Chadron State College Athletics

Alcorn went against his parents’ wishes to play football, but was a standout lineman for the Eagles and became the patriarch to family dynasty, a part of which is now in its third generation at Chadron State.
Alcorn recalled during an interview prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame that his parents, Lee and Clara Alcorn, allowed him and his older brother, Lynn, to box while they were in high school, but would not let them play football for fear they would get hurt.
On the sly, the brothers, both of whom were big and athletic, began practicing with the Hay Springs football team in the fall of 1938 when Lynn was a senior and Gene was a sophomore. Sure enough, Gene got hurt. He broke his collarbone while trying to make a tackle in practice. Gene recalled the tongue-lashing he got from his brother following the injury. It was something like, “You dummy, now we’ll have to tell mom and dad what we’re doing.”
Gene recalled he didn’t get much sympathy from his parents because of the injury. He still had to help with the farm chores. But he said his parents soon became his greatest boosters on the gridiron and he was thrilled they were able to attend the dinner in 1985 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He also said they were right about the injuries. During his football career, he suffered nine broken bones. But nobody ever seemed to be happier that they had played the game.
He began his college career in 1942, but was in the Navy during World War II. He returned to play tackle for the Eagles in 1946 and ’47 before becoming a prominent registered Angus producer. The 1947 team went 7-1-1 and tied for the Nebraska College Conference championship.
Alcorn’s son Tom, who lettered in three sports at Chadron State, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. Eight of Gene’s grandsons played high school football and four played in college. They include Tom’s son, Jeff, who was an inside receiver before he graduated in May 2012. Jeff’s brother, Jason, played at South Dakota Mines. In addition, Ryan Alcorn played at CSC in the 1990s and Zac Alcorn was an All-American tight end at Black Hills State and was in a couple of NFL camps.