Nebraska honors Tom Osborne in his final home game

Saturday's game against Minnesota was senior day for Nebraska, a time to honor players like running back Rex Burkhead, tight end Kyler Reed and others, but it was also Tom Osborne's final home game as the school's athletic director.

As such, the school paid respect to Osborne along with the team's upperclassmen, spelling out "Thanks Tom" with placards in the stands and giving Osborne one final chance to lead the team onto the field before kickoff.

It's a Nebraska tradition: "Tunnel Walk," it's called. The head coach, now Bo Pelini, walks the players and staff out of the locker room and over a long, red carpet – surrounded by hundreds of screaming, red-clad fans – leading under the stadium and onto the turf.

This time (for one last time), Osborne and Pelini walked side-by-side in front of the Cornhuskers.

In addition, fans on one side of the stadium held up signs that spelled out "Thanks Tom" while the band, on the field, spelled out "Huskers."

What does Osborne mean to Nebraska? It's difficult to put into words. The Cornhuskers' overall record with Osborne associated with the program (as an assistant, head coach and athletic director) is 402-91-5. All five of the program's national titles came with Osborne on the coaching staff.

On Jan. 1, Osborne will retire after five years as Nebraska's athletic director. He returned to the university at the tail end of Bill Callahan's disappointing tenure with the program, and hired Pelini shortly thereafter.

He'll be replaced by former Miami (Fla.) athletic director Shawn Eichorst, who has some big shoes to fill.