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Signing day for Bison players
Lyons, Bedore ink with UNO;
Bourg to FHSU; Smock to Chadron
Four McCook High School senior football players did not let a little thing like a blizzard keep them signing their names to NCAA Division II letters of intent Wednesday.
Trent Lyons and Kyle Bedore signed with the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where they will be reunited with Bison alum Stuart Frazier.
Trevor Bourg signed with the Fort Hays State (Kan.) Tigers, where he will be teammates with Bison alums Reed Gottula (FHSU's starting quarterback) and Adam Kotschwar.
Richard Smock signed with Chadron State University, where there's a possibility of him someday playing on the offensive line alongside Bison alums Ryan O'Dea and Luke Olson.
The foursome played key roles in the Bison program's back-to-back Nebraska Class B state titles and a 26-game winning streak.
Lyons, a 6-foot, 160-pounder, has played varsity football at McCook High School for four seasons.
He was the starting quarterback for the Bison this fall and also exceled at free safety, place-kicker and punter. He holds the state record for career field goals with 30.
Lyons is projected as a free safety for the Mavericks and will battle for the punting duties, said Bison head coach Jeff Gross.
Lyons turned down offers from a couple NCAA Division I schools that wanted him just to punt so he could play free safety.
"They gave me a nice scholarship and a chance to play in a couple years," said Lyons, who along with Bedore will likely be redshirted. "My main concern is free safety, but I will punt."
Lyons, the son of Chad and Kim Lyons, plans to major in construction engineering.
Bedore, a 6-3, 185-pounder, is projected as either an outside linebacker or a safety.
Despite being a 1,000-yard rusher for the Bison, Bedore will concentrate on defense.
"They like to blitz and I really like to blitz," Bedore said. "It's a nice place to play."
Bedore, the son of Joel and Sharon Bedore, also plans to major in construction engineering.
Bourg, a 6-3, 225-pounder, is projected as a speed-rushing outside linebacker at Fort Hays State. He led the Bison defense with 17 sacks.
Bourg, the son of Jay and Melissa Blauvelt, plans to major in technology studies.
Smock, a 5-11, 235-pounder, is projected as an offensive guard at Chadron State.
"Chadron has a great football program," Smock said. "It was kind of an easy decision."
Smock, the son of Ree Smock and the late Carl Smock, plans to follow his father's footsteps and become a teacher.
He will major in secondary education.
"Fort Hays State is a good place for Trevor," Gross said. "They're going to use him as a stand-up linebacker and bring him off the edge (to rush the quarterback).
"UNO is a perfect place for Kyle. They're excited about getting him. They think he's a diamond in the rough. Trent wanted a chance to play free safety -- he needs to put on some weight.
"With Richard, Ryan O'Dea and Luke Olson, McCook could have three-fifths of the starting offensive line in a few years. It's a special moments because Richard wants to be a teacher."