Coronation's Duties and Obligations

On opposite sides of the spectrum, young and old, black and white, player and coach, they were king for the day-Eric Lofton as Homecoming King, Tom Osborne as Ak-Sar-Ben King. Both bet their lives on the gridiron.

On this particular role of the dice, there's homefield advantage. A maelstrom of events can now be put in context.

Indeed, one never dreamed a coronation would predate a request: reach down to the very core of his existence, a symbolic defying of the odds and the gods to lead Husker football to victory; the other never dreamed a coronation would predate a request to reach down to the very core of his existence, a symbolic defying of the gods and the odds, to lead Huskie football to victory.

The honor of the day, the glittering crown, the smiles and cheers from the crowd, things pigskin as backdrop-such glory. Fame, however, so fleeting, is now past. Their subjects, clamoring for redress, calling for answers, are unsure and afraid. The kings must answer to the hue and cry.

As the song says: Tom, our Husker Nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

As the song says: Eric, our Huskie Nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

No simple task, for AD Osborne, to pull a season from the ashes. No simple task, for Northwest senior Lofton, to right the physical and mental ship of state.

King Lofton's task, more private, less duly recorded, vertigo ascending, will nevertheless be Huskie tough: pull a life from out of the dark tailspin of doubt and despair-natural bridesmaids when it comes to brain injury recovery-and onto one of dreams and fulfillment.

King Tom's task, more public, duly recorded, vertigo ascending, will nevertheless be Husker tough: pull a season from out of the dark tailspin of doubt and despair-natural bridesmaids when it comes to losing records-and onto one of dreams and fulfillment.

Of course, it's easy to say things like, "It won't be easy"; "You'll have to work hard"; "We're with you all the way" (behind the nagging "Can they do it?") but really it can't be helped. While Tom-oh so public-will have legions of support and tons of $$ to work with, Eric-oh so personal-will have legions of support yet $$-wise perhaps not as much to work with. Rex Tom has experience on his side; Rex Eric has youth.

One miracle arrived; why not expect another?

And, looking through the lens at three decades post-sea change, I can say, "Just hang on for the ride, guys-not real smooth but sure is fascinating!" While frustration gets way beyond the pale, you know you've been places few have ever been, seen things few will ever see. Of course it's a new road and it's the one Robert Frost so clearly recommended-the one less traveled.

It makes all the difference.

Road warrior advice: ride easy in harness (which Frost also said). While the analytic and "this ain't fair" part of me found it tough to work steady post-trauma, it's also a lesson about the tough breaks in sports specifically, life generally. But like another song says, you can't always get what you want-you get what you need.

Tom, looking at a familial Memorial Field-a sea of Red, of Blackshirts, from dull to bright and back to dull again, by maddening and unpredictable turns-embraces the Future, the Unknown. Eric, no stranger to fast gridiron action, looking to step firmly from the wheelchair, also embraces the Unknown, the Future.

Tom's is an external struggle to get a vaunted football program back on course, to restore order.

Eric's quest, if not now before the cheering crowd, nevertheless is on a very private field-a spirit regrouping, a hand regripping, a fire rekindling-all rolled into one.

For both, it's a goal line stand-a personal season, a public season. Starting out as underdogs, they see a widening point spread (naysayers wear doubt like a torn gown). It's an epic battle that won't be decided today or tomorrow. They're in it for the long haul. Married to the gridiron.

It's 1^st and 10 at the 20-yard line. Are you going to do it again?

It's 4^th and goal in the Red Zone. A single question as days turn to weeks, and weeks to years: go for glory or settle for a tie?

The Husker faithful, the Huskie fans already know your answer: go for gridiron two.

We know these kings are miracle workers.