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The Lincoln Railsplitters football
team of 1975 reunited on Thursday, Sept. 18, marking 50 years since
their celebrated season. The gathering brought former players
together to swap stories, tease one another, and enjoy a meal of
fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and cookies while honoring the
memory of their late coach, Gene “Coach Mac” McDonald.
Laughter filled the room as teammates recalled the bond they built
decades ago. “We’re a band of brothers,” said Dave Buesking, who
helped organize the reunion alongside fellow teammates Tom Schonauer,
Mark “Zeke” Zurkamer, and Mark “Gus” Guzouskis “It’s great to see
everybody… even those who couldn’t be here are still part of this.”
The evening also carried moments of solemn remembrance. Buesking
read the names of nine former players who have passed since the
team’s last reunion, followed by a moment of silence. “God bless
them all,” he said, listing each by name before the room paused in
respect.
A highlight of the evening came when Gene McDonald’s son, Rob, spoke
on behalf of the family. He shared stories of his father’s tireless
dedication to the team. “Dad worked really hard for you guys,” he
recalled. “Almost every night of football season, he’d be at the
kitchen table, drawing up plays, scheming, figuring out personnel.
And in the morning, he’d still be sitting there, working.” Rob
emphasized the pride his father felt, not only in the team’s
dominance on the field but also in the men they became. “You were my
heroes back in 1975—and you still are,” he told the group.
Former broadcaster Sam Madonia,
remembered by many as the voice of the Railsplitters, also addressed
the crowd. He reflected on covering the team’s remarkable run and
the atmosphere that surrounded Lincoln football during that era.
“From 1973 through 1975, Lincoln went 22-6 at the varsity level.
That was unheard of for a school like Lincoln. That’s unheard of for
a lot of schools.” he said. Madonia described packed bleachers at
Memorial Stadium, crowds standing three and four deep around the
fence, and a pep band that fueled the excitement. “Beyond a doubt,
the best football team in the history of Lincoln High School,” he
said.
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Stories flowed
throughout the night—about grueling practices, hard-hitting
games, and the camaraderie that still endures. Zurkamer shared
how he nearly didn’t join the football team before teammate Dan
Ott convinced him to stick with it, a choice that shaped his
high school years.
Guzouskis recalled staging a classroom prank with his then
teacher Madonia, where he tore up an easy quiz in front of the
class. “Word spread in minutes,” he said, “and suddenly everyone
was treating me like a hero for standing up to the teacher.”
Organizing the reunion was a team effort that mirrored the
spirit of their playing days. Players reached out through old
rosters, phone calls, and social media to track down teammates
scattered across the country. “Within a couple of weeks, we had
found just about everyone,” Buesking explained.
For many, the reunion was more than just a look back. It was a
chance to celebrate a shared legacy. “You guys are champions—you
were, and you still are,” Rob McDonald told the players. “Dad
was proud of the way you played football, but even more proud of
the men you became.”
As the evening wound down, teammates lingered over dessert and
cocktails, trading jokes and memories. What began as a team half
a century ago has endured as a family, bound by the spirit of
Coach Mac, their other former teammates, and the unforgettable
season of 1975.
By Sophia Larimore |
