OSBORNE – Osborne football coach Steve Tiernan said he would never ride his motorcycle at night. However, in early August, Tiernan broke his promise.
Tiernan crashed in the ditch about four miles west of Tipton on Highway 181 on the morning of Aug. 3, according to reports.
He suffered numerous injuries, including some broken ribs, a shoulder injury and a fractured skull.
He was lucky to be alive.
A former Osborne student was driving home when he saw lights in a ditch. The student went home, but then went back to check in the ditch and found the lights were from a motorcycle and found Tiernan.
Tiernan was unconscious and was quickly life-watched to Wichita and spent several days in the ICU. For the next month, Tiernan spent time in various hospitals.
Assistant coach Cullen Riner, the former head coach before Tiernan, took over as head coach. Longtime assistant Ken Ubelaker, who announced his retirement after last season, rejoined the staff. Marty Wolters, father of standout wide receiver Brandt Wolters, has helped the staff, too.
The day before the season-opening game versus powerhouse Thunder Ridge, then ranked No. 1 in Eight-Man, Division II, Tiernan left the hospital. The nurses told him to go home to bed. But Tiernan noticed the clock and thought he could make to Bulldog practice. Tiernan arrived at the Osborne complex and started to walk up the stairs to bleachers. He struggled walking and fell down.
Later, he addressed the players – the first time he had seen the entire team since before the injury.
“I made sure that they understood, there is nothing to feel sorry for about a stupid decision, because that’s truly what it was,” Tiernan said. “It was not bad luck. It was not ‘oh, poor me.’ It was just flat dumb. That’s one thing that I try to teach these guys is your decisions carry you through life.
“So don’t say it’s bad luck, or poor me, because most of the bad things that happen to you are brought on by yourself, which that’s what this was,” he added. “It wasn’t bad luck, it was just being dumb. I keep hammering that to those guys.”
A month later, Tiernan still calls the night ride “the stupidest decision.” But Tiernan’s injury has produced a recovery that many have called divine intervention. Stephanie Tiernan, Steve’s wife, said multiple doctors have told the family they’ve never seen somebody improve so quickly.
“I really do think this is a miracle,” Stephanie said.
Tiernan returned to the sideline in Week 2, and outside of double vision, is completely healthy.
“It’s great to see him back,” Lincoln coach Garry Lowry said. “You don’t want to see anybody go through that type of deal. For him to be back is absolutely amazing – almost maybe a miracle to see him going, because that incident could have turned a lot differently. Great to see another coach back on the sidelines and does a great job with the program.”
Osborne is 5-0, ranked No. 2 in Eight-Man, Division I and on an 18-game winning streak, currently the best in the eight-man ranks.
“All the doctors say I should either be dead or be brain dead,” Tiernan said. “Thank God. I thank everybody for the cards, for the prayers, for everything. It’s a weird deal. Everywhere I have been, they have said, ‘Well, it’s going to take this long,’ and three days later, I am good to go.”
Tiernan didn’t return to school until Sept. 29 and still uses a railing to go down even a few stairs. Tiernan can’t legally drive, but Osborne police officers said he could if he wears an eye patch over one eye. The double vision is expected to go away, but he has needed some help on the football field.
“I really feel like there is something good, something big that is going to come of this, and I have told Steve that, that he has had so much influence on so many teenagers – and he is still friends and is still in contact with his players from all the years – and I told him, even if this helps save the life of one person just by his comeback story, that it will be worth it,” Stephanie said. “We are not going to know if that happens, but I really do think that something good will happen from this.”
Their son, Jake, is in his third year as the starting quarterback and continues as one of Kansas’ best signal callers. Jake said “he didn’t know what was going to happen” to his dad at first, but then saw the fast progression.
“His mind is just like it was – always sarcastic just like it used to be,” Jake said. “He is always making jokes.”
The Tiernans have two other children, eighth-grader Haley and Tate, 4. Jake, known for his intelligence on the field, has always been close with his father.
“It is a breath of fresh air to have some normalcy again, and I am so happy to see both of them happy, and back in the same routine,” Stephanie said. “It’s good for Jake and for Steve.”
Tiernan watched the first game, a 52-28 win against Thunder Ridge, and has coached the last four. The architect of the highest-scoring eight-man offense in state history last fall, Tiernan has helped Osborne again put up big numbers. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 260-86.
In games, Riner stands next to Tiernan when the Bulldogs are on offense.
“It’s really nice to know that our coach is all right," senior lineman Shane Hendrickson said. "Riner really stepped up.
After the play, Tiernan, because of his double vision, normally asks Riner several questions, including if the defense moved or what players adjusted.
Two Thursdays ago, Tiernan was standing right behind Jake in practice when Jake threw a deep pass. Steve asked his son, ”Who were you throwing that to?” Then, Tiernan heard everyone yelling. Jake’s pass had went around 50 yards downfield and hit the guy in stride.
“As it took off, I see two balls, and I focused on the lower ball and it looked like it just went into the ground 10 yards in front of us,” Tiernan said. “My eyes are still not very good, so it does make that tough to see that.”
But doctors have told Tiernan the eyesight should return in several weeks – part of the incredible comeback for one of Kansas’ best coaches.
“I am just lucky,” Steve said. “God was looking after me, I guess, because it doesn’t make any sense, that’s for sure.”
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