Gyorko: Hometown Boy Does Good
October 27, 2003 02:12 PM | General
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October 22, 2003
The offers came each day, much like routine bills delivered to your house by the postman. Nearly every Division I-AA or Division II college in the midwest was hoping University High's Scott Gyorko would join its football program.
However, in the state of West Virginia, boys grow up rooting for only one football team. If that team should ask them to play when they get older, their answer is almost always "yes," no matter if there's a scholarship being offered or not.
Passing up the opportunity to become an impact player at a smaller program, Gyorko dreamed of big-time college football stardom at a Division I program. Opting to walk on at WVU, Gyorko joined one of West Virginia's richest football traditions.
The Mountaineers can always count on having a player come in who has lived his life dreaming of donning the Old Gold and Blue and working as hard, if not harder, than any of the scholarship players to do that.
On this Mountaineer team, that player is Morgantown native Gyorko. He is now in his junior season and a starting linebacker.
Gyorko, a standout player at University High, was an all-state selection his senior year. He received scholarship offers from Virginia Military Institute and several Division I-AA and Division II programs. However, his heart wouldn't let him leave the team he grew up with.
"It just felt right to walk-on at West Virginia," says the longtime Mountaineer fan. "Blue and gold was all I knew growing up.
"When I first arrived on campus for workouts, I was in awe. I couldn't believe that I was actually playing for the Mountaineers. After a few practices, I realized I wanted to earn some playing time."
Gyorko lived out that dream just a week into his true freshman year. The dream became a reality when he appeared on the field for opening kickoff of the Rich Rodriguez era in 2001.
"I was really nervous in my first game," admits Gyorko. "To walk out there and see how many people there were, it was just amazing. After the first block, everything was fine though."
In fact, it has been more than fine for Gyorko. In December of his freshman year, Coach Rodriguez interrupted Gyorko's dinner to speak to the local walk-on.
The situation is generally not good when a player has to leave a hot meal to meet with the head coach. Gyorko rushed to see Rodriguez only to leave his office with a Division I scholarship.
"When Coach Rod wanted to see me I thought to myself ‘Oh great,'" laughs Gyorko. "I put my tray down and headed toward his office. He expressed how pleased he was with my effort and if I continue to work hard he was going to award me a scholarship. I was elated because I had worked so hard and knew I could contribute at this level."
He went to work establishing himself as one of the most dedicated lifters on the team. The local product entered college at 6-feet tall and a slender 185 pounds.
"I've been struggling with that my whole life," says the engineering major. "Size isn't everything. I've learned to utilize my speed at the linebacker position."
Gyorko's stature is certainly smaller, but he's earning the respect of larger teammates and may be on his way to making a big impact at WVU.
"Scott doesn't let his size or whatever he might lack come into play," says fellow linebacker Adam Lenhortt. "You couldn't tell that he might lack those things because he's always working so hard. He's very dedicated."
He has gone from everybody's underdog to a WVU fan favorite. He recorded 32 tackles for the 2002 season on special teams and as a backup to Grant Wiley. Never satisfied with being a special teams star for two seasons, Gyorko earned his first collegiate start as a junior this season against Wisconsin.
"I was determined to get out there and play more," says the tough-as-nails linebacker. "It was tough at first, but I pushed through it. I knew I could come here and play. That was what I wanted."
Lending a hand during those tough times were two people within a few miles of the practice field – his parents. Randall and Penny Gyorko provided words of encouragement to their son when questions of doubt arose.
"My mom and my dad mean the world to me," says the Mountaineer starter. "There were times in my freshman year that I questioned being out here. They were there urging me to go on. The support from my mom and dad is irreplaceable."
Mountaineer fans can thank his parents for keeping the hometown boy from going away to school. Gyorko dared to dream big and take the chance at walking-on with the big boys.
"He has earned every bit of his scholarship," says high school and WVU teammate Josh Stewart when Gyorko was awarded the scholarship. "Scott plays from the heart. If a team had a lot of players like that, they'll be more successful."
It doesn't matter how you come in, it is how you leave that counts. Gyorko ended up practicing on the very turf his boyhood idols had played on. One thing is evident – Scott Gyorko was born to be a Mountaineer.
Tim Goodenow is a graduate assistant in the West Virginia University sports communications office.
