PRIOR LAKE, Minn. --  It was only a matter of time before former running back Dave Osborn added his name to the list of UND Football Legend Award Winners. That distinction was finally bestowed upon Osborn Sunday evening as the program's annual Football Legends Alumni Golf event began with a reception at the Legends Golf Club.

A member of the 1977 UND Athletics Hall of Fame Class, Osborn is the only player in program history to have his number retired and is the 13th former player or coach to receive the award that was established in 2010. After being presented his plaque by UND National Football Alumni Chairman Terry Kadrmas, he was presented with one of his No. 41 jerseys from his playing days at UND afterwards by last year's award winner Rob Bollinger.

"It's really great when you get something from people that you have been with in the past," Osborn said during his acceptance speech. "This means a lot more to me than winning All-Pro with the Vikings because this is from the people that I grew up with, people I started with. I can say if it was not for the guys in this room that I played with I wouldn't be standing up here today."

Osborn earned his Hall of Fame nod just a year after wrapping up a 12-year professional career that saw him earn All-Pro honors in 1969 after leading the Vikings to a berth in Super Bowl IX. The Cando, N.D. native rushed for more than 4,000 yards and played in three total Super Bowls during his time with the Vikings.

He was also named to UND's All-Century Team (1894-1994) and was one of 17 players from the 1960's that make up that 64-man squad. Several of those players were on hand to see Osborn accept the award and more than 80 players and spouses from that distinguished decade took part in a special reunion earlier in the day. 

Osborn's team from his senior season in 1964 is also in the UND Athletics Hall of Fame. The shifty tailback helped lead the Fighting Sioux to a 9-1 record and share of the North Central Conference title that season. 

UND Football Legend Award Winners
2010: Charlie Kankel
2011: Paul Robson and Don Gulseth
2012: Gene Murphy and Marv Helling
2013: Dan Martinsen, David Williamson and Corey Colehour
2014: Dick Koppenhaver
2015: Dale Lian and Bruce Smith
2016: Rob Bollinger
2017: Dave Osborn

-- UND --