'There's not a kid I coached that I didn't fall in love with'

Longtime Nebraska coach Milt Tenopir, 76, died Monday night, a Nebraska Athletic Department spokesperson confirmed to KETV.He had been battling leukemia. Just last week, the former offensive line coach, who was a part of three national championship-winning teams, spent an afternoon with the Cornhuskers. Each member of the team greeted him following practice the Thursday before the Nebraska-Northwestern game.Tenopir coached for 41 years, including 29 under Tom Osborne. The Huskers went 295-63-2 under his direction, revolutionizing the counter sweep, a mainstay of the team's offense, before he stepped down in 2003 due to health reasons."If you've got a red 'N' on your hat, it means something," he told KETV in 2014. "That means something. It means you don't ever give up. It means you try to be a perfectionist in everything that you do."There's not a kid I coached that I didn't fall in love with."Current Nebraska offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh posted the following message on Twitter: "One of the Greatest of all Time! Great Man, Friend and Mentor! Love you Coach #RIP"Graduate assistant coach Roman Sapolu posted the following message on Twitter: "I am very fortunate to have gotten to know you Coach Tenopir! Words cannot describe how special you are, Thank You!"Former Nebraska tight end Zach Potter posted the following message on Twitter: "Very sad to hear Milt Tenopir has died tonight! He was a true ambassador for the #Huskers and #HuskerNation Great man and great coach! #RIP"Coach Mike Riley released a statement on the passing of former Nebraska assistant coach Milt Tenopir:"Milt Tenopir was a great man and it was a blessing for our staff to get to know him over the past couple years. He will be truly missed but the impact he left will always be remembered. Milt will forever be a Husker."

Longtime Nebraska coach Milt Tenopir, 76, died Monday night, a Nebraska Athletic Department spokesperson confirmed to KETV.



He had been battling leukemia.

[Video: Former Nebraska coach Milt Tenopir dies]

Just last week, the former offensive line coach, who was a part of three national championship-winning teams, spent an afternoon with the Cornhuskers. Each member of the team greeted him following practice the Thursday before the Nebraska-Northwestern game.

Tenopir coached for 41 years, including 29 under Tom Osborne. The Huskers went 295-63-2 under his direction, revolutionizing the counter sweep, a mainstay of the team's offense, before he stepped down in 2003 due to health reasons.

"If you've got a red 'N' on your hat, it means something," he told KETV in 2014. "That means something. It means you don't ever give up. It means you try to be a perfectionist in everything that you do.

"There's not a kid I coached that I didn't fall in love with."

Current Nebraska offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh posted the following message on Twitter: "One of the Greatest of all Time! Great Man, Friend and Mentor! Love you Coach #RIP"

Graduate assistant coach Roman Sapolu posted the following message on Twitter: "I am very fortunate to have gotten to know you Coach Tenopir! Words cannot describe how special you are, Thank You!"

Former Nebraska tight end Zach Potter posted the following message on Twitter: "Very sad to hear Milt Tenopir has died tonight! He was a true ambassador for the #Huskers and #HuskerNation Great man and great coach! #RIP"

Coach Mike Riley released a statement on the passing of former Nebraska assistant coach Milt Tenopir:

"Milt Tenopir was a great man and it was a blessing for our staff to get to know him over the past couple years. He will be truly missed but the impact he left will always be remembered. Milt will forever be a Husker."

