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Racing into new reality: Bison busy going as sports halt
McCOOK, Neb. — Criminals are in future serious trouble if they suddenly see a grizzled state track medalist and 1,00o-yard rusher closing on their heels.
“I’m thinking about law enforcement,” Corban Jernigan said as his McCook High School days have rapidly concluded this spring. “Maybe state patrol or the F.B.I.”
Yet you can also switch batons and perhaps slice through legal tax troubles with aid from this former slashing Bison tailback.
“I’m going to McCook (Community College) first and then likely on Lincoln where I may major in business and accounting,” Corban declared.
Either way, a great plan is to keep moving if you see Jernigan near his pocket knife and zip ties.
“I was cutting ties when it slipped right through and hit my radial artery,” he not-fondly recalled.
Ouch! More than ouch.
“I ended up getting rushed to North Platte where I was lucky that a hand specialist was available,” Corban said. “I missed testing and conditioning because of that. I’ll be using scissors from now on.”
Jernigan’s still quick to appreciate how mainly good memories have filled his McCook High athletic days.
He’ll never forget how his Bison kept pace throughout last spring’s fantastic Class B state title chase.
All athletes waited through a late-afternoon storm that blew through Burke Stadium and the Omaha area.
Yet they quickly regained their focus as Jernigan joined Bison alums Morgan Fawver, Alec Bunger and Seth Dugger to place No. 2 among all Class B 400-meter relays.
A rapid injection of new McCook talent had Jernigan early anticipating his final track-field season.
“I thought we had real potential with some underclassmen,” he observed. “And I was really working on dropping my 100 (dash) time. I’d medaled at state in relays (twice) but not individually.”
The Bison blazed through two full weeks of pre-season practice and were only days from their debut at UNK’s Indoor Invitational when...
We all now what suddenly happened next.
“I’ll never forget we were on our last day of school before spring break,” Corban said. “I was tired and just wanted to get that day over with...who knew it would be our last day at McCook High School.”
“I miss track,” he added. “It’s kind of heartbreaking.”
Heartbreaking — but also kind of humorous as Corbin talks about Bison coaches like Matt Berry and top dog Tom Sughroue.
“They always have a light attitude that makes all those tough workouts fun,” he said. “We’ll be lying on the ground, dying after running a drill about eight times and coach Berry will say ‘come on, guys, we are halfway done’ when we are actually only running it one more time.”
Jernigan’s words quickly carry over to that Bison football team where he committed all four years. He still remembers every great moment from the Elkhorn South double-overtime state semifinal in 2016 to McCook nearly knocking off unbeaten Scottsbluff last fall.
“They (Bluffs) scored on like the first play and we thought ‘oh, this going to be a long game’,” he said about his final McCook regular-season and home game at Weiland Field. “Then we got a three-and-out and started to take it more seriously. We scored and coach Gross kept us hyped up. We focused on stopping them and it was 14-13 until almost the end.”
Jernigan averaged better than five yards per carry against the Class B state finalists — even though Scottsbluff eventually won 21-14.
The 170-yard back surpassed 100 yards multiple times including 135 in a big win at Beatrice, 109 during McCook’s 21-0 shutout of York and 128 vs. Gering.
“I never really paid much attention to stats,” C.J. revealed. “Oh, I’d check them from time to time. My main focus was to get first downs, 10 yards and move those chains.
As another Bison playoff run was ending rapidly at Hastings, Jernigan’s coach kept an eye on a memorable milestone.
“We were down (42-7) and I kept getting the ball play after play after play,” he said. “I was so tired and kind of taking a beating. I was thinking why do I keep getting the ball?”
“Coach (Gross) finally brought me over to the sideline and said a few words to me,” he explained. “He wanted me to get over 1,000 and I’m glad he did.”
That same work ethic through fatigue keeps Jernigan going even today.
He’s busy working most days at a McCook car wash besides doing the on-line homework to finish his MHS degree.
He’ll keep carrying a relentless, optimistic attitude right into those upcoming collegiate days.
“I’m actually looking forward to having graduation in summer. We’ll have something (for prom) also,” Jernigan explained. “I think that’s pretty cool.”
A couple of rapid-fire questions for the senior as this interview concluded on Monday:
Do you agree with how the pandemic is being “handled”?
“Yeah, it’s necessary. I’m always washing my hands at the car wash. I have a great grandmother who I haven’t seen for awhile. I wouldn’t want to risk her getting it (corona). When my oldest brother is here with his son, we can get five generations together.”
Are you a true Nebraska fan despite the recent struggles?
“Oh yeah, I love watching college football. My favorite team is Nebraska. I have a (touchdown) Tommie Frazier poster and got Tom Osborne’s autograph when I was real young. I like (coach) Scott Frost. It was kind of a mess when he took over. I think he will turn things around.”