Shawn Eichorst, set to take over as Univ. of Nebraska AD on Jan. 1, yesterday during his introductory press conference "used much of the beginning of his only statement to praise" outgoing AD Tom Osborne, who "watched from the back of the room," according to Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln JOURNAL STAR. Eichorst said of the Nebraska football program, "It's the engine that drives this. There's no secrets there. I appreciate the awesomeness that that is." Christopherson notes Eichorst is "scheduled to begin this week as special assistant to the chancellor, a role which figures to help him in transitioning" to the AD post. Eichorst came onto Chancellor Harvey Perlman's "radar in late August when the chancellor had a meeting with Jed Hughes, who is part of the Korn/Ferry search firm." Perlman said Hughes "had a really good sense of what we needed as opposed to what some other institution might need" (Lincoln JOURNAL STAR, 10/10). In Lincoln, Steven Sipple writes under the header, "New Husker AD Passes First Test." Sipple: "Genuine. Humble. Understated. Self-effacing. A no-BS sort." Eichorst yesterday said, "I really don't want to have to be out in front, but I know at a place like Nebraska, I need to do that. I'm prepared to do that." Sipple writes Eichorst "seems genuine when he's saying all the right things" (Lincoln JOURNAL STAR, 10/10). In Omaha, Tom Shatel writes Eichorst's speech was "well-rehearsed and well-researched." At times, Eichorst "seemed to try too hard to make the case that he's not an outsider." Nebraskans "no doubt appreciate the effort." But the "first rule" of introductory press conferences is that "actions always speak louder than words." Shatel: "It won't be until January, when he takes over, that we begin to find out if Eichorst and Nebraskans speak the same language" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 10/10).
