He spent the better portion of his coaching career leading the Cornhuskers football team to three national championships, but on February 11, legendary head coach Tom Osborne was in front of a Nebraska legislative committee speaking against a bill that would legalize commercial gambling in the state.

Osborne joined 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers in encouraging the legislative body to vote against the gambling expansion. “I’m just a little concerned with some of the problems that might happen in our community as far as expanding the opportunities for people to risk their savings accounts, their mortgage payments, their children’s food money,” Rodgers explained to the committee.

Osborne agreed. “Most of the really unpleasant interactions I had with fans were people who had lost a bet. I think this will change the nature of the stadium, the nature of athletics, and damage it to a significant degree.”

The two may have had great success on the gridiron, but they face a tough battle on this issue. Many within the legislature feel that gambling is a necessary evil, primarily because residents are heading across the border to Iowa to make wagers on sports. A recent survey found that 80% of Nebraskans were headed to Iowa to gamble. This is denying Nebraska the opportunity to reap the benefits of that tax revenue, and this is one of the primary forces pushing the bill forward.