Tell Spies is latest brother in family legacy of Loper football players

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KEARNEY, NE — There’s little that remains the same in a college football program over the course of 12 years… but at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, there has been a constant force since 2011: a Spies brother on the roster.

Jake came first, then Tye, and now Tell. The three brothers from Mullen have made the Lopers a family tradition.

“It’s really been everything. They’ve done so much for us as a family, us as players, and us as men as well. Between the coaches helping us out, getting an education, it’s just been a center point of our family and all of us brothers,” Tell said.

UNK Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach Levi Gallas arrived in Kearney in 2017 and met Tye.

“The epitome of what you think a Nebraska kid should look like," Gallas said. "Coming from New Mexico, it was not that way. To see this man, it was pretty interesting.”

The Spies connection almost ended after two, though. Tell chose the University of South Dakota out of high school.

“I didn’t really want to be in their shadow and I wanted to go do my own thing," Tell said. "I knew I probably should have went to Kearney right off the bat. I got up there, enjoyed it for a little bit and then I realized that Kearney was home.”

After a semester in Vermillion, Tell gave Gallas a call.

“It was like Christmas," Gallas said. "I was with some other coaches and said, ‘I gotta take this.’”

Parents Jeff and Tammy have been present for nearly all of their sons games. Tell earned second team all-conference recognition last year. He’s started every game this season and provided stability along an injured defensive line. Thanks to advice from his brothers, he’s savoring what equates to his redshirt junior season.

“Take advantage of every play because you don’t know when it’s going to end," Tell said. "With the COVID year, we get an extra year of eligibility. Both of them said, you better take that extra year because we would do everything to have an extra year.”

Whether Tell chooses to make it 13 seasons of Spies brothers or not, the family’s Loper legacy is already cemented at Cope Stadium.

“They were hard workers, they weren’t selfish, they were about the team, they did anything they were asked,” Tell said.