Bob Devaney was the star of the show at Memorial Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Nearly 100 people made their way to the newly expanded East Memorial Stadium for the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue of Devaney just outside Gate 20. The statue was sculpted by Omaha artist Joe Putjenter.
Timing was perfect for the unveiling of the statue – the first game of Nebraska’s 2013 season pits the Huskers against Wyoming, the two schools where Devaney was head coach.
“With the stadium’s anniversary, the dedication of the expanded East Stadium and the fact that Wyoming and Nebraska were the only two schools that Bob Devaney ever served as head football coach, we thought this was the perfect time to honor his tremendous legacy,” Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said.
Other speakers included Chancellor Harvey Perlman and former head coach and athletic director emeritus Tom Osborne, who worked with Devaney for nearly 30 years. Osborne was a graduate assistant coach in Devaney’s first year, and was later handpicked by Devaney to follow him as head coach in 1973.
Devaney’s son and grandson, Mike and Rob, respectively, were also in attendance for the brief ceremony.
“His first love was coaching and football was something that he didn’t see just as a job,” Mike Devaney said of his late father. “I think my dad would be very happy to have this acknowledgment next to football and the stadium.”
