Buller Adapts to Role, Enjoys the Ride

By Erin Smith
With his degree already in hand, Chad Buller began the 2003 season with a new role and a new vision for the Huskers.

"Your senior season is a lot different," Buller said. "You know it's your last time out and it makes you work a lot harder. Every snap is important and you have to take them all seriously. As a senior class, we don't want to go out like last year's seniors did."

Buller graduated in August with a degree in business administration, while balancing time on the field as a member of the special teams and defense. He has played a significant role on punt and kickoff coverage teams, and is an important leader in the Husker linebacking corps.

"My role is whatever the coaches want it to be," Buller said. "I'm backing up Demorrio (Williams) and I try to help him, but I want to do whatever I can to help the team. My role is still not completely defined, but Coach Pelini and Coach Williams are great coaches and it is obvious they have a lot of experience."

Taking on different roles is nothing new to the linebacker from Henderson, Neb. Buller came to Nebraska as a running back after idolizing to Barry Sanders as a youngster. Buller, a 5-11, 215-pounder, rushed for more than 4,000 yards in his prep career and had 26 touchdowns as a high school senior.

"I actually came in as a running back, but I thought my best chance would be on defense and special teams," Buller said. "It was hard, but it was what was best."

Buller played in all 14 games in 2002, posting eight tackles on the season with a career-high three stops against Kansas.

Changing positions may have been a challenge, but Buller made graduating in four years while balancing the demands of playing college football look like a walk in the park. He has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for seven semesters and was a member of the 2002 Academic All-Big 12 First Team. He graduated with a 3.35 grade-point average and started working on a master's degree in business administration this fall.

"Graduating before the season was a big relief," Buller said. "I have focused on football more this season than any other. I try to help the younger guys, because I remember how hard it was in my first couple of years. The hardest thing was learning to balance football and school."

Walking across the stage was an important accomplishment for Buller, but he says the thing he will cherish most about his time in a Husker uniform is the friends he has made and the relationships he has built over the past few years.

"I love the camaraderie with the guys," Buller said. "You can win as many games as you want, but you will always have those friendships. That is something I will have the rest of my life. When guys came back for the OSU game, I saw a few who I played with as a freshman, and you think they won't remember you, but they do. It was neat to see all of them."

With a college education, friendships that will last a lifetime and many memorable moments on and off the field, Buller has fit a lot into his five years at Nebraska, including adapting to new roles.