KEN HAMBLETON COLUMN: Wistrom calls on NU friends to raise money for his charity

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It seemed like a day after another Husker victory.

Grant Wistrom, tall, wiggy blond hair, shirttail hanging out, hugging his defensive coach Charlie McBride.

Jeff Ogard showed up, shook hands, slapped Wistrom on the back and they talked a little football.

Jon Hesse, Damon Benning, medical school student Rob Zatechka, Tony Veland, Matt Vrzal, Terry Connealy and Wistrom's opposite defensive end at Nebraska, Jared Tomich, all members of Husker national championship football teams with Wistrom gathered for pictures and signed autographs for the fans.

But it wasn't 1994 or 1995 or 1997, it was Friday night in the Holiday Inn Downtown ballroom.

Wistrom had called his friends and former teammates together to help him raise money for his foundation and Camp CoHoLo, a children's cancer camp near Gretna.

"It's easy to come here, to count on friends saying they'll show up and knowing they are coming," Wistrom said. "In St. Louis, when I was with the Rams, you never knew for sure. But here, it seems like none of us can let go of Lincoln and Nebraska and it won't let go of us."

McBride made the trip from his home in Fountain Hills, Ariz., "because Grant asked me to come." The others came for the same reason.

Wistrom sold himself and others on the idea that charity for children stricken with cancer and other life threatening diseases is as important as anything he, and they, can do.

"As athletes, we have been given so much ... healthy bodies to play football, and the ability to enjoy the game and, for some of us, even get paid," he said. "If we can do something in return, like give a kid a chance for a day outside the hospital, we should."

Wistrom gets paid a lot. He left St. Louis for Seattle in the off-season when he jumped from another six-year contract offer with the Rams for a six-year contract with the Seahawks that included a $14 million signing bonus.

He appeared in the recent list of Sports Illustrated's 50 Fortunate. He's No. 37 on the list, between golfer Phil Mickelson and New York Yankee pitcher Kevin Brown.

"That part is pretty unbelievable to be on that list," Wistrom said. "I was in love with St. Louis and I had it pretty comfortable, being from Missouri and all.

"But this is a business and if they could have gotten another player cheaper than me, they would. I went with a team that was in the playoffs last year and is going to be a contender for the next few years.

"Plus, I couldn't turn my head away from that kind of bonus either."

There's no extra pressure to perform, he said.

"The biggest pressure is the pressure you put on yourself," he said. "I went from the happiest to the saddest in five seconds when I signed the new contract. But I think Ican be happy in Seattle and I believe I can help the team."

Wistrom still carries the reputation as the hardest-working, hardest-playing player in the NFL. He has been cited by analysts, coaches and other players year after year for his hustle, desire and ability to change games.

"He can play and he can make a difference," said his old Husker teammate Tomich, who is opening a custom motorcycle shop in Schererville, Ind.

McBride said there is no question that Wistrom was a top producer in college and continues to do the same in the NFL because his former player works harder than anybody else.

Wistrom shrugs off the praise.

"I learned long ago, when I was playing for Nebraska and I met Kendall Chambers. He was the fighter, fighting leukemia, chemotherapy and all the other things that go with battling for your life," he said. "That's somebody who gave me a positive outlook on life and gave me a reason to come back here and see him again. And maybe help some other kids who are facing the battles he's faced and won."

Wistrom played "social host" to a charity golf event Saturday at Woodland Hills. "I'm good at making sure the guys have beers and have a good time. That also means I am not going to make a fool of myself swinging a golf club," he said.

Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or at khambleton@;journalstar.com.