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By Randy York, The N-Sider
Wednesday night was a unique experience for 750 college football fans who attended the 20th annual Outland Awards Dinner at Omaha’s Downtown DoubleTree Hotel.
Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson received the coveted 2016 Outland Award two nights after the Crimson Tide missed back-to-back national championships by a single second.
Former Oklahoma Sooner star Greg Roberts received the third annual Tom Osborne Legacy Award from Nebraska’s legendary coach while returning to receive a replica of his 1978 Outland Trophy Award. Osborne also presented his third annual Legacy Award to his longtime friend and arch rival Barry Switzer.
Switzer comically brought back the warm memories and genuine respect Nebraska and Oklahoma had for each other. The Huskers and Sooners developed a distinctive college football rivalry unlike any other because both programs appreciated their respective heydays.
Westerkamp, Armstrong Rehabbing Injuries, Sharpening Focus for NFL
Make no mistake. Wednesday’s Outland Awards Dinner was also emotional for Danny Langsdorf, Nebraska’s quarterback coach and offensive coordinator.
With help from HuskerVision and Greg Sharpe, the voice of Nebraska football, videos introduced all Nebraska honorees.
Wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp was Nebraska’s Guy Chamberlin Award winner.
Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. was the Tom Novak Trophy winner.
Linebacker Josh Banderas, pictured above with his father, Tom, and Switzer, shared the Cletus Fischer Native Son Award with Foltz.
With Westerkamp rehabbing a knee injury in Florida and Armstrong Jr. working out in Arizona to enhance his NFL stature, the spotlight focused on Foltz’s parents, and Banderas.
Foltz’s Parents Will Never Forget the Day Sam Earned a Scholarship
“As a little boy, Sam dreamed to be a Husker,” Foltz’s mother, Jill, said, accompanied by Gerald Foltz, his father.
“We will never forget the day Sam cheerfully called home and said he had earned a scholarship,” Jill said. “Sam loved being a Husker. He was proud being a Husker, and we are honored to accept this award on his behalf.”
The sellout crowd responded with an extended, emotion-filled standing ovation.
Langsdorf did his homework on all three legendary awards representing Guy Chamberlin, Tom Novak and Cletus Fischer.
He pointed out that the “C” on Chamberlin’s sweatshirt stood for Cleveland because he was the head coach for four NFL Championship teams. “To this day, he has the highest winning percentage in NFL history.”
Westerkamp fit the mold of Nebraska's legendary College Football and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer. "Westy was a player who came to practice every day ready to work," Langsdorf said. "He was a great student-athlete of the game. He had a great attitude and a great career here."
Friends, Nemeses Tom Osborne, Barry Switzer Gather in Omaha to Celebrate
From left, Nebraska's Tom Osborne, former Oklahoma quarterback Thomas Lott, former Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer, former OU lineman and 1978 Outland Trophy winner Greg Roberts, 2016 Outland Trophy winner and Alabama lineman Cam Robinson, 1971 Outland Trophy winner and former Nebraska defensive tackle Larry Jacobson, 1972 Heisman Trophy winner and former Nebraska wide receiver Johnny Rodgers, 1978 Heisman Trophy winner and former OU running back Billy Sims. All posed for this picture before the a presentation dinner for the 71st Outland Trophy on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. MATT DIXON/THE WORLD-HERALD
Armstrong Fits Novak’s Trainwreck Traits; Both Gave Great Effort Every Day
Langsdorf said Armstrong fits the traits of Tom Novak. “Novak's nickname was Trainwreck, and Tommy had the same love for competing like he did," Langsdorf said. "Tommy was the quite the competitor. He gave great effort every time he was on the field.”
Foltz and Banderas are role-model representatives of the Cletus Fischer Award. “Clete grew up in town with a population of 300," Langsdorf said. "He coached 12 first-team All-Americans in 17 years. I told Coach Riley we have a lot of work to do.”
Langsdorf mentioned the traits it takes for native sons to exemplify Fischer’s relentless drive to greatness – work ethic, acceptance, a sense of pride and loyalty. "We had a punter who was all of that and a linebacker who put his heart and soul into being a Husker," Langsdorf said.
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