Almost every Nebraska boy dreams of someday playing football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. As time moves on, only the best achieve this dream. This was the dream of Nicholas Gasseling, a freshman at Alliance High school. He admired the players in red and white and dreamed that maybe someday he could join their ranks. Sadly his dream was unfulfilled. On May 23, 2006, Nic was tragically killed in a car accident. Nic’s death had a deep, lasting affect not only his family, but also upon his friends, one of whom shared his dream and found a way to remember Nic and his dream one more time.
On September 22, Nebraska Cornhusker, junior offensive lineman and Alliance native, Brodrick Nickens posted a picture on Facebook after the Huskers 73-7 win over Idaho State. The picture showed the tape on his arms where he had written, “1 more for 64.” The caption under his post said, “1 more for 64…..nick g.” By the end of the day the picture had over 100 likes. Those who knew Nic and Brodrick knew exactly what had happened; 64 had been Nic’s number when he played Bulldog football alongside Brodrick, during his seventh, eighth and freshman years, and that Brodrick had found a way to remember and honor his lost friend.
“In football, from middle school up through our freshmen year, I would always give Nic crap for the way he would run with his arms out and a tight upper body It just looked funny as hell,” said Brodrick, talking about the relationship that he had with Nic. The two had been close on and off the field. “They were good friends. They became friends in middle school and played football together seventh, eighth and freshman year,” said Cheri Gasseling, Nic’s mom. Coach Michael Baker, who was the boys’ freshman football coach, commented on the strong friendships that can form with teammates. “The picture of Nic’s number on Brodrick’s arms shows the relationships that form at a young age.”
Teammates often form a bond, working together to make something happen, and Brodrick says now he remembers Nic in his football uniform the best. “I will always remember his face in his helmet with the Bulldog blue number 64 running along side me.” Brodrick said, “Nic was the hardest working person on the football field and off the field he was the funny, chill kid wanting to get the guys together to play some cards. Nic was one of the most unique kids I knew.”
“When I first saw the picture, I choked up” Cheri said, “I thought, wow, what a kid Brodrick is. To still think of Nic and want to take him onto the field with him means a lot to me.”
“I don’t really know why I did it that day of all days but I just really felt like he was there with me for that game,” Brodrick said, “I just really felt like he was with me as I was getting ready for the game. I did it in memory of a greatly missed friend.”
Cheri remembers Nic’s dream of playing for the Huskers, she said, “He knew Brian Benzel was from Alliance and he played for the Huskers, so two weeks or so before he was killed, he had asked me if I knew anyone who knew Brian. He wanted to meet him, and find out what it was like, playing for the Huskers and if he had any tips to make it to the team. I told him to wait till school was out, but he never got to talk to him.”
Brodrick said playing for the Huskers for him is a reality that [he has] worked hard to achieve. [He] also says he is doing it for everybody in Alliance, along with Nic. I want to show every little kid and adult in Alliance to take their dreams and make them into reality and that all it takes is hard work.”
Cheri mentioned how meaningful it was to her that Brodrick still thinks of Nic. “It means a lot, to see someone who Nick was close to live one of the dreams that he had and to take him onto the field with him.”
As the Huskers enter into their new season Brodrick continues to live the dream of every boy growing up in Nebraska. A dream that Nic never got to live, yet, in a way, he is, because Brodrick is living the dream for him and remembering him every step of the way.
