
In a new children’s book, former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne encourages those dealing with struggles and hardships through his faith, life lessons and principles practiced in 36 years of coaching.
After children’s book author and publisher Jefferson Knapp did a book with a Kansas coaching legend, there was a natural choice for his next collaboration.
“I did a book with Coach Bill Snyder at K-State several years ago,” Knapp said. “It soon became pretty obvious that somebody else deserved a book — Tom Osborne. I definitely was not a fan of his growing up. His teams were so good, and they’d just beat up K-State.
“But his name has been with me since the ‘80s. Then you find out about him, his character, his faith, his mentoring. I knew he had a message to tell.”
Knapp, who operates Kraken Books out of El Dorado, Kansas, reached out to the legendary Husker coach, who didn’t jump at the chance to do another book.
“When I approached him with the idea, he was pretty humble and told me, 'I don’t think I have anything to say for kids,’” Knapp said. "I’m a children’s book author, and I go to talk at schools all the time. I go to Nebraska a lot. I had to tell him that everyone I talk to in Nebraska says, ‘You ought to do a book with Tom Osborne.”
That initial pitch took place during the flooding of 2019 — “I was thinking that this would be a great time for Tom Osborne to get a message to kids.” But the book didn’t happen until this spring.
“Once the whole coronavirus started up, it was, ‘Coach, we need to hear from you,'” Knapp said. “The only other thing I knew was that the title had to be 'I believe in you.' That is his message to kids in the book.”
The pictures in the book come from award-winning children’s book illustrator and lifelong Kansas football fan Tim Ladwig, who like Knapp was thrilled to help bring Osborne’s message to kids.

This illustration of Nebraska coach Tom Osborne by award-winning children's book illustrator Tim Ladwig comes from "I Believe in You," his latest book.
Pre-orders for “I believe in you" are now being taken at krakenbooks.com.
“That’s helping us gauge how many to order in the first printing,” Knapp said. “We’re planning on 5,000, but if it goes higher, we’ll order more. We’ll be putting in the order in early December."
Pre-ordered books should arrive in February.
Osborne’s share of the book royalties will go to the TeamMates mentoring program that he and his wife Nancy founded in 1991.
“That told me everything about the guy,” Knapp said. “He’s not in it for the money. He just wants to help kids.”
Working with Osborne and watching hours of videos of games he coached has changed Knapp's opinion of the Huskers.
“I would say I’m a Nebraska fan now," he said.
Photos: Tom Osborne through the years
Photos: Tom Osborne through the years
Osborne at Hastings College

Tom Osborne is shown as a freshman at Hastings College in November 1956.
In the NFL

Quarterback Ralph Guglielmi (right) hands off to Dick James at the Washington NFL franchise's training camp at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Tom Osborne is at left, and Don Besseler is next to him.
Devaney's top assistant

Tom Osborne in December 1971.
Husker legends

Tom Osborne (right) took over for Bob Devaney in 1973 and continued the Nebraska football team's legacy.
Taking over

Tom Osborne in 1972.
First game as head coach

Nebraska's Tom Osborne (right) checks with assistant John Melton during Osborne's first game as head coach of the Cornhuskers -- a 40-13 win against UCLA on Sept. 8, 1973.
Focused on the game

Tom Osborne on the sideline with head trainer George Sullivan as Nebraska plays Minnesota in 1973.
1974 Sugar Bowl

Tom Osborne relays a message to his assistants in the press box during the Huskers' 13-10 victory over Florida in the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31, 1974.
Taking down the Gators

Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne reacts with vigor after his Cornhuskers intercepted Florida in the closing seconds to seal a 13-10 victory in the Sugar Bowl, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 1975, in New Orleans. Looking on are guard Tom Alward (63) and Mark Doak (71).
1976 Astro Bluebonnet Bowl

NU coach Tom Osborne (rights) talks with quarterback Vince Ferragamo during the 1976 Astro Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.
1977 Liberty Bowl

Nebraska players carry coach Tom Osborne off the Liberty Bowl field in Memphis, Tenn., after defeating North Carolina 21-17 on Dec. 20, 1977.
1974 Sugar Bowl

Nebraska quarterback Dave Humm is flanked by Husker coach Tom Osborne as they listen to a dixieland jazz band greeting upon arrival in New Orleans on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1974.
Longtime foes

Tom Osborne and Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer before the Orange Bowl after the 1978 season.
Tom Osborne, Turner Gill

Nebraska coach Tom Osborne talks with quarterback Turner Gill during the 1983 season.
You're kidding me

Tom Osborne reacts during a game against Iowa State in 1983.
Disappointment

Tom Osborne watches as the final seconds tick off the clock in NU's 31-30 loss to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
1985 Sugar Bowl

Nebraska coach Tom Osborne is carried off the field by team members after they won the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 1985, in New Orleans. Nebraska defeated LSU 28-10. From left are quarterback Craig Sundberg, Bret Clark, Coach Osborne and Dan Wingard. Sundberg was also named MVP of the game.
Playing with McEnroe

With his partner John McEnroe taking it easy, Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne prepares to return a volley during an exhibition match July 23, 1985.
Snow game

Tom Osborne doesn't let a little snow bother him during the Nov. 1, 1986, game against Kansas State.
Dadgummit

Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne reacts to an Oklahoma play during the Huskers' 20-17 loss to the Sooners on Nov. 11, 1986.
Farm Aid III

Willie Nelson (left) and Tom Osborne (center) before Farm Aid III in September 1987. New Nebraska football coach Mike Riley learned football from his father, Bud, and one of his dad's coaching buddies always put on Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" when the coaches would meet at the Riley home after games.
Not another one

Tom Osborne reacts to an Oklahoma trick play during the 1989 game at Memorial Stadium.
Taking on the Wildcats

Tom Osborne on the sidelines as Nebraska plays Kansas State in 1991.
Upset with penalty

Tom Osborne reacts to a penalty called against the Huskers as Nebraska faces Texas Tech in 1993.
Osborne-Berringer

Quarterback Brook Berringer gets instruction from coach Tom Osborne during a 1994 game. Berringer died in a plane crash April 18, 1996. Big Ten Network will air its feature-length documentary "Unbeaten, the Life of Brook Berringer" on Saturday night after the Nebraska-Northwestern football game.
Finally!

Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne watches intently while others on the Husker sideline celebrate Kareem Moss' interception late in the fourth quarter during the 1995 Orange Bowl in Miami. The interception on Miami's last play preserved Nebraska's 24-17 win and gave Osborne his first national championship.
National champions

Tom Osborne receives a long-awaited bath as a national championship coach on the Orange Bowl sideline.
In the spotlight

Television reporter John Dockery talks with Nebraska coach Tom Osborne after the Huskers' victory against Miami in the 1995 Orange Bowl.
Celebration

Husker coach Tom Osborne leads members the football team onto the floor of the Devaney Sports Center on Monday, Jan. 3, 1995.
Meeting the prez

U.S. President Bill Clinton shares a laugh with Nebraska football team co-captains Zach Weigert (second from left) and Rob Zatechka (right) as head coach Tom Osborne looks on at left during a Rose Garden ceremony to honor the national champions in Washington on Monday, March 13, 1995.
Trying times

Tom Osborne is surrounded by members of the media as he leaves the practice field after suspending Lawrence Phillips in September of 1995.
Wins = office number

Office number on Tom Osborne's door changed with each victory.
Watching intently

Coach Tom Osborne watches the first quarter of action as Nebraska plays Missouri in 1997.
Meeting the prez II

President Bill Clinton gets a signed football from the Huskers.
Frost and Osborne

Quarterback Scott Frost hugs Nebraska coach Tom Osborne during the news conference in 1997 when Osborne announced he was retiring.
Always coaching

Tom Osborne talks with Jon Vedral during the Baylor game in 1996.
Eyes on the prize

Tom Osborne was well-known for his ability to adapt during a game.
Scott Frost and Tom Osborne

Coach Tom Osborne discusses strategy with starting quarterback Scott Frost in the third quarter during the Huskers' 38-24 win against Central Florida on Oct. 31, 1997.
Big 12 Championship Game

Husker head coach Tom Osborne (left) and assistant Frank Solich prior to the start of the Big 12 Championship Game in San Antonio in 1997.
Final victory

Tom Osborne holds the Orange Bowl trophy after Nebraska defeated Tennessee 42-17 on Jan. 2, 1998.
Passing the torch

Nebraska running backs coach Frank Solich (right) talks to the media in 1997 after being announced as the man who will succeed Tom Osborne (left) as Husker head football coach.
Old friends

Former Nebraska coaches Charlie McBride (from left) and then-Rep. Tom Osborne.
Promoting TeamMates

Tom Osborne explains the Teammates program that he and his wife, Nancy, started and its impact on the youth of Lincoln. The program pairs a volunteer athlete with a Lincoln youth in a mentoring program. then-Gov. Mike Johanns and his wife, Stephanie, donated $60,000 of the proceeds raised from the Governor's Inaugural Ball to the program.
9/11 message

Tom Osborne returns to Memorial Stadium via HuskerVison to give a message to fans at the first game since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Osborne in congress

First District candidate for Congress Jeff Fortenberry (right) speaks to members of the media during a news conference in 2004 at the Fremont Municipal Airport. Supporting at the press conference were Congressmen Tom Osborne and Bob Goodlatte of Virginia.
Politically speaking

Then-Congressman Tom Osborne speaks out against gambling in Nebraska during a news conference in Lincoln.
Meeting with the troops

Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb. (top center) poses in Baghdad with members of the 267th Ordinance Company, which is based in Lincoln, in September 2004.
Meeting the new guy

Tom Osborne (left), Nebraska Hall of Fame coach and then-congressman, and newly hired Husker head football coach Bill Callahan shake hands during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex on Aug. 11, 2004.
Helping out

Former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer (left) and U.S. Rep. and Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Osborne watch Nebraska play Colorado in a Big 12 men's basketball game in Lincoln on Feb. 22, 2006. Switzer was in Lincoln to attend a fundraiser for Osborne's campaign.
Running for office

Republican governor candidates Dave Nabity, Dave Heineman and Tom Osborne respond to questions during their first debate at the Strauss Performing Arts Center on the University of Nebraska Omaha campus in 2006. Heineman won the election.
Osbornes honored

Nancy and Tom Osborne share a few words while holding their hard hats just before the start of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex Memorial Stadium expansion Aug. 10, 2004.
A new challenge

Then-3rd District Congressman Tom Osborne announces his plans to run for governor during a news conference April 30, 2005 at Hastings College.
Berringer-Osborne statue

A statue of Tom Osborne and quarterback Brook Berringer stands outside Memorial Stadium at the entrance to the Osborne Athletic Complex.
Taking AD reins

Tom Osborne speaks at a news conference announcing his appointment as interim athletic director while UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman (left) listens Oct. 16, 2007.
Coach search

Interim NU athletic director Tom Osborne (left) and Chancellor Harvey Perlman arrive back in Lincoln from Atlanta on Nov. 26, 2007, after interviewing Turner Gill as a possible football head coach.
Hiring Bo

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne (right) calls the end to a news conference where Bo Pelini was introduced as Nebraska's new head football coach on Dec. 20, 2007.
Meeting with the media

NU athletic director Tom Osborne addresses the media at Memorial Stadium on March, 9, 2012.
On the job

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne speaks to reporters on Nov. 18, 2009.
New conference

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman and athletic director Tom Osborne answer questions following a unanimous vote by the Board of Regents to submit an application to the Big Ten Conference on June 11, 2010.
Big Ten comrades

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany (right) and Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne chat at a booster luncheon on Oct. 7, 2011.
Media Days

Penn State coach Joe Paterno (left) and Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne (right) join Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany during the 2010 Big Ten Media Days on Aug. 2, 2010.
Visiting with Doc

Then-Nebraska men's basketball coach Doc Sadler and athletic director Tom Osborne during a Husker game in February of 2012.
Goodbye Doc

NU athletic director Tom Osborne talks during a March 9, 2012, news conference announcing the firing of men's basketball coach Doc Sadler.
Tim Miles

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne shakes hands with new basketball coach Tim Miles before Miles addresses the media at the Hendricks Training Complex on March 24, 2012.
Welcome to NU

Nebraska's athletic director Tom Osborne and Tim Miles' wife, Kari and their children Gabriel and Ava, listen to Miles speak after accepting the job as Nebraska's basketball head coach at the Hendrix Training Complex on March 24, 2012.
Always popular

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne signs autographs for young softball fans during a game May 11, 2012, at Bowlin Stadium.
Congrats, Jordan

Olympic gold medalist and former Husker Jordan Burroughs gets a hug from NU athletic director Tom Osborne during a private special event at the Coliseum on Aug. 27, 2012.
The topping out

NU athletic director Tom Osborne speaks briefly before the final steel beam is placed atop the East Stadium Expansion Project at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30, 2012.
NU Athletics Press Conference, 9.26.12

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne announces his retirement on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Memorial Stadium.
NU Athletics Press Conference, 9.26.12

University of Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne stands to the side of the press conference called to announce his retirement effective Jan. 1, 2013 on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Memorial Stadium.
NU Athletics Press Conference, 9.26.12

University of Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman addresses the media as athletic director Tom Osborne looks on following the announcement of Osborne's impending retirement on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Memorial Stadium.
Michigan State vs. Nebraska volleyball, 9.26.12

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne (bottom left) sings the National Anthem along with the other Huksers volleyball fans prior to the start of their match against Michigan State on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at the NU Coliseum.
Goodbye

University of Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne leaves the sixth floor alone after announcing his retirement effective Jan. 1, 2013, on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Memorial Stadium.
Scott Frost news conference, 12/3/17

Scott Frost emerges from an elevator on Dec. 3, 2017, flanked by Husker athletic director Bill Moos (left) and Tom Osborne, his former coach at Nebraska.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. On Twitter @KentWolgamott