Carson senior raising scholarship funds

Believe it or not, there is a common thread that links retired San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young and Carson High School senior Kyle Bacon.

And it's not the fact that both play the same position on a football field.

Bacon, with the assistance of a Steve Young-autographed football being used for a drawing, is trying to raise funds for youth athletics in Carson City, as well as establish a student/athlete scholarship fund at Western Nevada Community College, and at the same time help fulfill his Senior Project.

Tickets are being sold to give away the autographed ball on Friday night, Feb. 11, when Carson High's final regular basketball season game is played at home against arch rival Douglas.

Tickets will be on sale tonight when the Senators open their Sierra League season at home with a 7 p.m. game against Hug.

The goal is to raise $8,000, all of which will be donated to set up two scholarship funds for Carson High graduates who want to participate in the WNCC baseball and women's soccer programs - teams will be on the field in 2005-06 - and also help out the Carson City Pop Warner football and Carson High basketball programs.

The project has been quite an undertaking - especially when you consider Bacon has juggled time between football and basketball during his senior year - but he's had some help along the way. Of course, Young provided the ball. Pip Printing donated tickets for the drawing. And, he's had an assist from his teammates at Carson.

"I've been selling a lot of tickets," Bacon said. "The team's been helping me out and even a couple of J.V. guys have been helping sell tickets.

"I'll be glad when it's all over because it has been time consuming," he said, flashing a smile.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Bacon looks at the project as a way to give back to a community where he's grown up. He started playing football as a 7-year-old in Carson City Pop Warner football and finished up with a solid football season this past fall in which he was selected as an honorable mention all-league quarterback and as the Senators' Offensive Player of the Year. Despite missing three games due to injuries, he passed for 825 yards and rushed for another 342 yards.

At the same time, he's trying to assist the Carson basketball program for which he now plays as a starting forward.

"I have talked to coach (Bruce) Barnes about giving money to the Sixth Man Booster club to cover the expenses that arise throughout the year for basketball players that cannot afford to pay for items or trips planned."

How did he come up with the idea for his project?

"I thought it would be a good idea to make money to help other people. I got to talking with my mom and she helped me get things started," he said.

Through a family friend, Kim Riggs helped obtain an autographed football from Steve Young. That was noteworthy in itself.

"I understand he only signs five balls a year, so it's pretty rare," Bacon said. "That was exciting to me."

The feedback on the project has been positive.

"I was selling tickets at the Capital Classic and one lady from Dayton came up and told me she got her education from WNCC and bought three tickets."

Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.