This Husker Knows the Meaning of Gut Checks

Willie Miller is not exactly a household name for Nebraska football followers, but the former Husker fullback from Omaha has a triumphant story that demonstrates how bad times can get and how a swift kick in the teeth just might be the best thing that can ever happen to you.

 

Thankfully, Miller found a victorious ally in the Omaha-based Nebraska Greats Foundation. It helped Miller and encouraged him during times so grueling that failure seemed inevitable.     

 

“They were the start point for turning my life around,” Miller said, pointing out that as soon as he walked off the field at the Alamo Bowl, he knew it would be his last game.

“I knew I would not be able to continue playing football, the sport that I loved the most,” Miller said.

 

Miller worked in pharmaceutical sales, but his back kept getting worse. His daughter, born in 2004, was a baby who grew up needing her dad, even though he could hardly pick her up.

 

Miller knew life should not have been that way. “The biggest problem was having that responsibility,” he told me. “It hurt me in my job. I would carry my bag and everything I needed to talk to customers about certain products.”

 

His back hurt so much that he had to switch to a roller bag so he could do his job.

 

At that point, through medication, Miller was facing multiple challenges and reaching the most perplexing time in his life.

 

During that crucial timetable, Nebraska’s talented, gritty fullback had a road rage incident that became newsworthy across his home state.

 

The Omaha native totally accepted his responsibilities and actions. “At that point, I moved on,” he said. “I made a big mistake and started to reflect on everything that happened. I analyzed why I acted that way and knew what was going on.”

 

A humbled Miller faced his charges and came to an astonishing conclusion. Because of his back, he had no choice to continue working in a profession that he truly enjoyed.

 

“I had to face my charges,” he said. “I had no choice. Because of my back, I had to declare disability, even though it made it hard to pay the bills. I just barely got by. I even got to the point where I was struggling so bad, I was late to appointments.”

 

Fortunately, his top priority was seeing his daughter every time visitation was available.

 

Unfortunately, the times and circumstances got so low, Miller had no funds to buy food for his refrigerator so he could help feed his beloved daughter.

 

“Whenever I had her, I had to scrounge up something in the car, so we could get something to eat,” Miller said.

Shockingly, “For the first time in my life, I became very, very suicidal,” Miller said. “I slit my wrists and everything else,” he said. “Finally, I decided either check it out or try something new.”

 

His drive and determination reflected what he learned in college. “I looked at it as the moment that we get to decide what we’re really made of,” he said.

 

Despite the problems and disappointments, Miller found new ways to measure victory.

 

The Nebraska Greats Foundation in Omaha encouraged and helped him during grueling times. “They were the start point for me to change,” he said.

 

Who would have thought that six years ago, when the Nebraska Greats Association was in the organizing stage of its foundation, would be where it is. 

 

Nebraska’s association has helped 13 athletes pay $275,000 for medical bills. 

 

“The generosity of our former players, fans and businesses across the state of Nebraska has launched us into a whole new category,” said former Husker All-America linebacker Jerry Murtaugh, who launched the Nebraska Greats Association Foundation.

 

“There really is NO place like Nebraska,” Murtaugh said. “Who would have thought that just by making the commitment and lettering in an athlete’s favorite sport while attending any college or university in the state of Nebraska, we can provide a whole new level of help and support.

 

“Nebraska is the only state that does this for collegiate athletes,” Murtaugh said. “We’re getting contacted to help others set up a foundation like ours. That is good ole Nebraska. We lead the way in class, kindness and caring.”

 

No wonder Willie Miller does his level best to meet Nebraska’s standards in leadership.

He watched the Michigan-Nebraska game two days ago and shares his thoughts about a lopsided loss.

 

“When the game was over I had to ask myself a personal question,” Miller said. “Do I believe? The answer to this question is simple for me. I know Scott Frost, our head coach, personally. I know that he is a man of honor, integrity and competing.”

 

Miller thought about Frost on a deep level when he saw Nebraska players wearing the scarlet and cream while representing the home state that he loves.

 

“Do I believe in our team and their ability to get the job done?” Miller asked. “My answer is yes. Adversity is a part of the game of football just like it is in life. When someone knocks us down, we get to decide about standing back up and continuing to battle.”

When Miller was a kid, he thoroughly enjoyed watching two specific running backs – Walter Payton also known as Sweetness with the Chicago Bears, and Mike Rozier, who played for the Houston Oilers after winning the Heisman Trophy at Nebraska.

“The thing that caught my eye about these two running backs was their style,” Miller said. “Neither one was concerned about running around you and when they had to, they would run directly over you.”

No wonder Miller emulated Payton’s style of running, beginning in peewee league football. Even though Miller was fast as a young kid, he loved running over people more than running away from them.

Growing up, Miller did not know that Mike Rozier played for Nebraska because he did not watch college football. “I enjoyed watching him in the NFL,” said Miller, who did everything he could to emulate Mike’s running style.”

When Miller found out that Rozier had played for Nebraska and had won the Heisman Trophy, “it took a little while for me to let that soak in,” he said, admitting why he keeps asking himself the same question.

“How in the heck did I not know about this?” he asked.

“There has always been a dream in the back of my head to wear red and white while playing football,” Miller said. “I thought it was because a team we always played wore red and white and never seemed to lose. Now I feel that it had a deeper subliminal meaning.”

Coming to Nebraska, Miller knew he was going to have to play fullback because at his size. He liked the top-end speed of the running backs that played. “I was also aware of the fact that I was going to have to do something I hated, which was blocking.”

Miller mentally told himself that he was going to love blocking as much as he loved running the ball and was going to take the same pride in leveling an opponent while lead blocking.

“There’s a lot that has happened in my life that I look back on, and it makes a lot more sense than it did during the time I went through it,” Miller said, adding that his faith helped him realize that everything happens for a reason.

Miller was the starting fullback at Nebraska for two years.

“Mike Rozier has overcome some things in his life that many don’t,” Miller said. “He’s a friend and a fighter when it comes to getting back to the positive things in life.

“I’m trying to emulate Mike in my personal journey,” Miller said. “I thank him for providing the example of a running style that allowed me to enjoy the game for as long as I did at that level. We all are growing and maturing into the people we are called to be.

“These kids deal with way more than we old guys had to deal with and way more than the average fans even think about,” Miller told me. “The social media is the pressure of living under a microscope for everything they do every day.”

Small wonder why negativity breeds like wildfire. “Unfortunately we’ve started off this season in a way that may have a lot of Husker fans disappointed,” said Miller, who reminds himself that football is just like life – everything is a process and it takes time.

 

“I know that Coach Frost and his staff are still very optimistic about our program and the future to come,” Miller said. “Coach Frost simply made a factual statement before the year even started and that statement was letting all of our opponents know that now is the time to get us if you plan on it.

 

“This is the beginning of an era and if you call yourself a true die-hard Husker fan then that’s something you need to remember when going through these games week by week,” Miller said.

 

“We need to stay positive and see and feel about the players on the field,” Miller said. “This allows them to stop focusing on the negative plays which is very detrimental to their psyche.”

 

Loyal Huskers remember that they are on the right track. “Some pieces of the puzzle just need to continue falling into place,” Miller said. “They’re not going to give up. Things are going to eventually work out the way many have never thought or envisioned could have happened.” 

 

Being positive helps remind players to do what it takes and strive for more power than we can imagine.

 

“I can promise you this,” Miller said. “This is a temporary thing, but if you stay in there you stay positive about our players and the progress they have already made from last year to this year. Then you are going to feel like the true diehard fan.”

 

As a former player, Miller can proudly say when he looks in the mirror, regardless of what happens or what the score was, “every single snap of that ball was giving everything we had.”

 

The same positivity will carry Miller to be the man who wants to leave a legacy for Nebraska. Now that he has moved back to Omaha, Miller is furthering his education so he can get his nursing degree and work with children.

 

One thing is certain. Willie Miller has the DNA to deliver whatever he deems important.

 

He is so appreciative that the Nebraska Greats Foundation helped pay for his back surgery, which triggered a goal that he had been waiting to reach for years.

 

In one year’s time after his surgery, Miller dropped from 420 pounds to 240 pounds.

 

Now that he has moved to Omaha, Willie Miller is back home and doing everything possible to keep his eyes on the stars, so he can remember why it’s so important to keep your feet on the ground.

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider