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12-08-2011, 05:08 AM
While Zeke Pike's career as a high school football player at Dixie Heights ended with a suspension, he will have a chance to play one more high school football game after all.
That's because Pike was officially invited to the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl during a ceremony by the All-American Bowl's Selection Tour group on Wednesday afternoon in Dixie's auditorium. The All-American Bowl, which features 90 of the top senior high school football players in the country, is Jan. 7 in San Antonio's Alamodome.
The invitation ceremony had originally been scheduled for Nov. 10, but was postponed when Pike was suspended for the football team's first-round Class 6A playoff game against Lexington Lafayette on Nov. 4 for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Pike, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback, left Dixie a little over a week after his suspension with plans to complete his high school diploma through online courses so he could graduate early and enroll in mid-January at Auburn, where he committed to play football.
He said he is on pace to complete the one course he needs by the end of December.
Pike said he doesn't regret how things turned out at Dixie and is looking forward to getting to Auburn in time to participate in spring practice. Most freshmen don't get a chance to practice until August because usually they don't enroll until the fall semester.
"I enjoyed going to school here and playing football here and everything worked out for the best," he said. "I have a great opportunity in front of me that I'm excited about."
Several family members and friends attended Wednesday's ceremony, as did Dixie coach Tom Spritzky, who retired following the season after 17 years as the football program's head coach.
"My mom and dad have been great through everything and supporting me," Pike told the crowd. "I want to thank Coach Spritzky for being there for me and supporting me through the whole recruiting process and supporting me and coaching me.
Spritzky said he is going to attend the game with his wife.
"I have been coaching - had been coaching - for 24 years and these opportunities don't come along very often so I'm very thankful to go to San Antonio for a few days and see a city we haven't seen and get to watch Zeke play in this game," Spritzky said.
Pike said he bypassed the chance to play in other All-Star Games because he said he liked what this game represented.
"I want to thank the Army. That's the whole point of this thing and why I chose to play in this game," he said. "It meant more to me to play in this game and represented a lot more, because they're the real All-Americans."
Also on hand were several members of the Dixie boys' basketball team and head coach Ken Chevalier. Pike was a starting center on last year's team that won the Ninth Region championship for the first time since 1957. Pike was asked if he misses basketball.
"I do," he said. "I try to go to the games when I can. I wish I could have played, and wanted to play, but the situation at Auburn was kind of right and my future is in football so it was the best choice."
He said he may even try to get to Rupp Arena to watch if the team wins the Ninth Region again.
"I'm sure those boys will take care of their work," Pike said.
He said he's not worried about the quick transition he will be making from being a high school student and living at home to being a college student living on his own, even though he will have a support system while residing in the football dorm.
"You have to take more responsibility for everything and that's everything from getting up to what you eat to training to studying," he said. "It's a lot more you have to manage, but I can't wait to get started."
http://www.NKY.com
That's because Pike was officially invited to the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl during a ceremony by the All-American Bowl's Selection Tour group on Wednesday afternoon in Dixie's auditorium. The All-American Bowl, which features 90 of the top senior high school football players in the country, is Jan. 7 in San Antonio's Alamodome.
The invitation ceremony had originally been scheduled for Nov. 10, but was postponed when Pike was suspended for the football team's first-round Class 6A playoff game against Lexington Lafayette on Nov. 4 for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Pike, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback, left Dixie a little over a week after his suspension with plans to complete his high school diploma through online courses so he could graduate early and enroll in mid-January at Auburn, where he committed to play football.
He said he is on pace to complete the one course he needs by the end of December.
Pike said he doesn't regret how things turned out at Dixie and is looking forward to getting to Auburn in time to participate in spring practice. Most freshmen don't get a chance to practice until August because usually they don't enroll until the fall semester.
"I enjoyed going to school here and playing football here and everything worked out for the best," he said. "I have a great opportunity in front of me that I'm excited about."
Several family members and friends attended Wednesday's ceremony, as did Dixie coach Tom Spritzky, who retired following the season after 17 years as the football program's head coach.
"My mom and dad have been great through everything and supporting me," Pike told the crowd. "I want to thank Coach Spritzky for being there for me and supporting me through the whole recruiting process and supporting me and coaching me.
Spritzky said he is going to attend the game with his wife.
"I have been coaching - had been coaching - for 24 years and these opportunities don't come along very often so I'm very thankful to go to San Antonio for a few days and see a city we haven't seen and get to watch Zeke play in this game," Spritzky said.
Pike said he bypassed the chance to play in other All-Star Games because he said he liked what this game represented.
"I want to thank the Army. That's the whole point of this thing and why I chose to play in this game," he said. "It meant more to me to play in this game and represented a lot more, because they're the real All-Americans."
Also on hand were several members of the Dixie boys' basketball team and head coach Ken Chevalier. Pike was a starting center on last year's team that won the Ninth Region championship for the first time since 1957. Pike was asked if he misses basketball.
"I do," he said. "I try to go to the games when I can. I wish I could have played, and wanted to play, but the situation at Auburn was kind of right and my future is in football so it was the best choice."
He said he may even try to get to Rupp Arena to watch if the team wins the Ninth Region again.
"I'm sure those boys will take care of their work," Pike said.
He said he's not worried about the quick transition he will be making from being a high school student and living at home to being a college student living on his own, even though he will have a support system while residing in the football dorm.
"You have to take more responsibility for everything and that's everything from getting up to what you eat to training to studying," he said. "It's a lot more you have to manage, but I can't wait to get started."
http://www.NKY.com
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12-08-2011, 05:08 AM
12-08-2011, 05:09 AM
12-08-2011, 10:31 AM
Stardust Wrote:[Image: http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi....rican-Bowl]
Pike's jersey says West on the sleeves. It seems odd that the rest of the West roster is from the western half of the US and the other southerners or mid-western players are on the East roster. Just say'n.
12-08-2011, 12:48 PM
My money is on the East. Is there another Pike little brother?
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