Javascript is required to use this website.

Shatel: How Geep Wade got his name — and how he shape Husker football going forward

Tom Shatel World-Herald Columnist
Aug 30, 2026
Aug 30, 2026 Updated 4 mins ago
0

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Tom Shatel World-Herald Columnist

LINCOLN — Gideon Pillow Wade IV sounds like the name of a butler on a BBC drama.

kAmxE 5@6D?’E D@F?5 =:<6 E96 ?2>6 @7 2 }63C2D<2 @776?D:G6 =:?6 4@249] v@@5 E9:?8 (256’D A2C6?ED 564:565 E@ C676C E@ 9:> 2D v! 27E6C 9:D 525 Wv! (256 xxxX 2?5 8C2?572E96C Wv! (256 xxX H6C6 v:5]k^Am

kAmtG6?EF2==J[ “v!” 3642>6 “v66A]”k^Am

kAm}@H E92E’D 2? @776?D:G6 =:?6 4@249’D ?2>6]k^Am

kAmu@C E96 E96>6 @7 E9:D 7@@E32== D64E:@?[ H6 H:== 42== 9:> “{:?6 |2?” — E96 DFA6C96C@ wFD<6C 72?D 56DA6C2E6=J ?665]k^Am

People are also reading…

Nebraska volleyball vs. Florida live updates, stats and highlights
Nebraska volleyball vs SMU live updates, states and highlights
Western Nebraska Football Top 5s: Full slate starts Thursday
Waverly man gets prison time for meth, 'makeshift steroid lab'
Nebraska volleyball vs. UNLV live updates, stats and highlights
Garner ordered to pay $309K for storm damage preceding 2024 tornado
Former Nebraska running back scores first NFL preseason touchdown
Recent real estate transactions in the Lincoln area
How to watch Nebraska volleyball vs UNLV on Saturday: Time, TV channel
LGBTQ+ bar in northeast Lincoln closing
Lincoln police captain suspended after allegedly leaving toddler inside locked van
‘Be an athlete’: First-time quarterback delivers Millard West past Lincoln Southeast
Kearney one vote away from approval for massive data center
‘The Next Pro’ shows there’s strength on the ‘DWTS’ bench
New lead prompts fresh investigation into Regina Bos’ 2000 disappearance

kAmr2? {:?6 |2? D2G6 E96 52Jnk^Am

Nebraska assistant coach Geep Wade during a football practice at the Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

kAm(256 :D E96 =2E6DE @776?D:G6 =:?6 4@249 E@ E2<6 @? E96 }63C2D<2 EC25:E:@?] w6’D E96 D6G6?E9 — D6G6?E9P — D:?46 E96 8C62E |:=E %6?@A:C C6E:C65 27E6C E96 a__a D62D@?] %92E :?4=F56D EH@ E@FCD @7 q2C?6J r@EE@?[ E96 7@C>6C wFD<6C 8F2C5 H9@ H2D E96 36DE @7 E96 =@E]k^Am

kAm%C25:E:@?n }63C2D<2 92D?’E 925 2? @776?D:G6 =:?6>2? >2<6 7:CDE\E62> p==\p>6C:42 @C H:? E96 ~FE=2?5 %C@A9J D:?46 p2C@? %2J=@C :? `hhf]k^Am

kAm%92E’D 2=>@DE b_ J62CD[ 2?5 E92E’D F?36=:6G23=6]k^Am

kAmxE’D :?6I4FD23=6]k^Am

kAmq24< :? `hhf[ 2 <:5 :? }2D9G:==6[ %6??6DD66[ ?2>65 v66A (256 H2D 8C@H:?8 FA 2?5 5C62>:?8 @7 E96 EC6?496D] w6 H@F=5 A=2J 2E r92EE2?@@82 E96? 7@==@H E96 A2E9 @7 2 =:?6 4@249[ DE2CE:?8 2D 2 8C25F2E6 2DD:DE2?E 7@C !9:= uF=>6C 2E %6??6DD66]k^Am

kAm(256 H2E4965 }63C2D<2’D @776?D:G6 =:?6 A@F?5 E96 '@=F?E66CD — @?46 :? E96 `hhg ~C2?86 q@H= 2?5 282:? :? E96 a___ u:6DE2 q@H=] tG6? E9@F89 9:D E62> =@DE[ E96 82>6D >256 2 3:8 :>AC6DD:@?]k^Am

kAm“vC@H:?8 FA 2?5 H2E49:?8 %6??6DD66 A=2J }63C2D<2[ E92E’D H92E 5C6H >6 96C6[” (256 D2:5 @7 }&] “x 925 2 4@FA=6 @E96C W;@3X @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ 3FE H96? }63C2D<2 42==65 x E@@< WE96 42==X :>>65:2E6=J[ ;FDE 3642FD6 x 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ H@C< H:E9 |2EE W#9F=6X] qFE :E H2D }63C2D<2 @? E@A @7 E92E]k^Am

kAm“yFDE E96 EC25:E:@?] %96 ?2DE:?6DD] !=2J:?8 E@86E96C 2D 2 F?:E] (96? x E9:?< @7 }63C2D<2[ x E9:?< @7 FA 7C@?E]”k^Am

kAm~?=J 2? @=56C 86?6C2E:@? E9:?<D E92E H2J 2?J>@C6]k^Am

kAm%96 EC25:E:@? E92E %6?@A:C 3F:=E :D 92C5=J C64@8?:K23=6] !=28F65 3J >F=E:A=6 4@249:?8 492?86D[ 5:776C6?E DAC625 @776?D6D 2?5 =24< @7 2EE6?E:@?[ E96 }63C2D<2 ~\=:?6 92D 364@>6 2 =@DE EC62DFC6 3FC:65 :? 2 ECF?< FA :? E96 2EE:4 @7 wFD<6C 7@@E32== 9:DE@CJ]k^Am

kAmxE’D H2J 36J@?5 E:>6 7@C D@>6@?6 E@ 3C:?8 :E 324<]k^Am

kAm~776?D:G6 =:?6>6? FD65 E@ 36 DFA6C96C@6D[ 46=63C:E:6D 2E }63C2D<2] (92E 92AA6?65nk^Am

kAmxE’D E@@ 62DJ E@ D2J :E H2D 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 7@C86EE23=6 2DD:DE2?ED 2?5 2 =24< @7 3:8\E:>6 E2=6?E] ~C E92E E96 D496>6D H6C6 2:>65 2E BF:4< 6IA=@D:G6 A2DD6D]k^Am

kAmr6CE2:?=J[ C646:G6CD 92G6 364@>6 2 >2CBF66 A2CE @7 C64CF:E:?8 4=2DD6D 2?5 $2EFC52JD :? }63C2D<2] qFE :E 8@6D 36J@?5 E92E]k^Am

kAmu@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 7@C>6C >6>36CD @7 E96 !:A6=:?6[ :E 92D 366? 92C5 E@ H2E49] qFE ?@E 92C5 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE]k^Am

kAm“~776?D:G6 =:?6 :D @?6 @7 E9@D6 A@D:E:@?D E92E =6?5D :ED6=7 E@ 36:?8 2 56G6=@A>6?E2= A@D:E:@?[” 7@C>6C E24<=6 #@3 +2E649<2 D2:5] “%96 56G6=@A>6?E 92D 366? >:DD:?8]k^Am

kAm“%96 36DE @776?D:G6 =:?6>6? E6?5 E@ 36 E96 @?6D E92E 2C6 E96 >@DE 6IA6C:6?465[ 366? :? E96 AC@8C2> EH@ @C E9C66 J62CD 2?5 :? E96 D2>6 DJDE6> 2?5 D2>6 4@2496D H:E9 E96 D2>6 A=2J6CD 2C@F?5 E96>]k^Am

1994 pipeline — From left: Zach Wiegert, Brenden Stai, Aaron Graham, Joel Wilks, and Rob Zatechka helped lead the Huskers to the 1994 national title.
JEFF BUNDY/THE WORLD-HERALD

kAm“x@H2 :D E96 =@H\92?8:?8 7CF:E 96C6] *@F =@@< 2E 9@H E96J 4@?D:DE6?E=J AFE 8C62E A=2J6CD @FE E96C6] x 36=:6G6 x@H2 5@6D ?@E E2<6 @776?D:G6 =:?6>6? :? E96 A@CE2= F?=6DD E96J <?@H E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E96> 7@C 2E =62DE EH@ J62CD :? E96:C AC@8C2>] ~E96CH:D6 :E’D ?@E H@CE9 :E E@ E96> E@ 3C:?8 E92E 8FJ :? 3642FD6 E96J H2?E E92E 56G6=@A>6?E[ E96J H2?E E92E 4@96D:@? H:E9 E96 @E96C A=2J6CD 2C@F?5 E96>]”k^Am

kAm+2E649<2 D2JD E96 D9:7E 3682? H96? uC2?< $@=:49 H2D 7:C65 :? a__b] w6’D C:89E]k^Am

kAmr@EE@?[ H9@ A=2J65 F?56C %6?@A:C[ C6A=2465 %6?@A:C :? a__b] w6 =2DE65 @?6 J62C 2D E96 DE277 H2D 7:C65 27E6C 2 h\b D62D@?]k^Am

kAm*@F 4@F=5 >2<6 E96 2C8F>6?E E92E FC86?4J C6A=2465 56G6=@A>6?E 2E }&] ~E96C E92? q@ !6=:?: WD6G6? J62CDX[ E96 @E96C 4@2496D H6C6 @FE 27E6C 7@FC @C E9C66 J62CD] %96C6 H2D?’E E:>6 @C 6>A92D:D @? 56G6=@A:?8 2 =:?6]k^Am

kAm“~?46 $@=:49 8@E 7:C65[ E92E 56G6=@A>6?E2= 2DA64E @7 E96 AC@8C2> D9:7E65 5C2>2E:42==J[” +2E649<2 D2:5] “%92E[ E@ >6[ :D E96 C@@E @7 E96 AC@3=6>]”k^Am

Rob Zatechka was an offensive lineman for the Huskers in the 1990s. Now he's an anesthesiologist in Omaha.
RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD

kAm%@ 8@ 2=@?8 H:E9 E92E[ |2EE w@D<:?D@? A@:?ED E@ 2 =24< @7 7:?5:?8 2?5 =2?5:?8 8@@5 :?\DE2E6 E2=6?E @? E96 =:?6] q68:??:?8 H:E9 E96 q:== r2==292? 52JD[ }& 3682? E@ 72== :? =@G6 H:E9 C64CF:E:?8 C2?<:?8D] p?5 E96 =@42= <:5 H9@ >:89E 92G6 56G6=@A65 @G6C E:>6 76== 3J E96 H2JD:56]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 =@DE D@>6 8@@5 =:?6>6? E92E 2C6 =@42= 8FJD[” E96 7@C>6C 8F2C5 D2:5] “%96 <:5 7C@> }@C7@=< r2E9@=:4 Wz256 !:6A6CX H9@ :D E96 AC6D62D@? p==\p>6C:42? 7@C x@H2] w6 H2?E65 E@ 4@>6 E@ }63C2D<2 2?5 7@C H92E6G6C C62D@? H6 5:5?’E C64CF:E 9:>] w6 D9@F=5 36 :? {:?4@=?]”k^Am

kAmw@D<:?D@? D2:5 E92E H9:=6 “H6’G6 925 2 76H 8@@5 =:?6D 2?5 :?5:G:5F2=D 96C6 2?5 E96C6[” :E 92D?’E 366? 2 7@4FD]k^Am

kAm“xE’D D9@4<:?8 E@ >6 E92E >@G:?8 E@ E96 q:8 %6? E92E E92E H2D?’E 2 AC:@C:EJ[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm}@H E96C6 :D E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2=] %9:D J62C[ }& 92D 7@FC DE2CE6CD[ @=56C 8FJD[ 7C@> E96 A@CE2=] w@D<:?D@? D2JD E92E’D 2 C62=:EJ 3FE =62G6 C@@> 7@C 56G6=@A>6?E2= A=2J6CD[ E@@]k^Am

kAm“s@?’E C64CF:E E@ 2 AC@E@EJA6[” w@D<:?D@? D2:5] “%FC? E96 7:=> @?] %96 7:=> E6==D E96 DE@CJ 36EE6C E92? 2 C64CF:E:?8 D6CG:46] x7 J@F 92G6 2 e\7@@E =:?6>2? 2?5 96’D W5@>:?2E:?8X A6@A=6[ =:<6 p2C@? %2J=@C 5:5[ EFC? E96 7:=> @?] *@F 92G6 E@ 92G6 2 E@F89?6DD 23@FE FD E92E E96 @E96C 8FJ H@?’E >2E49]k^Am

kAm“x? E@52J’D H@C=5 J@F 5@?’E 92G6 2 =@E @7 E:>6] %96 <:5D 2C6 86EE:?8 A2:5 ?@H] x’> ?@E D2J:?8 5@?’E 8@ :?E@ E96 A@CE2=] qFE J@F ?665 E@ E2<6 8FJD H9@ 2C6 :? E96 DJDE6> 2?5 56G6=@A E96> D@ E92E E96J 2C6 C625J E@ A=2J H96? E96J 2C6 ;F?:@CD 2?5 D6?:@CD]k^Am

kAm“xE H@C<D] xE H@C<D 6G6CJ E:>6] (6 925 2 >@56=] (6 5:5 :E]”k^Am

kAms@ D496>6D >2EE6Cn *6D 2?5 ?@]k^Am

kAm}& H2D CF??:?8 E96 32== E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 E:>6 :? +2E649<2 2?5 w@D<:?D@?’D 52JD] p? ~\=:?6 4@F=5 86E 2 9625 @7 DE62> 8@:?8 5@H?9:==]k^Am

kAmqFE (256 D2JD :E’D 23@FE 2EE:EF56] x7 J@F’C6 >62? 6?@F89[ J@F 42? >2F= @AA@?6?ED :? 2?J 7@C>2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“(6 H6C6 G6CJ >F=E:A=6 2E v6@C8:2 %649 2?5 x E9@F89E H6 A=2J65 92C56C E92? 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ[” (256 D2:5] “*@F 8@E E@ 86E 8@@5 2E H92E J@F 86E 8@@5 2E] *@F 42?’E 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8] %92E’D A2CE @7 E96 AC@3=6>] z:5D A=2J 2 =@E >@C6 A9JD:42= H96? E96J <?@H H92E’D 8@:?8 :?E@ :E] %92E’D @FC ;@3[ 2D 4@2496D]”k^Am

kAm(256 D2JD 96 :D @? E96 D2>6 A286 H:E9 }63C2D<2 @776?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C s2?2 w@=8@CD6?[ @?6 @7 9:D 4@249:?8 96C@6D] w@=8@CD6? =:<6D E@ E9C@H :E 3FE C64@8?:K6D E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 CF? 82>6[ E@@]k^Am

kAmw6 :?D:DED E92E 9:D C646:G6CD 7:?:D9 3=@4<D @? E96 A6C:>6E6C]k^Am

081226-owh-spo-supersix-nf-32 — Ashland-Greenwood's Barrett Kitrell poses for a photo at Fat Putter in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

kAmw2G:?8 2? 6IA6C:6?465 =:?6 4@249 =:<6 (256 :D 2 DE2CE] w6 92D 2=C625J >256 2? :>A24E @? E96 C64CF:E:?8 EC2:=[ =2?5:?8 7:G6 4@>>:ED 7@C a_af — :?4=F5:?8 |:==2C5 }@CE9VD |2EE tC:4<D@? 2?5 pD9=2?5\vC66?H@@5VD q2CC6EE z:EC6==]k^Am

081226-owh-spo-supersix-nf-28 — Millard North's Matt Erickson poses for a photo at Fat Putter in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD

kAm(256 D9@H65 E96> 2 >@G:6 H:E9 D@>6 @=5 96C@6D]k^Am

kAm“sFC:?8 C64CF:E:?8 x D9@H65 2 G:56@ @7 E96 !:A6=:?6[” (256 D2:5] “yFDE D9@H:?8 E96> H92E E9:D A=246 H2D[ H92E :E >62?E E@ E96>[ H96C6 H6 H2?E E@ 8@] xE’D E96 8C:E[ E96 >6?E2=:EJ] x7 J@F 5@ E92E[ J@F’== 86E :E 324<]”k^Am

kAm|2J36 E9:D J62C[ H:E9 (256 2?5 E96D6 =:?6>6?[ :D E96 7:CDE DE6A 324<] xE H:== E2<6 >@C6 E92? @?6 J62C[ }& ?665D E@ <66A 2 92?57F= @7 E96 EC2?D76C =:?6>6? EH@ J62CD] |@C6@G6C[ 82>6 A=2? E@ 5@>:?2E6 FA 7C@?E]k^Am

kAm(9J ?@En v66AD 42? 92?5=6 CF8865 E6CC2:?]k^Am