Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Hall of Fame to Honor Wiegert
By Brent Wasenius/Managing-Sports Editor
ELKHORN - Long before his younger brother was named an All-American or won the Outland Trophy, Erik Wiegert made a name for himself in the annals of the University of Nebraska football.
Wiegert, a graduate of Fremont Bergan, is being recognized for the contributions he made during his career (1987-91) with the Huskers. He is one of six former Huskers picked for induction into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Wiegert, Eric Anderson, Donta Jones, Tyrone Legette, Jason Peter and Kevin Ramaekers will be inducted Sept. 21 in Lincoln. They will also receive on-field recognition prior to Nebraska's home game with Ball State on Sept. 22.
“It is a tremendous honor,” said Wiegert, who resides in Elkhorn with his wife Terese and children Lauren, 7, and Cassidy, 5. “There have been so many fantastic players to go through Nebraska. To be in the Hall of Fame with some of those guys is very humbling for me.”
One of those players already in the hall is Wiegert's brother, Zach. The 1994 Outland Trophy winner completed his 12th season in the National Football League last fall.
Legette served as one of the co-captains with Erik Wiegert during their senior year of 1991. Ramaekers, who finished his eligibility in 1993, remains a close friend.
"I called Kevin right away when I found out about it,” Wiegert said. “He hadn't heard it yet. He was at his in-laws house outside of Atlanta when I was talking to him. He hadn't got the letter yet and he thought I was kidding at first.”
Wiegert's career with the Huskers was no laughing matter. Linemen such as Brian Boerboom and eventual Kansas City star Will Shields joined forces with the Fremont native to help the Huskers win the NCAA rushing title (353.2 yards per game) in 1991.
During that senior season, Wiegert started the first three games at left tackle before moving to left guard. He went on to earn All-Big Eight honors as NU shared the conference title with Colorado.
Wiegert said he owes a lot of his success to the tutelage he received from NU assistant coaches Dan Young and Milt Tenopir, who were in charges of the offensive linemen.
“Coach Tenopir and Young weren't only fantastic coaches, they were also father figures,” he said. “I still stay in contact with them. My brother has been in the NFL for 12 years and he has said the best coaches he ever had were at Nebraska with Coach Young, Coach Tenopir and Coach (Tom) Osborne.”
Osborne, who served as head coach from 1973-1997, won three national championships after Erik Wiegert finished his playing days in Lincoln. The Huskers finished 9-3 in 1990 with two of the losses to co-national champions Colorado and Georgia Tech. In 1991, NU went 9-2-1 with the defeats coming to co-national title holders Washington and Miami (Fla.).
The wear and tear of playing college football prompted Wiegert to decide not to pursue a career in the NFL.
“Basically every year I hurt something,” he said. “I didn't practice much my senior year. I basically got through it with a bad knee and a bad back. I decided I didn't want to continue with it. I've always thought I made the right decision because I feel pretty good physically now.”
Wiegert is currently a vice president in charge of the trucking division for Work Transportation Specialists. He has been with the company for about 15 years.
In his spare time, Wiegert keeps tabs on his brother's career and also attends every NU home game. He has been more than a casual observer to the changes the program has undergone during Coach Bill Callahan's era.
“I think when you watched the team three seasons ago it was noticeable that the talent level had dipped,” Wiegert said. “I think from that standpoint they've got the talent back to a top-25 level. How good of a coach he is, I don't know because I'm not around the program anymore.
“I'm from Nebraska and I'll always be a Nebraska fan so I'll root for him. It seems he has things going in the right direction. I just hope he keeps the momentum going.”
E-mail This Story Print This Story
By Brent Wasenius/Managing-Sports Editor
ELKHORN - Long before his younger brother was named an All-American or won the Outland Trophy, Erik Wiegert made a name for himself in the annals of the University of Nebraska football.
Wiegert, a graduate of Fremont Bergan, is being recognized for the contributions he made during his career (1987-91) with the Huskers. He is one of six former Huskers picked for induction into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Wiegert, Eric Anderson, Donta Jones, Tyrone Legette, Jason Peter and Kevin Ramaekers will be inducted Sept. 21 in Lincoln. They will also receive on-field recognition prior to Nebraska's home game with Ball State on Sept. 22.
“It is a tremendous honor,” said Wiegert, who resides in Elkhorn with his wife Terese and children Lauren, 7, and Cassidy, 5. “There have been so many fantastic players to go through Nebraska. To be in the Hall of Fame with some of those guys is very humbling for me.”
One of those players already in the hall is Wiegert's brother, Zach. The 1994 Outland Trophy winner completed his 12th season in the National Football League last fall.
Legette served as one of the co-captains with Erik Wiegert during their senior year of 1991. Ramaekers, who finished his eligibility in 1993, remains a close friend.
"I called Kevin right away when I found out about it,” Wiegert said. “He hadn't heard it yet. He was at his in-laws house outside of Atlanta when I was talking to him. He hadn't got the letter yet and he thought I was kidding at first.”
Wiegert's career with the Huskers was no laughing matter. Linemen such as Brian Boerboom and eventual Kansas City star Will Shields joined forces with the Fremont native to help the Huskers win the NCAA rushing title (353.2 yards per game) in 1991.
During that senior season, Wiegert started the first three games at left tackle before moving to left guard. He went on to earn All-Big Eight honors as NU shared the conference title with Colorado.
Wiegert said he owes a lot of his success to the tutelage he received from NU assistant coaches Dan Young and Milt Tenopir, who were in charges of the offensive linemen.
“Coach Tenopir and Young weren't only fantastic coaches, they were also father figures,” he said. “I still stay in contact with them. My brother has been in the NFL for 12 years and he has said the best coaches he ever had were at Nebraska with Coach Young, Coach Tenopir and Coach (Tom) Osborne.”
Osborne, who served as head coach from 1973-1997, won three national championships after Erik Wiegert finished his playing days in Lincoln. The Huskers finished 9-3 in 1990 with two of the losses to co-national champions Colorado and Georgia Tech. In 1991, NU went 9-2-1 with the defeats coming to co-national title holders Washington and Miami (Fla.).
The wear and tear of playing college football prompted Wiegert to decide not to pursue a career in the NFL.
“Basically every year I hurt something,” he said. “I didn't practice much my senior year. I basically got through it with a bad knee and a bad back. I decided I didn't want to continue with it. I've always thought I made the right decision because I feel pretty good physically now.”
Wiegert is currently a vice president in charge of the trucking division for Work Transportation Specialists. He has been with the company for about 15 years.
In his spare time, Wiegert keeps tabs on his brother's career and also attends every NU home game. He has been more than a casual observer to the changes the program has undergone during Coach Bill Callahan's era.
“I think when you watched the team three seasons ago it was noticeable that the talent level had dipped,” Wiegert said. “I think from that standpoint they've got the talent back to a top-25 level. How good of a coach he is, I don't know because I'm not around the program anymore.
“I'm from Nebraska and I'll always be a Nebraska fan so I'll root for him. It seems he has things going in the right direction. I just hope he keeps the momentum going.”
E-mail This Story Print This Story