OGDEN — If you ask anyone associated with the Weber State football program, they will tell you running back Nick Chournos doesn't need his name in the school record books to know he has made his mark in Wildcat history.
Even so, the former Bear River prep standout is only 24 yards away from passing Lee White (3,062 yards) and becoming the Wildcats' all-time rushing leader. Chournos has 498 yards on the season and 3,038 for his career. Barring serious injury, No. 35 should break the record this Saturday at Montana State.
While Chournos wants to break the record, he isn't the kind of person to broadcast it. He just wants to get it over with so he can move on, especially with the team trying to improve on a 0-5 record. "It would be nice to get it out of the way so we don't have to worry about it anymore," Chournos said.
His teammates, especially his comrades on the O-line, are excited for it to happen.
"We all want him to get it," said offensive lineman Paul McQuistan early in the season. Coach Jerry Graybeal also wants to see Chournos top the record. But more importantly, the coach would like to see him get the yards while leading the team to a victory. Graybeal also appreciates the daily efforts of the senior team captain.
"Nick is all things you want in a football player," Graybeal said. "He works hard during the offseason, he works hard every day in practice, and he works hard in the classroom. He's not a 'rah-rah' guy but leads by strong example."
To know where Chournos developed such characteristics, look no farther than the farming community of Tremonton, where Chournos attended Bear River High School. When he wasn't helping tend to the family sheep business, he was bulldozing opposing defenses on the football field. Under coach Doug Parry, Chournos racked up nearly 4,000 yards rushing and 68 career touchdowns for the Bears, with 1,753 yards and 36 TDs during his senior season. He was a regular on the all-state teams and is the only known Bear to ever have his jersey retired. Coby Reese shared the backfield with Chournos as the Bears' quarterback for three years from 1994-96. He said Chournos rarely played in a game without making an impact.
"The kid was confident, blessed with ability and he always performed at the highest level. If he made up his mind to, he could dominate people," Reese said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he had a goal to be the top rusher at WSU from day one. I'm proud of him for what he has accomplished."
In 23 years of coaching, Parry said Chournos was the cream of the crop. He said Chournos was successful because he had a good work ethic and a knack for reading blocking schemes. "He was a playmaker and a go-to guy," Parry said. "He was also physical enough to wear defenses down in the fourth quarter. That was part of what made him so good. He was also unselfish and quick to compliment his offensive line."
Following his senior season at Bear River, Chournos had hoped to play at BYU, but the Cougars ended up going with a player from Utah County. That left the door open for Weber State, and Chournos signed to play for then-WSU coach Dave Arslanian.
Before Chournos put on No. 35 for the Wildcats, he opted to serve an LDS mission. When he returned, Weber State had a new coach. To his surprise, Chournos was told his scholarship wasn't guaranteed and he would have to earn it back. This motivated the 6-foot, 215-pound back. After a redshirt year and significant time in the weight room, Chournos hit the ground running like a freight train. His first real playing time came as a sophomore in 2002 as he gained nearly 900 yards and nine touchdowns.
The 2003 season was a breakout year for the running back. He posted a single-season school record of 1,649 yards and 13 scores while helping the team to an 8-4 record. He also earned first team all-conference and third team all-American.
Chournos almost reached the career rushing record Saturday night against the Montana Grizzlies in Stewart Stadium — ideal circumstances except that the Wildcats were losing. Chournos came into the contest needing 153 yards to pass White as the school's career rusher. He compiled 129 yards and two touchdowns in WSU's 42-21 loss to the Grizzlies, but was pulled with 14:02 left in the game. Graybeal said he was told Chournos was close to the record, but not until late in the game.
"I'm trying to win a game here," Graybeal said. "(Chournos) is going to get the record. Is it going to be in Stewart Stadium? Probably not. He'll probably get it on the road next week (against Montana State).
Hopefully it'll lead to a win, that's the way I look at it." Chournos said he would have liked to get the record at Stewart Stadium, with many family and friends looking on, but sensed it was inappropriate to ask to go back in.
"They told me 25 (yards) but I don't know," Chournos said. "I couldn't talk (the coaches) into (putting him back in the game). I didn't want to push too hard."
The Montana defense was aware that Chournos was nearing the record and it wanted to stop him. "He's one heck of a runner, that's for sure," said Grizzlies' linebacker Shane MacIntyre. "To be in position to break any school's record for rushing yards is pretty amazing. We just wanted to make sure it didn't happen against us."
So now the burden falls on Montana State, although holding Chournos to less than 24 yards will be difficult. But whether he gets the record or not, fans can count on Chournos playing with the same grit he always has, with his ultimate goal to help the team win.
Tale of the tape on Nick Chournos
Name Years Yards
Lee White (1965-67) 3,062
Nick Chournos (2001-04) 3,038
Morgan Welch (1996-99) 2,637
Fine Unga (1987-88) 2,298
Jack Brown (1968-70) 2,189
Johnnie Gray (2000-01) 2,167
Geoff Mitchell (1987-92) 2,078
Henry Owens (1965-67) 1,739
George Jackson (1987-90) 1,680
Sam Gipson (1968-69) 1,671
Individual numbers for Chournos
Year Rushes Yards Avg. TDs
2001 6 18 3.0 0
2002 174 874 5.02 9
2003 274 1,686 5.55 13
2004 127 498 3.9 4
Tale of the tape on Nick Chournos
Needs 24 yards to become Weber State's all-time rushing leader
Led the Big Sky Conference in rushing in 2003, with an average of 137.4 yards per game.
Owns WSU single-season rushing record with 1,649 yards.
Graduated from Bear River High School as one of the top running backs in Utah high school history with nearly 4,000 rushing yards and 68 career touchdowns. He ran for 1,753 yards and 36 touchdowns his senior season.
Majoring in criminal justice, where he maintains a 3.75 GPA