Menu
First down! McCook man a fixture in Friday night lights
LINCOLN, Neb. — A gang leader on the run as he gets closer to his 80th birthday?
Yes, it’s a beautiful sight for those who appreciate McCook’s Weiland Field on fall Friday nights.
“I’m going to keep doing it as long as I can run,” Gary Wiemers proclaimed about being part of the “chain gang” at Bison home football games since 1975.
Hold on, timeout!
That means Gary was running the sidelines before Tom Brady even took his first breath in ‘77?
Tom Osborne was a red-haired young coach who couldn’t beat Oklahoma?
Terry Bradshaw and Roger “The Dodger” Staubauch were hosting Bowl trophies?
The Minnesota Vikings had played in three Super Bowls?
Wow. Gary Wiemers really has been a Bison football fixture, 25 years before Jeff Gross coached his first Bison contest.
“It’s been fun to observe some coaches who were pretty intense,” Gary recalled this week. “Imperial used to play us and they had a coach who would kick the cones out of the way so his players never tripped on them.”
Gary’s marked first downs for many great football teams for both McCook and all the great visiting foes.
So it seems perfect the state noted all of Gary’s efforts on Sunday.
He received a prestigious service award during the Nebraska State Athletic Administrators Association’s Spring Banquet at Wilderness Ridge.
McCook’s own national award-winning tennis coach, Matt Wiemers, was there to photograph this event.
“Through the years, I have been on the sideline for my own boys, sons, grandsons and other family members,” Gary remarked in the official awards program. “Now my sons are helping me on the chains. What a great job to be able to do yet!”
Clear as a touchdown signal was how Gary has loved watching all his family.
Son T.J. Wiemers works the chains on McCook’s home sideline after playing tight end for the Bison. Son Tom Wiemers played on the Bison line.
His other offspring have competed proudly in Bison tennis, golf, volleyball and basketball.
Grandson Isaac Wiemers just recently finished his McCook football career which led to a scholarship at Hastings College. Granddaughter Gracelyn Wiemers recently helped McCook to a district basketball final where they took on defending state champ Elkhorn North.
“I graduated from Beatrice, so any time they have come here to play has been special,” he added while mentioning other towns where relatives reside.
Yet the connection goes far beyond chains or sports. He still assists Tom, daughter Sarah and wife Barb with the McCook Lettering family business.
Don’t expect a punt of these routines anytime soon. After all — while replay machines have taken over other facets of football — chain gangs can still be seen on every sideline from NFL to McCook Football League.
They’ve increased from three to six members in recent years.
“The key is to stay active,” 79-year-old Gary concluded. “And this has been a great way to do that.”