PATRICK SCHMIEDT Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Friday, June 12, 2009 12:00 am
Drew Nielsen's Wednesday morning went from humdrum to exhilarating with one phone call.
After a morning swim, Nielsen was preparing for a trip from Glenrock to Casper to run some errands. But he was needed elsewhere.
Like Shrine Bowl practice.
"I just got done eating breakfast and I got a call from one of my assistant coaches," Nielsen said. " … He had to tell me three times because I didn't believe him."
But it was true - Nielsen was a last-second replacement for the South Shrine Bowl team, replacing Burns' Cody Weathermon, and they needed him at practice ASAP.
Nielsen had his errands to run, but …
"My mom was like, 'I guess you can't do none of that stuff,'" Nielsen said.
Nielsen watched the last 30 minutes of Wednesday's morning practice, then jumped right in during the afternoon session.
By Thursday, he had adjusted to playing the wide receiver position - something he didn't do much at Glenrock. He had made the rounds with the South team, meeting up with old friends and making new ones. And, in Shrine Bowl tradition, his stark-white helmet had been decorated with a few decals from his South teammates.
Nielsen is one of three late replacements that will be playing in Saturday's Shrine Bowl, joining North squad players Austin Coyle of Riverton and Cody Tweeten of Gillette.
Both Coyle and Tweeten found out about same time - right around two weeks ago - that they'd be playing in the Shrine Bowl. They both used that extra time to get back in shape and to do some weightlifting.
"I was excited; I was really excited," said Coyle, who's slated to play defensive end for the North. " … That Monday after graduation, I started getting back in shape again, running and lifting again.
"It's been a great experience. I'll never forget it. It's a blast."
Tweeten found out through teammate Logan Pokallus, himself a Shrine Bowl participant, after Tweeten's coaches couldn't reach him.
"I was really excited," said Tweeten, a wide receiver for the North. "I had a friend that went to this last year and he told me how fun it was."
The call-up is especially sweet for both players, who are donning pads for the last time. Coyle will be coming to Casper College to start on his major in criminal justice, while Tweeten is going to Wyoming to major in pharmacy.
Nielsen, meanwhile, didn't have the luxury of extra time to prepare, but the Shrine Bowl doesn't cause too much of a blip in his summer. His training for college football at Black Hills State was already in swing.
"I'm just, like, so happy to be here," Nielsen said. "I just showed up to do what I can do for them."
And the errands can wait.
Contact high school sports coordinator Patrick Schmiedt at (307) 266-0615 or patrick.schmiedt@trib.com.
Shrine Tracker
WHAT: 36th annual Shrine Bowl all-star football game.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Cheney Alumni Field, Casper.
ALL-TIME: The South leads the all-time series 17-16-2.