An unforgettable experience

In the history of Nebraska football, there may never have been a brother combination who got the thrill of experienceng the wild rush of the tunnel walk, in full uniform, for the very first time together.
At least not until now.
Former Aurora Huskies Ian and Nate Boerkircher got that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at this year’s spring game, something they’ll no doubt one day tell their grandkids all about.
“It was cool that I got to share that with him,” Ian said about the experience. “We looked at each other in the eyes and went, ‘Wow.’ My mom (Sherry) was crying.”
Ian, a sophomore offensive right tackle, is now in his third year in Lincoln after transferring from UNK in 2019. He’s put on some 60 pounds since then, now up to 280, hopefully on his way to becoming a 300-pound road grader.
He said he came to Lincoln thinking he would play tight end, but soon discovered Husker coaches wanted him on the o-line.
“I’m still a little undersized so it was tough,” he told me about the transition in schools and positions. “But I got caught up in the weight room. I’m just pounding shakes at night, and I think the mental part is good now. I’ve definitely become one of the guys where I  know my position. And I’m trying to learn other ones, to become a utility guy. That’s my biggest goal.”
Ian said Husker strength coach Zach Duvall and his staff works the players exceptionally hard, so he’s seen some pretty impressive gains in overall strength.
“I’m lifting weight that I never expected to lift,” he pointed out. “It’s helping me on the field. I try to use that strength as much as I can, to try to move a guy like Ty Robinson off the line, or the person in front of me. One of the most fun parts is hitting the weight room and seeing how much we can push ourselves.
“When I first got on the team, my dad (Matt) took a picture of me. I just look completely different now.”
Ian said his offensive line teammates are most likely the goofiest position group on the entire Husker team. Whether that involves going out to eat or whatever, that time spent together is helping them bond as a unit, something vitally important across the line when it must work and move as one.
“I had a birthday recently and we had a whole golf outing,” Ian added.
He said this summer is actually pretty relaxed, lifting weights at 9 a.m., doing some running, too. Then it’s time to drink their shakes, shower up and hit the training table. From there the players are off until the next day, some hitting the links, others going to work at their jobs.
“I’ve been golfing with Cam Jurgens a lot, and then we have to check in for dinner at night (at the training table),” Ian pointed out.
He said he doesn’t have a special diet designed just for him since he’s trying to gain more weight, rather he’s just been told to eat as much as he can, something easier said than done. And a protein shake throughout the day is the drink of choice.
“I’m just trying to replace the calories that we lose,” Ian said. “The metabolic routines are our hardest workout. We lose something like 1500 calories, so we have to focus on replacing those. A couple weeks ago I puked three times during this one lift. It’s crazy, but I credit that one workout for helping me improve my strength.”
Another huge challenge the former Husky had to endure was this past fall when COVID was playing havoc with schedules, routines and just life in general.
Rewind back to March of 2020 and life as a Husker football player came to a grinding halt. No more weight lifting sessions. No more spring practice. No more attending classes in person. And no more football operations, period, the players getting sent home.
“After that we got back into lifting,” Ian pointed out about the summer of 2020. “They (the football staff) were strict in keeping guys together for the team and getting tested. We had a good summer.
“Then that fall we were in limbo. We didn’t know if we were playing. We were practicing and we had a pretty tough schedule, going five or six days a week. That was hard but it was good because I was able to improve and learn a lot. We were there constantly with the coaches, and on the field doing work. It was crazy and definitely a roller coaster for awhile.”
He said he felt frustrated in not getting the chance to suit up for the 2020 campaign because team sizes for games were cut down to approximately 90 players on the sideline. Otherwise, like a lot of his teammates, he would have been dressed in uniform for home games.
Fast forward to this past spring, to his exit interview with the coaches. Now the talk is of possibly being a part of the away game travel rosters, working as the third team right or left tackle, learning the guard positions as well as a little center.
“I’m just trying to work my way up to being a utility guy,” Ian emphasized. “I’m just trying to teach the new guys coming in, and I’m trying to be a leader.”
As far as the state of the program, Ian mentioned that the team came together pretty well last season, even though the final record didn’t show it.
“We’re all getting to the point now where we’re tired of losing. We’re doing everything in our power to not let that happen anymore. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed are the leaders are holding people accountable and stepping up. We’re headed in the right direction.”
Having his younger brother now part of the team at tight end has Ian pumped as well, saying it’s actually been a dream come true since both of them were young kids, playing catch in their backyard, always wearing Nebraska red of course.
“Since he got the walk-on offer it’s been so much fun,” Ian pointed out. “Just seeing him mature in this one year, he’s done a really good job in the weight room and he knows the playbook really well. And credit to Austin (Allen), he took  him under his wing just like he did with me. That has really helped. Nate and I live together so we’re super close. It’s been really good.”
Ian, who was named Academic All-Big Ten in 2020, added that all he wants moving forward is to continue to work hard, setting a good example as yet another success story as a walk-on from the state of Nebraska.
“I just want to compete. If nothing else, if I’m not going to be an all-Big Ten player or a starter or anything like that, then I want to be the guy who people can look to in the weight room and say, ‘That guy is a walk-on from Aurora, Nebraska and he works his ass off every day.’ Hopefully all the other things will fall into place.”
For both brothers, to a certain extent, they already have.
DAVE BRADLEY can be reached at advertising@hamilton.net.