Back when Grant Wistrom wreaked havoc as a Nebraska defensive end, he noticed a young Husker fan often waiting outside the locker room after games.

Wistrom came to find out the young fan was from near Wistrom’s hometown of Webb City, Mo., and had cancer.

“It made an impression on me, just watching him battle with the disease but always remain positive,” said Wistrom, now retired from the NFL and living with his wife and two children in Springfield, Mo. “The young man always had a smile on his face. He always was appreciative of life and appreciative of just every day he had to walk the earth. It really inspired me.”

That experience became the impetus behind the creation of the Grant Wistrom Foundation, which strives to help enrich the lives of pediatric cancer patients.

“It was just a natural fit. I love working with kids,” said Wistrom, whose foundation will play host to its sixth annual golf tournament Saturday at HiMark Golf Course. About 200 golfers are expected, including about 40 former Huskers.

Wistrom, 31, is among many former Nebraska players who express gratitude for Tom Osborne’s return as NU athletic director and confidence in the general direction of the football program.

“I think the entire Cornhusker Nation let out a collective, ‘Thank you,’ when Coach Osborne came back,” Wistrom said of his former college head coach. “I’m also excited about Coach (Bo) Pelini. It could possibly be a rough couple of seasons for us, who knows? But at least we’re going to see the Huskers out there playing hard again, and that’s all we can ask for.”

As for Pelini, “I appreciate his intensity and enthusiasm,” Wistrom said. “I appreciate that he ‘gets’ Nebraska football. He understands it’s not just a football team. It’s about an entire state behind a football program. I’m not sure the past regime really understood that.”

Wistrom’s nine-year NFL career ended after the 2006 season. He played his final three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks following six years with the St. Louis Rams. He finished his career with 53 sacks and 589 tackles.

He was part of three national championship teams at Nebraska and a Super Bowl champion in St. Louis (1999). He said he’s made a smooth transition to his post-football life.

“I had been at a point in my life where I was kind of ready for football to be over with,” he said. “I was excited about the next phase of my life beginning. Getting an opportunity to move back home, being near my family, having time to coach my kid’s T-ball, spending time at the lake. …  I just have time to do whatever I want to do now.

“As far as football goes, I feel I’ve accomplished everything I could possibly accomplish. I left it all on the field and I have no regrets.”

Wistrom still holds the Nebraska career record with 581/2 tackles for loss. He spent last season as an assistant coach at Parkview (Mo.) High School, where his older brother is the principal.

“We did not do very well collectively as a team, but I feel I learned a lot as a coach. If I ever decide to go down that road (coaching) again, I know some things I’ll do differently.”

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.