That was the case with Bob Devaney late in the 1969 season.
Following Nebraska's 10-7 victory Nov. 15 at Kansas State, the Huskers were headed back to Lincoln when Devaney summoned a young assistant coach to the front of the team bus. NU was 7-2 at the time and on the cusp of some sizable wins. But back-to-back 6-4 records in 1967 and 1968 had taken a toll on Devaney.
The young assistant summoned by Devaney was Tom Osborne.
"Bob had me sit down and told me, 'I'm not going to go much longer and I'd like to have you take over the program.