Jonah Pirsig, state's top high school recruit, can't wait to see Gophers coach Jerry Kill in action
Pirsig is looking forward to Gophers' spring game Saturday
By Marcus R. Fuller
[email protected]
Updated: 04/20/2011
Junior offensive lineman Jonah Pirsig talks with friend and teammate Zach Tvedten, right, during a class at Blue Earth Area Senior High School in Blue Earth on Wednesday January 26, 2011. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall)
Jonah Pirsig has heard a lot about Jerry Kill, but he hasn't been to a practice to watch the University of Minnesota's new football coach yet.
That's why the promising Blue Earth Area (Minn.) High School junior offensive tackle has been looking forward to the Gophers' spring game Saturday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium.
"It'll be the first time for me to see (Kill) actually coach this year," said the 6-foot-9, 300-pound Pirsig, who is considered one of the nation's best offensive linemen and the state's top player in the 2012 class. "So that will help with my decision. One of my friends went up there to watch them, and he came back with a good report."
But Pirsig has to see for himself.
Last month, he and his father, David, made unofficial visits to Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin during a four-day road trip that covered nearly 1,800 miles.
"Getting to see other facilities and getting to see other coaches was kind of like new territory for my dad and I," he said. "All of them really had top facilities; it seemed like every school was either renovating or had something new built. You can't go wrong with any of them."
Cont..
BEA?s Pirsig tabbed for grid all-star game
by Chuck Hunt, Register Editor
Buccaneer football player Jonah Pirsig has been attracting a lot of attention from colleges that want the Blue Earth Area junior to play for them after his graduation in 2012.
Now, there is someone else who wants him to play football for them.
The U.S. Army.
U.S. Army Captain Brian W. Burbank, of Mankato, and two of his staff, were at BEA High School last week for a surprise visit.
While some students thought the three men in uniform were there to recruit high school students into the army, they were there for a different sort of recruitment.
During lunch, Captain Burbank called Pirsig forward and announced that the Buc lineman was one of 400 high school players from across the nation who was nominated to play in a national all-star game.
The game is the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be played on Jan. 7, 2012, in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It will be broadcast live on NBC TV.
Pirsig, who knew nothing of the nomination, was doubly surprised by members of his family also being in attendance at the announcement ceremony.
?Wow,? he said. ?This is really something; I guess all I can say is thank you.?
Captain Burbank says 90 of the 400 players will actually be selected to play in the bowl game.
?But, even to be nominated is quite an honor,? he told the students, who had given their classmate a standing ovation when the announcement was made. ?It means he is one of the top 400 best high school football players in the country.?
Well, he was honest.wadc45;1917875; said:
Buckeye737;1961873; said:
