Signing Day was a father-child affair at Legacy

By Josh Bowe

Special to the News-Mirror

For Brady Burke, Marchie Murdock and the rest of a few Legacy seniors, Feb. 6 will be a day they never forget.

It was National Signing Day and plenty of Broncos signed their letters of intent to start the next chapter in their lives. It’s been a day they’ve been anticipating for quite some time.

“It’s just really exciting to know that I’ll further my football career,” Burke said. “I’m going to miss playing here, but I know I’m really excited to play in college.

“Not many people get a chance to do that. I know it’s a big honor to be able to do that. I’m really excited to make it that far.”

Athletes and parents packed the Legacy signing room last week to celebrate the event. Burke (Evangel University in Missouri-football), Murdock (Illinois-football), Morgan Nutley (Navarro Junior College-soccer), Andrew Dickson and Amber Campbell (Southwestern Christian University-golf) all were together to sign their letters of intent.

Burke, Murdock and Nutley have a special connection besides all being Legacy athletes who will play in college -- they all have a father who also coached at Legacy. Brady Burke and Morgan Nutley’s fathers, Tracy and Rod, were assistant football coaches. Marchie Murdock Jr.’s father, Marchie Murdock Sr., is the head basketball coach.

That’s something that has bonded the trio together, and Brady Burke said the experience was something he is grateful for.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Brady Burke said. “Not many kids get a chance to be coached by their parents. I just really enjoyed it a lot, it was a great experience. I know I’m going to miss him.”

For Tracy Burke, he was filled with a lot of different emotions seeing his son sign his letter of intent.

“It’s a very proud moment,” he said. “We’re really excited, but sad in the same way. But he’s pursuing his dreams and that’s all we want to do is support his dreams.”

Tracy Burke said he had to make sure he was having fun out on the practice field with his son. He wanted to make sure there was a difference between coach and parent.

“I enjoyed it, it was a blast,” he said. “I tried not to take it too seriously so I could enjoy the moment and try not to be a parent out there. It was fun to look over there at practice and see him over there at the same time. I hope I didn’t take it for granted, because it was a special moment.”

The biggest impact Tracy Burke mentioned was just how much time he was able to spend with his son.

“We rode to school together and everything,” he said. “All that’s coming to a close, but it’s a new chapter.”

Murdock Sr. felt the same way about having his son at school and coaching him but he said he thinks Murdock Jr. will probably be a little relieved.

“It’s been great for me, but I know it’s been tough for him at times,” Murdock Jr., said with a smile. “It’s been great not being in the stands but being on the ground level to help teach him things to be successful.”

Murdock Jr. is going to Illinois to play football and Murdock Sr. knows that’s all he’ll play. Murdock Jr. has helped Legacy clinch a playoff win and collect over 20 victories as the leading scorer for the Broncos.

“No, no, when we moved to Texas, he told me he was a football player,” Murdock Sr., said with a chuckle. “He just plays to hang out with dad and help the school win, but he’s a football player.”

For Burke, Murdock Jr. and the rest of the athletes, there’s also a sense of relief. All these players had to go through a long recruiting process.

Murdock Jr. said National Signing Day represented the end of all the hard work he and his family had put in.

“It was a long process. At times it felt like it was getting too tiring,” he said. “Once I set my mind on my school, I knew my mind wasn’t going to change. I knew Illinois was the place for me.”

At Illinois, Murdock Jr., will be playing against some of the nation’s best football programs in the Big 10 Conference. Murdock Sr’s., face lit up when mentioning all the great college football venues that his son and maybe himself will visit.

“I can’t even imagine being able to go to Ohio State or Michigan or Michigan State or going up to Penn State,” Murdock Sr. said. “To be in that venue after years of watching it on television and knowing your kid will be on the sidelines, it’ll be an amazing feeling.”

As the celebration winded down, some of the athletes and parents made their way to work or the next class. Murdock Jr. and Burke joked around a bit, yelling out old plays from their Legacy careers. The duo hooked up for 13 touchdowns in their senior season.

Now Murdock Jr. knows it’s time to move on and start the next phase of his football career.

“It’s very exciting. It was a long road to be where I’m at right now,” he said. “I’m very blessed to be able to sign with the University of Illinois. I’m just excited to go to work.”

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