Another great season

Dear Editor,

As an outsider looking in, I continue to be amazed by the string of great seasons the McCook Bison football program has put together.

There are, no doubt, thousands of other Nebraskans who are equally impressed. Yet another trip to the state finals in 2007, a great game against Crete High School, and another show of class and sportsmanship demonstrated by Coach Jeff Gross and his team.

I want to congratulate the Bison team, Coach Gross and his assistants, and the entire community of McCook on your state runnerup finish. The 73-4 record over the past six seasons is truly remarkable, as is your feat of six consecutive unbeaten regular seasons and your 60-game regular season win streak.  To lose only to Lincoln Pius X, Omaha Skutt and Crete (twice) in a six-year span is nothing short of incredible.

When considering that all three losses in state title games during that stretch were by a touchdown or less, and that all three games went "down to the wire," it's amazing to consider how close the Bison have been to claiming five titles in those six years.

Although I have no connection whatsoever to your town, I felt I needed to voice my feelings with regard to the success of your team and the way in which the team has handled both victory and defeat.  My son played on the Lincoln Pius X team that snatched victory from the Bison in the 2004 title game.  Though elated at our own title, I came away "feeling" for the Bison, who had suffered that painful loss.

However, I was impressed with the class shown by the McCook team and fans that night, and remember my son saying that the McCook players played the game clean and were good sports the entire game.

As I watched the game this past Saturday night, it appeared that the ''07 McCook Bison club was exhibiting the same class and sportsmanship.

I know the team came to Lincoln with every intention of claiming another title and just came up short. But keep your heads up. You really are champions in so many ways.  You have been the elite program in Class B the past six seasons and your future seems bright. Be proud, work hard and give it another shot in 2008!

Dan Lindenstein,

Lincoln