Erwin, 1971 Bear football team are honored in Lincoln

LINCOLN — The 27th Annual Induction and Awards Ceremony for Nebraska High School Sports were given April 18, in a 1 p.m. ceremony at Lincoln East.

The program was to induct individual athletes, coaches,supportive groups, silver anniversary teams and golden anniversary teams into the Nebraska Sports Council Hall of Fame for 2020.

Steve Erwin, Class of 1970-71, was awarded the golden anniversary award as an All Class, All State selection in football and basketball.

Erwin helped lead the Laurel Bears to a Class B Runner-Up trophy in 1970, and another trip to state in the spring of 1971. He finished his high school career with 1,427 points and a state record of 1,321 rebounds.

His senior year, Erwin signed to play Division 1 Basketball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. At UNL, he started 55 of 71 games in an era before freshmen could play varsity, His senior year, he averaged 3-3 assists per game,

The 1970-71 Laurel Bear football team received the golden anniversary award for their 10-0 undefeated season.

Erwin was quarterback for this team, winning both the Husker Championship and NENAC Division. Members of the team attending were Steve Erwin, Steve Smith, Jim Kirchner, Regg Swanson, Regg Pehrson, Steve Anderson, Paul McCoy, Larry Wiebelhaus, Kevin Wacker, George Schroeder, Terrill Lee Campbell, Monte Burns, Steve Burns, Chuck Sohler, Brent Johnson, Bruce Johnson, Kevin Gade, Gregg Anderson, Keith Olsen, Bill Dalton, Greg Blatchford, Robert Patefield and Dave MacDonald.

A trophy plaque was given to the team and Steve Erwin, as well as individual certificates for recognition. Coach Larry Moore of Fremont, Nebraska was there to help celebrate.

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