Huskers Helping Huskers
The Effort to Take Care of Ailing Nebraska Stars
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Former huskers have started a foundation to help other star husker alums in their time of need. Video by kmtv.com
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Omaha, NE--Husker fans still remember David Humm, 37 years after he finished his career as a quarterback.
"Since I left in '75 there's never been a day that I haven't talked to a former teammate, a coach, a friend, some firiends, fans. Nebraska has been the biggest part of my life," Dave enthuses.
After a 10-year career in the NFL, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The disease has gradually ravaged his body and put him in a wheelchair. He has a nurse full-time.
Dave adds, "It's tough in that you get tired fast, just losing your mobility. I've lost so much weight, this was my toughest year. I'm losing my voice, that's been the hardest part."
His big red friends want to help. David is the first guy to benefit from the Husker Greats Foundation, a non-profit launched by another well-known Nebraska name, Jerry Murtaugh. He says the idea came after another former player, Andra Franklin died alone.
"Andra Franklin came to my event. He hitchhiked to my event," Murtaugh recalls. "What I heard was that he was destitute. That can't happen with the former huskers at the University of Nebraska."
Murtaugh says he wants to give back and help his brothers and sisters in their time of need. So has every former athlete he's talked to. Six of them have signed on to be on the foundation's board of directors. NU Athletic Director Tom Osborne wrote the first check.
"He [Osborne] says you're doing the right thing and I think we are." Murtaugh hopes every fan, player, and former coach will donate at least five dollars to help people who have created so many memories for Nebraska fans.
The foundation is aimed at helping every athlete who lettered with medical needs. Murtaugh also wants to hear from people if there is someone suffering that they don't know about. He calls the project, simply, family helping family.
"I can't think of another school that would even come close to thinking about this," exclaims Dave. He is honored to be part of it and thankful for the generosity of husker nation. "It will help a lot of people."
Their hope is that it will inspire other schools to create similar foundations to take care of their own.
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