LINCOLN – He had other Division I offers as a kicker and he was talented enough to be a Division II quarterback, but for Jake Wesch there is no place like Nebraska.
Wesch, a 2004 North Bend High School graduate, is entering his final season as a kicker/punter for the Huskers. As he approaches his senior season – and his first under new head coach Bo Pelini – Wesch has no regrets about where he chose to play football.
"Looking back, I wouldn’t have traded this experience for the world," Wesch said. "As a true freshman, I just wanted to play sometime during my five years and I’ve lettered three years already. This is the pinnacle and things have unfolded well here."
Wesch has been busy this summer with conditioning and also serving an internship in the office of Chris Anderson, the associate athletic director for community relations. He also has taken some classes toward his degree in communication studies.
"I’ve had my hands pretty full this summer," he said.
Wesch hopes the summer conditioning and voluntary workouts will pay off on the field this fall. Although the Huskers haven’t played a game yet in the Pelini era, the former LSU defensive coordinator has made noticeable changes in the program.
"It seemed like the older staff under Coach (Bill) Callahan was a lot more closed door and this is more open," Wesch said. "The guys are responding well to it. I think everyone is having a good time buying into the system that Coach Pelini has laid out for us. He told us right away that he was holding us accountable to do the right things. If we do that, we should be successful."
Wesch said Pelini has instilled a more relaxed atmosphere for the Huskers.
"It’s not laid back at all, but it isn’t as tense as it used to be," he said. "Spring ball definitely isn’t the highlight of the year for a lot of players, but I saw more guys smiling and joking around this year. The coaches are more than willing to work with us to tell us how to do things. They are critiquing our every move and that is definitely a good feeling."
Wesch is expected to begin his third season as NU’s No. 1 holder for field goals and extra-point tries. Last year, Nebraska completed its first perfect season for place-kicking. Alex Henery and Adi Kunalic combined to make all 46 of their extra-point attempts and nine field goal tries.
The success of the place-kicking crew, which also includes long snapper T.J. O’Leary, was a bright spot in the Huskers’ 5-7 2007 season.
"The season certainly didn’t end the way we wanted it to," Wesch said. "But that doesn’t take away from the positives that our special teams units achieved. We were limited some last year, but when we were called on to perform we handled it well."
Wesch is also in contention for kickoff and punting duties. Kunalic handled most of the kickoff responsibilities as a true freshman while Dan Titchener returns for his senior year at punter.
"The coaches told me that they were real happy with my punting in the spring," Wesch said. "I’ll go into the fall competing with Dan, but it will be tough because Titchener is a proven punter. I feel I can provide some solid depth there and be called upon whenever they need me. The same with kickoffs. Adi looked pretty good his first year, but I’ll be ready if I’m needed."
The NU kicking fraternity is a close-knit group.
"We get along real well," Wesch said. "Of course, we spend a lot of time together. When were are competing for (a job) we never lose sight that we are a team. It is like Dan and I, we help each other out. If we notice something that isn’t working right we tell the other one so it can be corrected. Ultimately that is the best situation for the team."
The Huskers have worked diligently this summer to prevent a repeat of their 2007 season that ultimately cost Callahan and many members of his staff their jobs.
"It was tough to go through a season like that and have it hanging over our heads," Wesch said. "But we’ve used it as a source of motivation so that we don’t experience that again. So far this has been the toughest summer conditioning that I’ve experienced since I’ve been here, but guys are helping to pick each other up. We’re holding each other accountable."
Wesch’s class hopes to emulate the example of the 2006 senior group that included defensive lineman Adam Carriker (now of the St. Louis Rams), quarterback Zac Taylor and special teams phenom Brandon Rigoni.
"This is my fifth year here so I’ve seen what good leaders and what poor leaders can do to a team," Wesch said. "I think we have some good leaders that are emerging."
Wesch qualifies as one of those leaders. He has done extensive outreach work at NU and is a three-time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. Earlier this year he helped with the "Football 101" day for female fans and has also volunteered for "School is Cool" Week and Charlie Brown’s Good Grief Support network.
"I absolutely love doing that," Wesch said. "Everything I’ve done has been a real humbling experience has kept me grounded. I’ve been fortunate to never lose sight of what it is like to be a grade school kid idolizing the Huskers. Anytime I can get out in the community and talk to people, I’m more than willing to do that. Hopefully I can have an impact on somebody."
Tim Cassidy, the former director of football operations at NU, is someone who had a big impact on Wesch’s life through an internship last summer.
"He was someone who was a big inspiration to me," Wesch said of Cassidy, who is now in the same capacity at Texas A&M. "I respected him and the way he carried himself."
Wesch would ultimately like to work in an administrative role at a college athletic department after graduation. He is scheduled to earn his degree in December.
"I’ve developed some good relationships here," Wesch said. "In a perfect world, I’d love to stay at Nebraska, but I know this is a dream job for a lot of people. ... If the opportunity ever arose in the future to be here at the university, that would be terrific."
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