Could Rimington succeed Osborne as AD?
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
If you see a guy who looks like Dave Rimington walking around town Saturday, your eyes aren’t playing tricks.
The baby-faced All-America center at Nebraska in 1981 and ’82, and the only two-time winner of the Outland Trophy, is making a rare appearance in his home state for tonight’s Rimington Trophy banquet.
Undoubtedly, during the ceremonies at the Rococo Theatre, Rimington will raise a toast to this year’s honoree as the nation’s top center, Jonathan Luigs of Arkansas.
The next-best sure thing is that someone will ask Rimington whether he plans to stick around past the weekend — like, for good.
Remember, immediately after Steve Pederson was fired as Nebraska athletic director on Oct. 15, Rimington’s name popped up as a possible replacement.
Sure, Tom Osborne occupies the seat now, and has a contract through June 30, 2010. But considering Rimington’s credentials, and the fact that his old coach will help choose the successor ... you don’t have to read too far between the lines on that one. Right?
So what about it, Dave? You’ve had some big days presiding over the Boomer Esiason Foundation in New York City, but how about moving the family out of the congested boroughs to run a certain Big Red athletic department?
“In 2010, (my children) might be starting kindergarten ... it would be time to move, anyway,” Rimington said Friday. “It might be Jersey or Long Island — but it would be great to get back to Nebraska.”
So there you have it. The fact he dodged that question may have revealed a lot about Rimington’s interest in being a candidate to succeed Osborne.
Of course, as long as the circumstances were right.
As it is now, Rimington gets back to Nebraska only a couple times a year to see his mother, two brothers and sister in Omaha. But he’s definitely up to snuff on the Huskers.
When asked what he thought would lend to someone being an effective athletic director at Nebraska, Rimington first cited the importance of having good relationships with the coaches, boosters and public. He talked about needing to have a good grasp of NCAA compliance issues, but also how ADs shouldn’t make the job more difficult than it is.
“You want people to feel good about what you’re doing for the university,” he said.
While Pederson was criticized by some former Nebraska student-athletes for making them feel unwelcome during his leadership, Rimington said he’s always been a proud alum. Well, there were a few instances this past season when he found himself screaming at the TV over the Huskers’ erratic play.
Otherwise, he’s been quite content with his New York life, especially when it comes to having quietly helped the Boomer Esiason Foundation contribute nearly $60 million for cystic fibrosis research. In addition, the Rimington Trophy banquet has raised more than $1 million for its beneficiary, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
A certain university near to Rimington’s heart might find that an attractive resume for a key athletic administrative post.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
Most Commented news