Menu
Bison-turned-Division I player ready for journey
McCOOK, Neb. — Okay, so all the music filling McCook High’s gym Wednesday morning was for a Christmas production and not all-time leading tackler DJ Gross.
The Bison’s favorite “Boomer Sooner” had to be pleased for at least two reasons:
First, there were already so many friends, teammates, fans and most importantly — family — there to celebrate another great moment for a McCook student-athlete.
D.J. humbly acknowledged every one of them with some brief comments that said it all:
“You have no idea how much you’ve meant to me,” he said.
“Those guys (Bison teammates are my best friends, I wouldn’t trade them for anyone in the world,” he later added.
Secondly, the four-sport Bison athlete knows there’s always so much more work to be done. He realizes it even more after signing to join the NCAA Division I South Dakota Coyotes on football’s “National Signing Day.”
“What do I need to work on? Basically everything,” he said about becoming an even better football player. “I’ve got to get bigger, stronger..that all starts when I get up there (to Vermillion, S.D.). It’s a big step from high school to Division I football.”
Currently listed at 6’2” and 215 pounds, Gross plans on continuing to play linebacker and help improve a Coyote defense that held just one opponent below 24 points this season.
However, the Coyotes (4-7 record) nearly shocked Big 12 Kansas State in a 27-24 season opener. They also took Indiana State to triple overtime which means they barely missed a six-win season.
They also are never afraid of playing at least one “big-time” opponent virtually very year.
No wonder DJ’s focused on his second collegiate game when the Coyotes visit those Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla., on Sept. 7, 2019.
“It would be a little exciting for me if I get to go, since they’ve always been my favorite team,” the admitted huge Baker Mayfield-now Cleveland Browns fan admitted.
And oh yes, DJ’s won’t join all those media “gurus” wearing TV makeup who say OU has no chance against mighty Alabama on Dec. 29.
“They need one or two stops on defense,” he said. “And outscore them.”
Former Husker Big 12 rivals Iowa State, Kansas and Missouri all appear on future Coyote schedules through 2022 with the Big Ten’s Wisconsin Badgers another possible opponent.
Bison heroes Sam Frazier and Zach Schlager should be proud of how few foes outscored the McCook Bison during DJ’s three seasons as a starting linebacker.
They went 28-6 en route to two Class B state quarterfinals and an unforgettable 2016 semifinal vs. Elkhorn South.
Yet it wasn’t all about success or having any special privileges of being coach Jeff Gross’ son.
“It was tough, just being yelled at practice and feeling like you’re not doing anything right,” he admitted. “But the rest of the coaches helped me, my teammates helped get where I am at.”
“And playing for dad was a very good experience,” DJ proclaimed. “He was a great mentor and a great teacher. I’ve looked forward to every season, but he helped make football my favorite sport by far.”
However, it’s not about just the “players” when hearing other DJ Gross responses to some more Gazette tiring questions:
Reporter geek: “I think I’ve seen your mom and sister at every Bison game. What’s that meant to you?”
“What would you say about big sister Lexi?”
DJ: “She is a great supporter, she came home I think to every game ...or as many as she could and I’m very thankful.”
“Mom (Diana) hasn’t missed hardly any of my stuff and when she does, she feels terrible about it. They’ve meant so much on this journey.”
Are you still pleased about playing four McCook sports (baseball, basketball and track-field besides the best one) for basically 12 months a year?
DJ: “It helped me as a competitor. I’m very grateful I got do all four sports through high school. I’m very excited about (basketball), I think we can go out and accomplish a lot this season.”
“Track taught me how to be humble. It’s kind of a team sport, but it’s not rah rah. I’m a thrower. I learned patience and more about hard work.”
What other work are you thinking about?
“I’m still open to stuff. I want to see if there’s something else I want to do. But I definitely believe I want to coach some day.”