Bobek, Konopka looking forward to all-star play
Brian Bobek has been able to extend his holiday break this week in San Antonio.
But the Fremd senior doesn't figure to get much of a break Saturday in the 11th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which starts at noon and is televised nationally on NBC.
"I'm the only true center so I'll probably play the whole game," said Bobek, who is playing for the East team in the game which features nearly 100 of the nation's top senior high school football players.
That will go along with what has been a busy week for the 6-foot-2, 278-pound Ohio State recruit. It's been filled with practices to get ready to play with new teammates and a variety of off-field events.
"It's been a lot of fun," Bobek said Thursday. "We have stuff going on all the time."
It has also been a different level of football for Bobek, who was selected to the first team of the inaugural RivalsHigh.com All-American team. Bobek said it took a day to get used to working with new quarterbacks and a group of new offensive linemen.
He also had to get used to holding off faster and stronger defensive linemen and linebackers. But 6-5, 360-pound offensive lineman Audrey Walker of Cleveland told SuperPrep.com that one of the players who impressed him most this week is Bobek.
"You get to go up against guys who are a much better caliber than what you're used to," Bobek said. "You get to play against the best. It's about what I figured it would be.
"It's challenging but it's a lot of fun."
Konopka to play in national game: Fremd senior tight end and Northwestern recruit Jack Konopka has been chosen to play in the second annual Team USA vs. The World game Feb. 2 in Austin, Tex.
"It's really cool," Konopka said. "You get to play against people from all over the world. It's a postseason game which not everybody gets to play in, so I'm excited."
Konopka and Naperville North linebacker Nick Lifka (Boston College) were among the 45 players from the United States chosen to play. Since the game is recognized by the NCAA as a U.S. National Team competition it does not count as one of the two all-star games high school seniors are eligible to participate in.
Konopka said national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming helped make the opportunity to play in the game possible.
Konopka said he will fly to Austin on Jan. 28 and the game will be held on the day seniors sign their national letters of intent. Konopka said he talked to Fremd basketball coach Bob Widlowski and the only game he will miss is a nonconference meeting with Lake Zurich.
"It's something I'm really looking forward to," Konopka said. "I knew my name was in for the U.S. Army (All-American Bowl) and when I didn't get to that one and found out about this one, it was exciting."
Tolzien chosen for Shrine Game: Fremd graduate Scott Tolzien, who quarterbacked Wisconsin to this season's Rose Bowl, has been chosen to play in the 86th annual East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 22. Nearly 250 former Shrine Game participants are currently on NFL rosters.
East St. Louis player regains IHSA eligibility: Illinois High School Association Executive Director Marty Hickman ruled Thursday that East St. Louis Senior High School senior running back Anthony Pierson is eligible to return to participation.
The IHSA ruled that Pierson needed to sit out late during the football season while the his residency was investigated. Pierson had transferred from Gateway Tech (Mo.).
"East St. Louis Senior High School has provided sufficient information that has made me confident that Anthony Pierson is in compliance with our transfer and residence rules," Hickman said in a statement. "We have been working with East St. Louis Senior High School in verifying his residence and appreciate their cooperation throughout this process."
East St. Louis was put on a year's probation by the IHSA after Hickman determined lineman Charles Tigue violated residency requirements. The school had to forfeit its 10 wins in 2009 and its first five in 2010 which ultimately led to its removal from the state playoffs before the second round.