Wingender Returns to his Roots at Nebraska

By David Graff
Growing up in Omaha, Andy Wingender has been a Husker fan his whole life. But on his way to becoming a Cornhusker, Wingender took a pit stop.

Early in his life, Wingender’s family moved to Stillwater, Okla., when his father, John, accepted a teaching position at Oklahoma State University. It was in Stillwater that Wingender played junior high football, and ultimately would have played high school football had he not taken advantage of an opportunity to return to Nebraska and attend Mount Michael High School in Elkhorn.

"I returned to Nebraska because I felt at home here," Wingender said. "It felt much more natural for me in Nebraska than it ever did in Oklahoma."

Playing fullback and linebacker for Coach Jim Kane at Mount Michael, Wingender ran for about 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior, earning both all-conference and all-area honors.

After considering attending college at Northwestern, Iowa State and Oklahoma State, Wingender ultimately decided to become a Cornhusker. He was following in the footsteps of his great-uncle Bill Wingender (fullback, 1950) and his father, John Jr. (wingback, 1969).

"The family connection is something that was very important to me," Wingender said. "I think that playing here is really a fulfillment of something. With three generations of players from my family, there is a lot of pride that we take in it."

Wingender knew that Nebraska was the right place for him.

"Walking into Memorial Stadium for the first time as a player was completely overwhelming," Wingender said. "I couldn’t believe what I was doing or what was going on. Just the idea that I was a part of something that I had idolized from the outside for so long, that I was actually under the helmet, was difficult to understand."

Now that he’s been here four years, Wingender has found a comfort zone and tries to bring a little personality to the team.

"I try to lighten the mood a lot," Wingender said. "I try to bring character to the team. Whenever things get a little rough, I try to say something to get the guys laughing. My role is being the guy who is there to kind of fill out the team’s personality."

Running backs coach Tim Albin believes Wingender fills that role nicely.

"Andy has a great attitude," Albin said. "He is why coaching is a great profession. He keeps everybody on their toes. He keeps our meetings interesting."

When he first arrived at the university, Wingender lived with his brother, John III, who was a swimmer for the Huskers.

"It was one of those times where I really bonded with my brother," Wingender said. "We hadn’t been close brothers before then, so it was very special to me."

A four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, Wingender will graduate in December with a degree in economics. After graduation, he plans to return to Omaha.

Wingender has appreciated his time here at the university, and is thankful for his parents and others who supported him.

"I have to thank my cousin, Kate," Wingender said. "She is one of my all-time biggest supporters."