Wistrom Named to College Football Hall of Fame

Nebraska great Grant Wistrom is among 18 players and coaches who are part of the 2009 College Football Hall of Fame class. This year’s list of inductees was announced on Thursday in New York City by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Wistrom will become the 14th Nebraska player in the College Football Hall of Fame, along with six former Cornhusker coaches. He and the other members of the 2009 Hall of Fame class will officially be inducted in New York City on Dec. 8. Wistrom is the first Nebraska player to join the Hall since 1983 Heisman winner Mike Rozier was inducted in 2006.

Wistrom said he was humbled by the honor of being selected to the College Football Hall of Fame and owes much of his success to his coaches and former teammates.

“I don’t even know where to begin to thank the coaches and players who have helped me receive this special award,” Wistrom said. “Obviously, this is not only an honor for me, but is indicative of the guys I played with and the coaches who helped me develop to my full potential.

“Our teams posted the best four-year record in the history of college football, and I know there are other deserving candidates from those teams. I would like to specifically thank Coach Osborne, Charlie McBride and Tony Samuel for helping me develop as a player on the field and a man off the field.”

Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne, Wistrom’s college coach, said the selection was very deserving. Osborne is one of six Nebraska coaches in the Hall, having been inducted in 1998, immediately following his retirement.

“Grant Wistrom was an ideal representative of University of Nebraska athletics,” Osborne said. “He was an outstanding student, a great player and had exceptional leadership skills. His decision to return to Nebraska for his senior year was critical to our undefeated season in 1997. During his time at Nebraska, Grant certainly represented Nebraska admirably on and off the field.”

Wistrom was the anchor of the Husker defense during one of the most successful eras in college football. During his career from 1994 to 1997, the Cornhuskers compiled a 49-2 record and won three national championships. Wistrom was a two-time first-team All-American in 1996 and 1997, and in 1997 he became the fourth Nebraska player to capture the Lombardi Award.

The Webb City, Mo., native holds the school record for tackles for loss with 58.5 for 260 yards, and he ranks second in Nebraska history with 26.5 sacks. Wistrom had his No. 98 jersey retired during the 1998 season.

As a senior captain in 1997, Wistrom earned Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors for the second straight season by posting 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. His play helped Nebraska rank fifth nationally in total defense and capture its third national title in four seasons. During his junior season, Wistrom was a key part of a Nebraska defense that finished in the top 10 nationally in all four major defensive categories. His 9.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss helped Wistrom earn first-team All-America honors and he was named Big 12 Player of the Year.

Wistrom accounted for 15 tackles for loss in Nebraska’s dominant 12-0 national title campaign in 1995. His play earned him third-team All-America honors and first-team All-Big Eight accolades. Wistrom burst onto the scene as a true freshman and helped Nebraska to its first national title in 23 seasons. In 1994, Wistrom made 36 tackles, including 4.5 sacks and earned Big Eight Newcomer-of-the-Year honors.

Wistrom’s accomplishments at Nebraska were not limited to the football field. He was a two-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American (1996, 1997) and is one of 16 Nebraska student-athletes to win the NCAA Top Eight Award (1997). He also earned the NFF/HOF Postgraduate Scholarship following his senior campaign and was the Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year for 1997-98.

Wistrom was the sixth overall selection in the 1998 National Football League Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He spent six seasons with the Rams from 1998 to 2003, including a Super Bowl title in 1999 and an NFC title in 2001. He played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2004 to 2006, helping Seattle to the Super Bowl following the 2005 season. He retired following the 2006 season.

What Others Said About Wistrom’s Selection to the College Football Hall of Fame:

“You knew when you watched Grant in high school that he was special. He has worked so hard to be the best over the years he has played. This is one of the highest honors you can receive as a college football player, being voted in not only by your peers, but your coaches, athletes and members of the media. Without a doubt, Grant is very deserving of this honor because of his lifelong, dedicated effort to be the best. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

 Charlie McBride, Nebraska Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach, 1977-99

                                                                                                                                           
“When you play a team sport like football, the biggest concern you have is whether or not the guy next to you is going to get the job done and have his motor running full speed all the time. When I put my hand in the dirt and looked to my right or left and saw Grant, I knew I had nothing to worry about. He was the type of guy that you dream about playing next to. He doesn’t understand the word half-speed. When you look up the word “Blackshirt” in the dictionary, chances are you’ll see a picture of Grant Wistrom next to it.

“I can count on one hand in my years of playing football the guys you knew you would have your back no matter the situation, not only on the field, but off it, and Grant was at the top of the list. I have been through a lot, and Grant never turned his back on me. He has always been there to support me, and he will be a brother to me forever.”

Jason Peter, Wistrom’s Nebraska teammate, 1994-97