or not. He said I was new and didn’t know the rules.
That’s how I met George, his comments to the Extra Point Club earlier that day. He never held it against me, though, and I’ve laughed about the luncheon ever since … except for now.
George passed away Sunday at age 87. I’ve struggled to write something about him, and am still struggling as I hit the computer keys. I’ve told the Extra Point Club luncheon story many times. But I can’t get it out of my mind as I struggle to write about George, our first “meeting.”
George is Nebraska football, which I’ve covered for 48 seasons. In recent seasons, I’d see him Saturdays in the press box on game days. I knew George, a wonderful person, now gone.
So is Randy York, which I’m still processing, or trying to.
George, Randy, Don, all gone … and I’m not tough.
But it’s not about me. It’s about them and their families and those closest to them.
Rest in peace George, the latest. Rest in peace my friend.
