Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson issued a statement Wednesday in response to the announced retirement of Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne.

"Tom Osborne and I have been friends since we were students at the University of Nebraska and lived in the same duplex in Lincoln. In all those years and in every endeavor he has always conducted himself with honor, integrity, passion and compassion.

When he became head coach there were those who wondered if he could fill the big shoes of Bob Devaney. He not only filled the shoes, but in the true Nebraska spirit took the team to even greater heights.

Nebraska is a far better place because of the good work done by this living legend from his historic national football championships, to his six years in Congress, to athletic director, to founding TeamMates, one of the country’s premier mentoring programs.

This humble, soft spoken man who has national respect may be retiring as athletic director, but he will forever be in our hearts as a role model inspiring generations of Nebraskans yet to come."